NCAA Raises Academic Standards for Incoming Freshmen
December 05, 2011
Article from: NASSP News Leader, December 2011, Vol. 59, No.4
In late October, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I board of directors approved a new package of proposals increasing the academic standards for student athletes. The board agreed to an increased GPA requirement for incoming freshmen and a new core course requirement for high school athletes. “These changes demonstrate a remarkable resolve by presidents,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert. “They represent a return to and a focus on values that are at the core of what intercollegiate athletics are all about. They also represent a clear signal to the world about what we care about and what we stand for.”Beginning in August 2015, high school student athletes will need a 2.3 GPA to gain immediate access to competition their freshman year of college, raised from the current 2.0 requirement. A more-rigorous sliding scale will also toughen entrance standards for all new athletes. Some flexibility will remain, however, for students entering college with a 2.0 GPA. They will be allowed to keep their athletic scholarships during their freshman year, but they will be ineligible to play. During this “academic redshirt” year, they can practice with their teams in the first term, and if they pass nine semester hours or eight quarter hours, they’ll be eligible to practice in the second term. Also under the new rules, high school student athletes will have to complete and pass 10 of 16 required core classes before the start of their senior year in high school. Seven of those 10 courses must be in English, math, and science. At the request of the NCAA Eligibility Center, NASSP assembled a principals’ panel to provide feedback on the proposed changes. The panel was composed of principals in schools with different demographic compositions, including Michael Allison, NASSP board member and principal of Hopewell High School in Aliquippa, PA—home to several high-profile athletes including Paul Posluszny of the Jacksonville Jaguars; Christa Harmotto of the US National Volleyball Team; and Rushel Shell, a current senior and University of Pittsburgh recruit who is among the top prospects in the nation.
“It is a tremendous opportunity for students to participate in NCAA Division I athletics,” Allison acknowledged. “At the same time, as a high school principal, I understand the need for increased rigor to ensure that all student athletes are graduating college ready.” Allison underscored the importance of sharing the changes with the appropriate stake holders . “More than ever, it’s imperative for principals to ensure that parents, counselors, and student athletes understand the new eligibility requirements,” Allison said. “Students need to know what courses are approved by the NCAA in their local schools and plan their schedule accordingly. They should also be well aware of the grades and SAT scores they’ll need to qualify for immediate competition in college.” In addition to amending the initial-eligibility requirements for incoming freshmen, the NCAA boosted team requirements for post-season competition and added $ 2,000 to the amount that colleges can offer in athletic scholarships. NL
For more about the changes: www.ncaa.org
