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NCAA Eligibility of graduate student atheletes.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:30 pm
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:30 pm
As a member of the graduate faculty of an SEC school and a big fan of NCAA athlitics, I think the time as come to review eligiblility rules for student atheletes. Education and culture in America as progressed to a point at which a graduate degree is the real point at which a person is ready to start a meaningful career. A BA or BS degree is helpful, but typically includes no more than 10-12 classes in a specific field, not nearly enough to become an expert.
I have written to NCAA president Mark Emmert and other prominent figures, encouraging them to consider extending more years of eligibility to student athletes who achieve the academic success necessary for continuing in graduate school. Typically, this is a 3.0 GPA and some expectation of excellence in a given field.
I believe this strongly supports the NCAA core values of encouraging academics and supporting the ideal of amateurism.
As a fan, imagine the many interesting possibilities: a seven year starter on a football team who finishes school with a PHD, a star player who changes schools and finishes a BA and a PHD and two athletic careers, students in less popular sports who get to participate in sports longer and get an advanced degree.
At major institutions the graduate student population is usually 20-30%. They accomplish much of the hard work of teaching, research, and service.
I think this is an idea who's time has come.
I'll let you all know if I get a response from Dr. Emmert or anyone else.
What do you folks think?
I have written to NCAA president Mark Emmert and other prominent figures, encouraging them to consider extending more years of eligibility to student athletes who achieve the academic success necessary for continuing in graduate school. Typically, this is a 3.0 GPA and some expectation of excellence in a given field.
I believe this strongly supports the NCAA core values of encouraging academics and supporting the ideal of amateurism.
As a fan, imagine the many interesting possibilities: a seven year starter on a football team who finishes school with a PHD, a star player who changes schools and finishes a BA and a PHD and two athletic careers, students in less popular sports who get to participate in sports longer and get an advanced degree.
At major institutions the graduate student population is usually 20-30%. They accomplish much of the hard work of teaching, research, and service.
I think this is an idea who's time has come.
I'll let you all know if I get a response from Dr. Emmert or anyone else.
What do you folks think?
10
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:32 pm to TxRngr59
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:34 pm to TxRngr59
quote:
What do you folks think?
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:35 pm to Jon Ham
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:35 pm to TxRngr59
Not many people on this board will understand what you just stated, unfortunately. I like the suggestion though. 
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:35 pm to TxRngr59
1st page, and it isnt even close.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:35 pm to TxRngr59
quote:I think the problem is that there is so much money in college football that the standards for graduate school would be reduced or fudged to keep athletes eligible.
I have written to NCAA president Mark Emmert and other prominent figures, encouraging them to consider extending more years of eligibility to student athletes who achieve the academic success necessary for continuing in graduate school. Typically, this is a 3.0 GPA and some expectation of excellence in a given field.
In theory, it is an interesting idea.
This post was edited on 7/25/11 at 4:36 pm
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:37 pm to gatordmb89
quote:
Not many people on this board will understand what you just stated, unfortunately. I like the suggestion though.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:38 pm to TxRngr59
Do you really think that a student can put forth the time and effort needed to pursue a solid graduate degree while spending so many hours in pursuit of football?
And isn't it more likely that colleges will create some "dummy" graduate degree programs of questionable value at best that will allow them to retain athletes longer?
And isn't it more likely that colleges will create some "dummy" graduate degree programs of questionable value at best that will allow them to retain athletes longer?
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:38 pm to TxRngr59
Won't work because, among other things, not every school offers the same in regards to Grad programs.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:40 pm to DocBugbear
quote:
Do you really think that a student can put forth the time and effort needed to pursue a solid graduate degree while spending so many hours in pursuit of football?
It happens every year.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:40 pm to TxRngr59
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:40 pm to DocBugbear
quote:
And isn't it more likely that colleges will create some "dummy" graduate degree programs of questionable value at best that will allow them to retain athletes longer?
