The NCAA News - News & Features

Association gains waiver on grad-rate reporting

July 1, 1997, set as submission date

David Longanecker, assistant secretary for the Department of Education, informed the NCAA earlier this month that the waiver will allow the NCAA to collect, compile and distribute graduation-rates data and submit that data in report form to the Department of Education to satisfy requirements of the act.

The waiver applies to the submission of graduation-rates data by NCAA Division I institutions for the report due July 1, 1997. Divisions II and III institutions are not required under the law to submit data until 2001.

Beginning in January 1998, the NCAA will enter into a partnership arrangement with the department. The department will mail reporting forms, which have been developed in consultation with the NCAA, to all postsecondary institutions. NCAA members will return duplicate forms to both the department and the NCAA. The NCAA will continue its practice of compiling, publishing and distributing the data.

The purpose of the partnership is to avoid duplication of reporting requirements and to allow the NCAA to continue fulfilling the public disclosure requirements on behalf of its membership under the Student Right-to-Know Act.

In a letter to NCAA Executive Director Cedric W. Dempsey, Longanecker noted that institutions must continue to provide graduation-rate data to prospective student-athletes and to the parents of the athletes.

Institutions also will continue to be responsible for providing the information to other students and prospective students upon request.

"I hope these waivers will encourage your organization to continue compiling and publishing graduation-rate data for your member institutions," Longanecker wrote, "and that the department and the NCAA will continue to maintain close contact on this issue in the future."