National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News Digest

November 9, 1998

Graduation-rate comparison




Of 16 subgroups examined in the annual Division I graduation-rate reports, 15 are graduating at a higher rate than when the first study was administered. Although the 1991 entering class -- the most recently surveyed -- showed almost across-the-board declines compared to the 1990 entering class, graduation rates remain higher for almost all groups compared to the 1984 entering class, the first one to be surveyed. The only subgroup to show a decline since the 1984 entering class is white male basketball players, which dropped from 53 percent in the first entering class to 47 percent in the current one. The decline could be an anomaly since the 11-point decline from last year is extreme compared to other fluctuations in the study. Last year's graduation rate of 58 percent was the highest ever for white male basketball players.

RESEARCH

Division I athletes graduating at higher rate than nonathletes

The class of student-athletes that entered an NCAA institution as freshmen in 1991 graduated at a rate of 57 percent, one percent lower than the 1990 class but still one percent higher than the general student body.

Each class of student-athletes since 1986, the first year that Proposition 48 academic standards went into effect, has graduated at a higher rate than the general student body.

Staff contact: Todd A. Petr.

PRESIDENTIAL BOARDS

Divisions I and II CEOs make financial decisions

Division I funds will be reallocated to cover 1998-99 championships enhancement expenses.

The Division I Board of Directors reallocated funds from Division I 1997-98 fiscal year-end money to cover such expenses for this year's championships.

In another action, the Board agreed to put into escrow an expected $10 million Division I revenue distribution that previously was set aside by the Board and the Executive Committee. Each Division I institution will be credited toward its share of the ultimate payment of damages in the case in the amount that would have been received if the distribution had been made to conferences and institutions as scheduled.

In Division II, the Presidents Council approved a plan for distributing the division's $3 million enhancement fund.

The money will be distributed as follows:

  • One-third divided equally among all Divis-ion II institutions.

  • One-third to conferences based on their performance in the Division II Men's and Women's Basketball Championships.

  • One-third to conferences based on the number of conference championships they sponsor.

    The change in distribution will take effect in the 2000-2001 academic year. Until then, the enhancement fund will be distributed through the current approach -- one-half directly to member institutions and one-half to member conferences based on performance in the Division II Men's Basketball Championship.

    Staff contacts: S. David Berst (Division I) and Nancy L. Mitchell (Division II).

    RULES COMPLIANCE

    1999 regional seminars scheduled for three sites

    NCAA regional rules-compliance seminars have been scheduled for three sites in April and May of 1999.

    The dates and sites are:

    April 21-23: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Atlanta.

    May 5-7: Westin Hotel, Indianapolis.

    May 19-21: Marriott Hotel, Newport Beach, California.

    Staff contact: Carolayne Henry.

    TELEVISION

    NCAA, CBS and DirecTV announce new agreement

    DirecTV will offer CBS-produced broadcasts of out-of-market games from the first three rounds of the NCAA Division I Men's Basket- ball Championship on a pay-per-view basis.

    DirecTV subscribers will be able to choose any game from the first three rounds of the tournament that is not broadcast via their local CBS affiliate.

    All games will be produced by CBS Sports. Viewers will see no change in CBS Sports' exclusive live coverage of all 63 games of the championship. Staff contact: James A. Marchiony.

    CONVENTION

    A flat registration fee of $100 per person will be charged for the 1999 NCAA Convention in San Antonio. The only exception will be for representatives of commercial enterprises, in which cases a $200 fee will be charged.

    The registration fee covers delegate entertainment costs, such as the delegates reception, luncheons and the honors dinner.

    Staff contact: Louis J. Spry.