While the National Collegiate Athletic Association has spent all summer putting a happy face on its annual Division I Graduation-Rates Report, others caution that, to avoid being misleading, the rates need to be put into perspective.
Claiming that Division I student athletes who receive athletic scholarships continue to graduate at a higher rate than non-athletes, the report is the fourth issued by the association since Proposition 48 — which requires student athletes to meet certain academic requirements in order to be eligible to play sports as freshmen — went into effect. The requirements included a minimum standardized test score, plus a certain grade-point average in a core of college preparatory classes.
According to the report, the number of student athletes who graduated in the class entering in 1989 was 14 percent higher than the class that entered in 1985-86, the last year before Proposition 48 became effective. During the same period, the total number of student athletes went up only 2 percent.
Also, according to the report, approximately 20 percent more Black student athletes graduated in the class that entered college in 1989 as compared to the class entering in 1985.
