College Division / Mitch Polin : NAIA Toughens Its Academic Standards

The National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics is calling its recent legislation to toughen academic standards a “revolutionary step.”

There may be a degree of overstatement in that statement, but the legislation does figure to have a significant impact on the 500 member schools of the NAIA.

The first part of the legislation, which was adopted by the NAIA during its annual convention in March at Kansas City, is similar to the National Collegiate Athletic Assn.’s Proposition 48 eligibility guidelines that have been in effect for the last two years.

It says that entering freshmen must meet two of three standards to be eligible. They must score at least 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test or 15 on the American College Test, have a 2.0 high school grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or graduate in the top 50% of their high school class.

The second part of the legislation is likely to raise a few eyebrows.

It says athletes must achieve minimum academic progress in subsequent years to remain eligible. To play as a sophomore, the new rule says athletes must have at least 24 semester or 36 quarter credits. Juniors must have 48 semester or 72 quarter credits and maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average, and seniors 72 semester or 108 quarter credits and a cumulative 2.0 grade-point average.

“This represents a giant stride and one that will allow us to say to all of our constituencies that we are placing athletics in a proper perspective as an important part of our institutions,” said Jefferson Farris, NAIA executive director.

Farris said the proposal to toughen academic standards was first discussed after reports that some athletes at NAIA schools were completing their four years of eligibility without even being close to graduating.

“We kept hearing about students that went four years to play basketball and never came close to earning a college degree,” he said.

It also was designed to make it difficult for athletes who wanted to enroll at NAIA schools because they were not accepted by NCAA programs.

The proposal was passed at the convention March 23 and its acceptance has been widespread.

Said Chet Kammerer, athletic director and men’s basketball coach of Westmont College in Santa Barbara: “I think it’s the first piece of legislation that I’m familiar with that not only directs academic progress but almost guarantees that an athlete will be well on their way to graduating, or making significant progress, by the end of their freshman year.

“I think in the past, the NAIA has been viewed in a less-than-positive manner in regards to academics and I think this is a step in the right direction.”

Dave Holmquist, basketball coach of Biola in La Mirada, voiced similar sentiment.

“I think they’ll be positive changes,” he said. “It’ll make it tougher for some kids, but people will know what they have to do ahead of time so they’ll be more prepared for it.”

The coach said the legislation will have an effect on recruiting, but it should not be a major problem.

“There will be some kids who we won’t be able to get in, but I think it’s still a positive thing,” he said. “We might see some kids who have to redshirt a year, to concentrate on their studies, instead of playing.”

Farris, who has been NAIA executive director since December of 1986 after being president of the University of Central Arkansas for 11 years, said he has been encouraged by reaction.

“There were so few nays when we took it to a (voice) vote, you could barely hear anybody and most of those people were athletic people,” he said.

Farris calls the legislation, which will take effect in the fall of 1989, a trend-setting precedent for college athletics.

“I think various institutions of the NCAA will follow suit because that’s what people want,” he said. “That’s what the parents want and that’s what the faculty wants.

“I think there will come a time when all college athletics moves in this direction. If we don’t, we’re in serious trouble.”

College Division Notes

Alice Textor, women’s basketball coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills the last 7 years, has resigned. Textor coached the Toros to an 83-102 record, including a 10-17 mark last season. A new coach is expected to be named by mid-July. . . . Cal State Dominguez Hills has restructured its women’s volleyball and softball programs for next season. Jennifer Gorecki will coach volleyball and Janis Ruetz softball. Gorecki has coached both teams the last two seasons and Ruetz has been her assistant. . . . Sue Semrau, who coached the Occidental women’s basketball team to second place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 15-9 overall as an interim coach last season, has been named women’s basketball and soccer coach.

Distance runner Sylvia Mosqueda of Cal State Los Angeles, who won the 1987 NCAA Division II cross-country title, has been chosen California Collegiate Athletic Assn. female athlete of the year by conference sports information directors. Mosqueda has also qualified for the Olympic trials in the 800, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Miles Walker, who won the Division II singles tennis title to lead Chapman to its second straight national team championship, was the CCAA men’s winner. . . . Six players from the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. have been selected to the 1988 All-West District baseball team for the NCAA Division II including three from conference champion Cal Poly Pomona. The players are shortstop Dave Hajek, catcher Chris Goldbach and pitcher Wayne Kokyls of Cal Poly Pomona, third baseman Mike Eatinger of UC Riverside, outfielder Lenn Gilmore of Cal State Northridge and designated hitter Rich Shepperd of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.