In the wake of working groups established to examine academic issues in baseball and men’s basketball, the NCAA formed a group expected to devise recommendations for improving the academic performance of football student-athletes.

Over the past year, the Football Issues Committee has reviewed specific data, particularly the comparisons between the academic performance of student-athletes who compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision and those who compete in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The data show that football’s Academic Progress Rate is among the lowest of all sports, though it has shown improvement, and the sport also has the highest percentage of teams facing historically based penalties.

These data and other information, including the average high school academic profile of prospective football student-athletes, football eligibility issues, two-year transfer issues, institutional resources and the time demands of the sport, will be forwarded to the newly formed working group.

The group is expected to have an in-person meeting this summer, with future meetings to be determined as necessary. The Board of Directors will review a final report of the group in April 2009, including recommendations for possible legislative changes to improve academic performance among football student-athletes.

Football APR Working Group Roster*

Barry Alvarez, athletics director, University of Wisconsin

Brad Bates, athletics director, Miami University (Ohio)

Dan Beebe, commissioner, Big 12 Conference

Karl Benson, commissioner, Western Athletic Conference

Joe Castiglione, athletics director, University of Oklahoma

Mark Emmert, president, University of Washington

Judy Genshaft, president, University of South Florida

Mike Hamilton, athletics director, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Rhonda Hatcher, faculty athletics representative, Texas Christian University

Tomas Jiminez, academic center director, Louisiana State University

Judy MacLeod, associate commissioner, Conference USA

Warde Manuel, athletics director, University of Buffalo

Sidney McPhee, president, Middle Tennessee State University

Dick Tomey, football coach, San Jose State University

Charles Wellford, faculty athletics representative, University of Maryland

Tyrone Willingham, football coach, University of Washington

Rob Ash, football coach, Montana State University-Bozeman

Tom Burnett, commissioner, Southland Conference

Carolyn Campbell-McGovern, associate commissioner, Ivy Group

Robert Caret, president, Towson State University

Peter Fields, athletics director, University of Montana

Alan Hauser, faculty athletics representative, Appalachian State University

Peg Hefferan, senior woman administrator, Wagner College

Warren Koegel, athletics director, Coastal Carolina University

Charles McClelland, athletics director, Prairie View A&M University

Joe Sterrett, athletics director, Lehigh University

Joe Taylor, football coach, Florida A&M University

Patty Viverito, commissioner, Gateway Football Conference

George Wright, president, Prairie View A&M University

Grant Teaff, executive director, American Football Coaches Association

*Additional members may be added