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NCAA changes requirements for incoming student-athletes
BY MICHAEL MAROT
Associated Press
Oct. 23, 2002 4:40 a.m.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA thinks test scores are still important. Grades, however, have proven more indicative of academic success.
On Tuesday, the Management Council did something about it.
The council approved a package of academic reforms that would place greater emphasis on
GPAs and core high-school courses than test scores.
If approved by the Executive Committee on Oct. 31, the reforms would go into effect in August.
"The research clearly indicates the number of core courses and the performance in those core courses is the best predictor of college success," said Percy Bates, the council chairman and faculty representative at the University of Michigan.
It is a major shift for the NCAA, which had been criticized for placing too much weight on SATs, which some people have argued are culturally biased.
In January, an NCAA study showed that grade-point averages, not test scores, were a stronger indicator of how a student would fare in college, so the Management Council agreed to extend the "sliding scale" that helps determine whether freshmen can play.
Student-athletes must now score at least 820 on the SATs, but the changes would allow freshmen to become eligible with lower test scores - and a higher corresponding GPA. The minimum GPA of 2.0 in core courses remains unchanged although high school students would now have to complete 14 core courses, one more than the current rule.
The council discussed the proposed changes at its meetings in April and August, but did not act until Tuesday.
As part of the reform package, the council approved other changes that would increase the workload to remain eligible while attending college.
College students would have to accrue 24 semester hours before entering their second academic year, while maintaining a minimum load of 18 hours each academic year and six hours per term.
Progress toward college graduation also would have to come at a quicker pace. Current rules require four-year students to complete 25 percent of their credits each year, but the proposal would increase that to 40 percent after one year, 60 percent after the second year and 80 percent after the third year. It would be 33 percent, 50 percent and 67 percent for those staying five years - an increase from 20 percent per year.
Indiana president Myles Brand said he agreed with the reforms earlier this month when he was selected as the new NCAA president. Brand will succeed Cedric Dempsey in January.
Bates said the new requirements will help the NCAA reach its goal of achieving higher graduation rates for student-athletes, rather than just allowing athletes to maintain their eligibility.
"This is both the culmination of a lot of work from a number of groups and the first steps toward significant improvement in academic performance of the student-athlete," Bates said.
The council also gave initial approval to new rules for football practices.
The proposals would require a strength or conditioning coach certified in CPR to attend voluntary weight training or summer conditioning drills.
It also would allow prospects who have signed, but have not yet started taking classes, to participate in summer conditioning following a medical examination.
Those changes came after the deaths of Eraste Autin, an incoming freshman at Florida, and Rashidi Wheeler, a Northwestern player, who died during voluntary workouts in the summer of 2001.
Preseason drills also would be affected. Teams can practice only once a day on the first five days of fall practice. Players could wear only helmets the first two days, helmets and shoulder pads the next two days and full pads the fifth day.
Two-a-days would not be permitted on consecutive days.
Note: Fox Sports @ Lycos
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