The NCAA Research Committee has proposed an alternative graduation-rate study designed to more closely resemble the current collegiate climate, and the group is looking for direction as to the specific goals of the initiative.

The committee, which met in Indianapolis January 28, has forwarded its proposal to the NCAA governance structure for approval. The committee wants a group higher within the structure to specify the goal of the new graduation-rate study.

The committee took action primarily in response to membership feedback, which indicated that the current system of recording graduate rates does not accurately reflect the situation on many campuses.

The current graduation-rate system follows guidelines mandated by the federal government; the proposed graduation-rate system would be in addition to the system that is in place.

How the study counts transfer students is at the heart of the change. Under the current system, when a player transfers, that player still is counted in his or her original institution's graduation numbers. So, even if that student-athlete graduates from another institution, he or she counts as a non-graduate for the original school.

The committee will conduct a one-year pilot study that investigates the reformed graduation system. Ideally, the committee would like to track student-athletes throughout their careers, whether they transfer or not.

The NCAA will continue to compile the graduation rates under the federal guidelines regardless of what happens with the proposed study.

In other action, the Research Committee suggested to the Division II Academic Requirements Committee that a census study be conducted, much like the one that is done for Division I student-athletes.

This data, which follows student-athletes through their careers, would provide information for potential initial-eligibility rules changes.