Yes I think this would be very likely. Just not a good situation. Transfers would be a disaster.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 4:44 pm to TreyAnastasio
quote:
It happens every year.
Yes, but only for 1 year. The big workload comes later when the research kicks in and dissertations/theses are being written.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 5:14 pm to DocBugbear
With the exception of MBA's, JD's, and MD's almost all graduate students are funded; that is, they get a scholarship for tuition and a stipend as a GRA or GTA. Each department only has so many GRA or GTA lines. If an extra grad student shows up in a particular department that does not reguire departmental funding, they would be welcomed because they would increse the department's number of grad students. Graduate classes usually require 5 students to "make", therefor extra student are helpful to a department.
The class load for grad students is usually 2-4 classes per semester and research projects could often be scheduled for off-season and summer. They could handle the workload.
I don't see why transfer stuents would be a problem. It's just different to what were used to.
I would be quite a change, though.
90% of the impact would be in the less popular sports.
The class load for grad students is usually 2-4 classes per semester and research projects could often be scheduled for off-season and summer. They could handle the workload.
I don't see why transfer stuents would be a problem. It's just different to what were used to.
I would be quite a change, though.
90% of the impact would be in the less popular sports.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 5:18 pm to TxRngr59
quote:
a seven year starter on a football team who finishes school with a PHD, a star player who changes schools and finishes a BA and a PHD and two athletic careers, students in less popular sports who get to participate in sports longer and get an advanced degree.
The problem is that people in your world already complain that the undergraduate degree is watered down in order for the athlete to stay eligible. I do not think the academic world would allow for the opportunity of Athletic Administrators and Alumni to do the same for the graduate degrees.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 5:30 pm to GoldenSombrero
There is an issue here; with smaller schools, some have fewer grad programs. Further widening the competitive advantage of larger schools.
I would expect that the majority of BCS schools would have major graduate programs.
I would expect that the majority of BCS schools would have major graduate programs.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 5:38 pm to TxRngr59
What are your thoughts on the effect this would have in reducing the number of scholarships available for HS athletes? Would it be a significant difference? If so, how does that factor into your plan?
Posted on 7/25/11 at 6:12 pm to TxRngr59
quote:
With the exception of MBA's, JD's, and MD's almost all graduate students are funded; that is, they get a scholarship for tuition and a stipend as a GRA or GTA. Each department only has so many GRA or GTA lines. If an extra grad student shows up in a particular department that does not reguire departmental funding, they would be welcomed because they would increse the department's number of grad students. Graduate classes usually require 5 students to "make", therefor extra student are helpful to a department.
The class load for grad students is usually 2-4 classes per semester and research projects could often be scheduled for off-season and summer. They could handle the workload.
Keep in mind that to a large extent much of the research the GRAs are being paid to do is what they will write their dissertation/thesis on. Someone playing sports will have to put this time in anyway. Furthermore, I don't know what field you are in, but when I was in grad school the profs really didn't understand the concept of free time and research was/is a year round endeavor. A GRA means that they pay you for 20 hours of work each week so that you can survive while you are putting in 40-60 hours of work each week. IDK... maybe it's different in other fields.
Posted on 7/25/11 at 6:13 pm to WDE24
What are your thoughts on the effect this would have in reducing the number of scholarships available for HS athletes? Would it be a significant difference? If so, how does that factor into your plan?
It could possibly reduce the total number available by 10-20%. But there are more division one schools every year. I think the extra motivation among the atheletes to keep their GPA's above 3.0 would be worth the trade off.
I would expect that the percentage of scholarship athletes that could do that would be small. Maybe 20%.
It could possibly reduce the total number available by 10-20%. But there are more division one schools every year. I think the extra motivation among the atheletes to keep their GPA's above 3.0 would be worth the trade off.
I would expect that the percentage of scholarship athletes that could do that would be small. Maybe 20%.
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