UC panel backs plan to guarantee aid to more athletes with career-ending injuries

A policy that would nearly triple the number of University of California student-athletes guaranteed continued financial aid in the event of a career-ending sports injury received unanimous approval Wednesday from a committee of the university’s governing board.

The proposal came from a group of UC athletic directors who were asked to make recommendations for improving the academic and emotional well-being of students who participate in college sports at the highest levels.

A 2012 state law requires the four universities in the Pac-12 Conference — UCLA, USC, California and Stanford — to continue providing financial support to athletes permanently sidelined by injuries. This new proposal, which will be considered by the UC Board of Regents on Thursday, would extend the protections to students receiving athletic scholarships from the UC schools at Davis, Irvine, Riverside, Santa Barbara and San Diego.

It would not cover student-athletes at UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced, which are Division III and do not offer sports scholarships.

The financial support was among 14 recommendations put forward by the athletic directors and passed by the regents’ Educational Policy Committee.

Other proposals include identifying recruits who might need extra academic help once they get to college; requiring students who are struggling in the classroom to meet with counselors trained to work with athletes; making sure new athlete orientations cover topics such as sexual misconduct, mental health and diversity; and giving student-athletes priority in registering for classes that suit their schedules.