National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Centerpiece - SEC puts presidents in charge of academic safeguard
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By Gary T. Brown
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
In the spirit of shared responsibility, the Southeastern Conference in June announced a structured process to strengthen the review of academic records of prospective student-athletes.
The initiative coincided with procedures developed by an NCAA working group to review high schools when academic credentials from prospects at those institutions triggered scrutiny.
The SEC, which was instrumental in bringing the diploma-mill issue to light in the first place, required each league school to develop a process for reviewing prospects’ academic credentials that would be triggered by a substantial increase in college entrance examination test scores, or if certain concerns are identified on a prospect’s high school or prep school transcript.
Reports on prospects who go through the review are forwarded to the institution’s president or chancellor for final determination of enrollment and eligibility status. The SEC commissioner reviews the institution’s report and has the authority to declare the student-athlete ineligible for competition in SEC play.
“Academic credibility is a growing concern in intercollegiate athletics,” University of Georgia President Michael Adams said at the time. “Prospective student-athletes have to show a record of academic performance that would indicate the ability to do college work.”
So far, Adams said the league has not had the occasion to use the review, which he said may prove the initiative’s effect on behavior. The process was begun at one institution but shut down when the prospect decided not to seek admission.
“Perhaps that means the policy was an effective deterrent,” Adams said.
The initiative coincided with procedures developed by an NCAA working group to review high schools when academic credentials from prospects at those institutions triggered scrutiny.
The SEC, which was instrumental in bringing the diploma-mill issue to light in the first place, required each league school to develop a process for reviewing prospects’ academic credentials that would be triggered by a substantial increase in college entrance examination test scores, or if certain concerns are identified on a prospect’s high school or prep school transcript.
Reports on prospects who go through the review are forwarded to the institution’s president or chancellor for final determination of enrollment and eligibility status. The SEC commissioner reviews the institution’s report and has the authority to declare the student-athlete ineligible for competition in SEC play.
“Academic credibility is a growing concern in intercollegiate athletics,” University of Georgia President Michael Adams said at the time. “Prospective student-athletes have to show a record of academic performance that would indicate the ability to do college work.”
So far, Adams said the league has not had the occasion to use the review, which he said may prove the initiative’s effect on behavior. The process was begun at one institution but shut down when the prospect decided not to seek admission.
“Perhaps that means the policy was an effective deterrent,” Adams said.
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