Academic Reform Approved

The NCAA approved the first phase of a landmark academic reform package Monday under which about 30% of Division I football teams would have lost scholarships had it been implemented immediately.

On the last day of the NCAA convention, the Division I board of directors approved the Academic Progress Rate (APR), the standard teams in every sport must reach beginning in 2005-06 to avoid scholarship reductions.

Schools will receive warning reports in the next few weeks that let them know which of their teams fall below the APR set by the Division I Committee on Academic Performance. The rate is based roughly on a 50% graduation rate over a five-year period.

The Academic Performance Program applies to every men’s and women’s sport -- more than 5,000 teams in Division I.

The committee said the biggest problems were in football (about 30% of teams), baseball (25%) and men’s basketball (20%).

Another phase of the program will be historical penalties, which will be more severe and directed at schools with continued problems. The committee is still working on the penalties, and they will have to be approved by NCAA directors.

The APR will be based on the number of student-athletes on each team who achieve eligibility and return to campus full-time each term. There will also be a longer-term graduation success rate.