Monday, March 17, 2008
Gaps 'narrowing slightly' in study of NCAA teams' graduation rates


Associated Press

North Carolina was the only school among the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA men's tournament to graduate at least 50 percent of its players.

A report released Monday found 86 percent of Tar Heels men's players earned diplomas during a six-year period. The other top seeds were far worse: 45 percent at Kansas and 40 percent at UCLA and Memphis.

The study was conducted by Richard Lapchick, head of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. It evaluated four different freshman classes for a period beginning in 1997-98 and ending with 2000-01. Though the players evaluated are no longer on campus, the report intends to provide a snapshot of academic trends.


Lapchick's primary concern was the disparity between black and white players. Thirty-three schools graduated at least 70 percent of their white men's basketball players; only 19 graduated that many black players. At least 50 percent of white players earned degrees at 45 schools, but black athletes had that much success at only 36 schools.

But the study found that the achievement gap was shrinking. At 34 percent of tournament-bound teams there was a 30-point or greater difference in graduation success between black and white players, down from 49 percent last year. Black players continued to succeed in higher rates than black nonathletes.

"Higher education's greatest failure is the persistent gap between African-American and white basketball student-athletes in particular, and students in general," Lapchick wrote. "The good news there is that the gaps are narrowing slightly."

According to NCAA data, graduation rates for black men's basketball players have improved 14 percent overall since 1984.

"We've seen some real improvement over time," NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said. "There's always room for more improvement, but we're pleased with the progress."

The NCAA tournament field is 65 teams, but not all could be included in the analysis. Cornell, like other Ivy League schools, doesn't report graduation rates. Gonzaga had no black players and 10 schools had no white athletes.

Two of the No. 2 seeds, Tennessee and Texas, graduated only 33 percent of their players for the period studied. The other second seeds, Georgetown and Duke, had success rates of 82 percent and 67 percent, respectively.

Academically, this year the Final Four would include five teams: Western Kentucky (100 percent graduatpercent), Notre Dame (91 percent), Purdue (91 percent), and Davidson (91 percent). Xavier, a No. 3 seed, was close behind with a 90 percent success rate.ion success), Butler (92

UCLA said the report failed to show its recent academic success, and a better indicator was the NCAA's new Academic Progress Rate. Lapchick has been waiting to use that data, collected since 2004 under the NCAA's academic reforms, until four years are available. The fourth year won't be released until April.

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Now if college eligibility was based on taking real courses and strict eligibilty rules, many teams would not be playing so far in the NCAA tourney.

Why are black ball players making so much money for the universites, but not getting the education benefits ?

Does the schools care about them after they leave the university without a degree? NO

Football, men's basketball teams graduate at lower rates
By: Ingrid Rivera
Posted: 3/7/08

Christopher Zenger/The Lantern


There is a graduation rate gap between the black and white Ohio State men's basketball and football players, according to the latest Federal Graduation-Rates Report.

"We're not happy about those differences," said John Bruno, faculty athletics representative. "We're doing everything we can do to minimize those differences."

Even though the 2000-01 freshmen class is the most recent class the latest Fed Rate calculated, Bruno said the report shows there is still a graduation rate gap. But he did not release more current graduation rates held internally by the university because Bruno said he is not required to provide that data to the public.

The white members of the men's basketball team have a 50 percent graduation rate; the black members have a 17 percent graduation rate. The white members of the football team have a 62 percent graduation rate; the black members have a 41 percent graduation rate, according to the latest Fed Rate report.

The Fed Rate is based on a four-class average referring to the freshmen classes of 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00 and 2000-01 throughout a six-year period, Bruno said.

He also said the university strives not only to close the gap but also to improve the graduation rates for both the black and white athletes and has hired more tutors, mentors and disability specialists to work specifically with student athletes.

The academic support services have become more tailored to individual student athletes on a case-by-case basis instead of the previous "cookie-cutter" or a one-size-fits-all approach, Bruno said.

"We have some work to do," Bruno said. "With some terrific programs we think we're making some changes but those changes are not going to turn up very quickly."

The graduation rate gap is closing much more quickly within the football team than the basketball team, he said.

Gordon Aubrecht, a faculty senator and professor of physics at the Marion campus, raised concerns for this graduation rate and a grade point average gap at the last University Senate meeting Feb. 7. Aubrecht said he had read about these gaps from different media including The New York Times and The Boston Globe. Aubrecht asked the Athletic Council how they would address this problem.

"Yes, (the gap) has been an ongoing discussion," said Philip T.K. Daniel, chair of the Athletic Council, at the meeting. "This is an issue that we will be able to positively address."

Bruno did not release GPA information about the white and black members of the basketball or football team, saying it was a violation of a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

Daniel did not deny the existence of a graduation and GPA gap at the meeting but warned the latest news coverage of these gaps was inaccurate, negative media attention.

"We have formed an ad hoc committee to address this negative media attention," Daniel said at the meeting. "The media is wrong. Even with our best efforts, we're still going to receive that angered press."

Daniel was more buoyant about the academic standing of the OSU athletes as a whole.

"The GPA of the student athletes as a whole has been a couple points higher than the regular student body," Daniel said.

The entire men's basketball team has an average graduation rate of 27 percent. The entire football team has an average graduation rate of 48 percent, Bruno said. The graduation rates of the men's basketball and football teams are below the rest of the male student body, which has an average of 60 percent. Yet, the graduation rate of all student athletes is about 65 percent, about the same as the regular student body, Bruno said.

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HOW DO THESE PLAYERS STAY ELIGIBLE ?

why shouldn't we care, these kids are doing the university a big favor finacially, so you would think they would give them the proper tutoring to better them selves for life after basketball...it's the least the universities can do.

This is why I say many of these kids should by pass college and go to the NBDL for 2 yrs and get paid and if they are good enough, the association will pick them up.

NCAA IS LIKE A plantation for many players, especially if they don't make the nba. Many can play in the minor leagues and make a little money for themselves, especially if they aren't college material.

[Edited by - PLAYA2 on 02-04-2008 06:34]

Nalod this is the proof that the NCAA doesn't care about these players at all, they treat them like cattle and that's about it.

Why should these kids who haven't been properly tutored to learn be allowed in these universities in the 1st place ?

Who is behind this travesty ?

There needs to be an investigation.

Everybody doesn't have to go to the NBA but, they can play elsewhere without making money for the NCAA and get nothing in return.



[Edited by - PLAYA2 on 02-04-2008 06:38]

Toodamark, I hope you are not saying it's ok for Universities not to have academic standards for black student atheletes, because they make money for the school. To just have academic standards for students studying academics only is cruel.

The NCAA is horrible.