National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

March 10, 1997

Committee seeks help in evaluating foreign prospects' coursework

The NCAA Foreign-Student Records Consultants forwarded several recommendations to the NCAA Academic Requirements Committee during a recent meeting in Santa Barbara, California.

Meeting February 22-23, the consultants recommended that in all modular educational systems (such as the British Patterned system), the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse be authorized to examine a prospective student-athlete's transcripts from coursework completed during secondary school years not represented on a leaving certificate.

The consultants believe such information should be used in evaluating whether the student has met the NCAA's initial-eligibility core-curriculum requirements. They also believe that this process would reduce the number of initial-eligibility waivers requested by institutions on behalf of foreign students, as the clearinghouse would be able to process information currently handled only through the waiver process.

The consultants also recommended an academic subject be defined as one that meets the definition of a core course as set forth in NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.3.

In addition, the group discussed issues related to students who initiate secondary studies in a foreign educational system and complete those studies in a United States high school. The consultants stipulated that when evaluating the student's foreign educational transcripts, the clearinghouse should equate one Carnegie unit with 120 hours of classroom instruction. Further, the consultants emphasized the need for correct evaluation of the student's foreign transcripts by U.S. high schools and encouraged U.S. high schools to use professional evaluators to assist them in placing foreign students into the correct U.S. curriculum.

In other actions, the consultants recommended that member institutions not issue an I-20 (the document needed for foreign students to acquire a visa) until the student has been granted final certification by the clearinghouse to ensure that the student is permitted to receive financial aid to cover the cost of his or her education.

The consultants also reviewed a draft of the 1997 Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility that will be published this spring. The consultants determined that the guide for students entering in the fall of 1998 will be published next November. A guide for students entering in the fall of 1999 will be available in the summer of 1998.