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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Academic requirements group sets early certification guidelines
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The Division II Academic Requirements Committee has endorsed initial-eligibility certification procedures that could result in up to 40 percent of future prospects being moved through the system more efficiently.
The policies are the result of a recommendation from the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify obvious qualifiers based on six semesters of high school work. The Division II Presidents Council supported the idea at its April meeting and approved a waiver process to handle next year’s class, then asked the ARC to suggest more permanent procedures.
At its June 19-20 meeting, the ARC recommended legislation for the 2008 Convention that allows prospects to be certified if they achieve a test score equal to or greater than 1,000 on the SAT or 85 ACT sum, and, based on a six-semester high school transcript, have a core-course grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in a minimum of 12 core courses. Those courses must include three in English, two in mathematics, two in natural or physical science, and five in any NCAA core area.
If a prospect does not meet those criteria for early certification, there will be no waiver process. The individual will be evaluated after high school graduation and submission of a final transcript, per the provisions of Bylaw 14.3.1.1.1.
If approved, the legislation would be effective for prospects whose initial full-time enrollment will occur on or after August 1, 2008.
ARC members said colleges and universities frequently admit students after receipt of a six-semester high school transcript and standardized test score, but current NCAA initial-eligibility rules make no similar provision for an “early qualifier” status.
Requiring an eight semester transcript also creates a bottleneck for final certifications in July and August. An early certification process in which a reasonable percentage of anticipated qualifiers would be certified as qualifiers after six semesters of high school will provide member institutions with earlier eligibility decisions, and alleviate some of the volume during the busy summer months.
Research indicates that about 40 percent of prospects would have qualified under those parameters in previous years. About 35,000 of the 113,000 total registrants (including Divisions I and II) were approved through the early certification waiver for the entering class of 2007.
In other legislative action, the ARC recommended noncontroversial legislation regarding review of appeals from institutions that do not submit Academic Success Rate data. The proposal allows the ARC to grant waivers to schools if unusual circumstances warrant such action. If the institution appeals the ARC decision, the Division II Management Council will be the ruling body.
The committee also recommended legislation to require schools to provide information regarding initial-eligibility standards to all recruited prospects at the earliest practical time, but not later than the day before the prospect signing a National Letter of Intent or receiving or written offer of financial aid.
In nonlegislative items, the ARC asked Division II sports committees and governance bodies to consider if an entering freshman with no previous college attendance who is a nonqualifier at the time of enrollment should receive athletically related financial aid during the first academic year in residence.
The issue emerged from the Division II Legislation Committee during a discussion of the five-year-eligibility concept. Proponents say providing aid during the year in residence allows schools to better monitor nonqualifiers’ acclimation. Opponents, though, think the legislation could lead to schools stockpiling student-athletes.
The policies are the result of a recommendation from the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify obvious qualifiers based on six semesters of high school work. The Division II Presidents Council supported the idea at its April meeting and approved a waiver process to handle next year’s class, then asked the ARC to suggest more permanent procedures.
At its June 19-20 meeting, the ARC recommended legislation for the 2008 Convention that allows prospects to be certified if they achieve a test score equal to or greater than 1,000 on the SAT or 85 ACT sum, and, based on a six-semester high school transcript, have a core-course grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in a minimum of 12 core courses. Those courses must include three in English, two in mathematics, two in natural or physical science, and five in any NCAA core area.
If a prospect does not meet those criteria for early certification, there will be no waiver process. The individual will be evaluated after high school graduation and submission of a final transcript, per the provisions of Bylaw 14.3.1.1.1.
If approved, the legislation would be effective for prospects whose initial full-time enrollment will occur on or after August 1, 2008.
ARC members said colleges and universities frequently admit students after receipt of a six-semester high school transcript and standardized test score, but current NCAA initial-eligibility rules make no similar provision for an “early qualifier” status.
Requiring an eight semester transcript also creates a bottleneck for final certifications in July and August. An early certification process in which a reasonable percentage of anticipated qualifiers would be certified as qualifiers after six semesters of high school will provide member institutions with earlier eligibility decisions, and alleviate some of the volume during the busy summer months.
Research indicates that about 40 percent of prospects would have qualified under those parameters in previous years. About 35,000 of the 113,000 total registrants (including Divisions I and II) were approved through the early certification waiver for the entering class of 2007.
In other legislative action, the ARC recommended noncontroversial legislation regarding review of appeals from institutions that do not submit Academic Success Rate data. The proposal allows the ARC to grant waivers to schools if unusual circumstances warrant such action. If the institution appeals the ARC decision, the Division II Management Council will be the ruling body.
The committee also recommended legislation to require schools to provide information regarding initial-eligibility standards to all recruited prospects at the earliest practical time, but not later than the day before the prospect signing a National Letter of Intent or receiving or written offer of financial aid.
In nonlegislative items, the ARC asked Division II sports committees and governance bodies to consider if an entering freshman with no previous college attendance who is a nonqualifier at the time of enrollment should receive athletically related financial aid during the first academic year in residence.
The issue emerged from the Division II Legislation Committee during a discussion of the five-year-eligibility concept. Proponents say providing aid during the year in residence allows schools to better monitor nonqualifiers’ acclimation. Opponents, though, think the legislation could lead to schools stockpiling student-athletes.
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