NCAA Divisions I and II
2007 Initial-Eligibility Waiver Recommendation
Recommendation for consideration.
NCAA Divisions I and II prospective student-athletes in the class of 2007 being certified for initial academic eligibility shall be deemed qualifiers via an initial-eligibility waiver per NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.5, if they meet one of the following two criteria:
1. Prospective student-athlete has achieved a test score, per Bylaw 14.3.1.3, equal to or greater than 1100 SAT or 95 ACT Sum.
2. Prospective student-athlete has a preliminary certification report which indicates the student has achieved a minimum of 12 core courses with a core grade-point average of 3.000 or higher in Divisions I and II and a test score of at least 1000 SAT or 85 ACT Sum.
Prospective student-athletes who do not meet either of these criteria may be certified as qualifiers by meeting the initial-eligibility legislative requirements for Divisions I and/or II.
In addition, the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet and NCAA Division II Academic Requirements Committee are charged with proposing legislation for the 2008 legislative cycle that will legislate early certification initial-eligibility criteria, which uses a prospective student-athlete’s six-semester core courses, grades and test score. Such a proposal, if adopted, would be effective for the high school class of 2008 and beyond. The cabinet and committee shall work with the NCAA research staff to consider available research in arriving at the proposed early certification standard.
Rationale.
Two concerns echoed often by the Division I and II memberships are that the final-certification process takes place perilously close to reporting dates for summer camps and the start of fall classes, and that preliminary certifications occur too late to be helpful as a tool for advising a prospective student-athlete with regard to their academic behaviors (e.g., test taking, completion of required core courses).
Colleges and universities frequently admit students during the students’ senior year after receipt of a six-semester high school transcript and test score. NCAA initial-eligibility rules currently make no similar provision for an “early qualifier” status. Requiring an eight-semester transcript for all students seeking NCAA initial-academic eligibility, results in a clustering of the vast majority of final certifications in the months of July and August. From a business processing standpoint, as well as customer service, this has been a less-than-ideal scenario.
The Division I and II memberships will consider an early certification process in which a reasonable percentage of anticipated qualifiers would become qualifiers after six semesters of high school. This is similar to the college early admissions process. The NCAA research staff shall provide the Division I and II governance structures with the data necessary to consider this concept throughout 2007. If supported, legislation would be introduced in the upcoming legislative cycles for both divisions that would provide for early final certifications for academically, well-qualified prospective student-athletes.
As a precursor to this concept, an automatic initial-eligibility waiver provision for Division I and II prospective student-athletes in the class of 2007 would permit the immediate movement of approximately 40 percent of the prospective student-athletes to final certification, based on academic information in the clearinghouse database. The noted criteria based on immediately available academic information identify those prospective student-athletes who predict to be qualifiers. This waiver process will be evaluated by the appropriate governance bodies this fall as the structures consider early certification legislative proposals.
This waiver provision has impact as follows:
1. Provides an opportunity for further long-term contemplation of this concept by the governance structures in Divisions I and II.
2. Protects the integrity of the intent of the initial-eligibility academic standards by basing the waiver criteria on the same key components now used in the process (i.e., test scores, grades, core courses) and setting standards that result in early qualifier status for predicted qualifiers.