Junior Colleges Tighten Eligibility Rules

The ruling body of California junior college athletics voted Friday in Irvine to stiffen the academic requirements for athletes.

The Commission on Athletics’ decision will require students who participate in a sport to take each semester at least nine units of “solid” classes that count toward an Associate of Arts degree or are part of a certificate program as defined by the individual school’s catalogue.

Physical education classes in the sport in which the athlete competes will not count toward the required nine units.

Currently, athletes are required to pass any 12 units, no matter the subject, to be eligible for competition. The new rule also will require students in their second season of competition to have passed 24 units, 18 of which count toward graduation.

The rule will go into effect July 1 for all incoming students, but those currently enrolled will not have to comply until July 1, 1994.