The NCAA News - News and FeaturesAugust 18, 1997
Research Committee approves study on academic support
The NCAA Research Committee approved a study designed to collect information from Division I member institutions about the types of academic support they offer for student-athletes.
The committee made that decision during its July 28-29 meeting in Kansas City, Missouri.
"We have collected a lot of data related to the academic performance of student-athletes, but we have never seen how they might be affected by the academic support services that are available on campus," said Ursula R. Walsh, NCAA director of research.
"When we put these data together with other data on academic success, we should have a much richer understanding of the types of programs that are most useful for student-athletes."
The study is being designed with the assistance of Robert Sellers, a faculty member at the University of Michigan. The survey form will be distributed to Division I institutions this fall.
Other highlights
Research Committee
July 28-29/Kansas City, Missouri
Reviewed a proposal to study gambling by student-athletes.
Reviewed a series of research reports from studies previously funded by the committee. These included studies of ankle injuries, amenorrhea and the effects that the legal system has on the NCAA.
Received a report from Theodore A. Breidenthal, staff liaison to the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee, on the status of a study to determine if a performance standard should be established for nonwood baseball and softball bats.
Agreed to discontinue the study "Sports and Recreational Programs of the Nation's Universities and Colleges." The study has been conducted at five-year intervals by the Association. The committee noted that the form was burdensome for member institutions and that the data collected are now available from other sources.
Reviewed the national drug-use study. The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports had questioned whether data from previous studies should be compared with the current data because the sampling methodologies are different. The committee agreed that these data could be compared because both methodologies were designed to sample from the national population of student-athletes.
Viewed research-analyzing data from the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Those data related to the number and background of student-athletes declared ineligible under the Association's initial-eligibility legislation.
Reviewed the status of the pilot Basic Academic Skills Study. The committee raised several concerns related to the research instruments used in this study It will undertake a complete review of the study at its February meeting.
Recommended that changes be made in NCAA legislation mandating collection of academic data from Division I institutions. Those data previously have been collected on the Graduation-Rates Disclosure Form. The committee recommended a supplemental form that removes collection of academic majors of student-athletes. The recommendation is similar to one made by the NCAA Special Committee to Review Graduation-Rates Requirements.
|
