Are There Unintended Consequences of the NCAA Academic Progress Rate Requirement?
By Donna Lopiano, President, Sports Management Resources As academic progress rate (APR) and graduation success rate (GSR) pressures increase on NCAA Division I institutions required to adhere to these rules, we may very well see an increase in unintended consequences on student-athletes and academic support staffs. History shows that it is impossible to legislate moral integrity. Make a rule and there are always unanticipated impacts, those who will figure a way around it or live by walking on its gray and hazy edges. The NCAA released its initial four-year data on its Academic Performance Program applicable to all Division I programs in May of 2008. Therefore, it is still too early to assess the full impact of this legislation. The theory is simple. If a sufficient number of student-athletes fail to make normal academic progress and/or fail to graduate, the institution will be penalized by taking away some of its scholarships and/or limiting playing or practice seasons or recruiting.
