Education Secretary Duncan: Ban NCAA teams with low grad rates

[RamboLiberal]

WASHINGTON — If U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan had his way, a dozen of the teams in the men's NCAA basketball tournament would not be eligible to play in it, including top-seeded Kentucky.

Duncan proposes teams with graduation rates of less than 40% be banned from postseason play.

"That's a low bar," Duncan said Tuesday. "If you can't graduate two out of five of your student-athletes, how serious are you about the academic part of your mission?"

The schools that have men's basketball teams with graduation rates of less than 40% are Arkansas-Pine Bluff (29%), Baylor (36%), California (20%), Clemson (37%), Georgia Tech (38%), Kentucky (31%), Louisville (38%), Maryland (8%), Missouri (36%), New Mexico State (36%), Tennessee (30%) and Washington (29%).

Those figures come from NCAA rates compiled by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida. They do not include transfers or players who leave early for the NBA. They do not reflect athletes who will play in the tourney, as they include the most recent four-year classes that have had six years to graduate

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2010-03-16-grad-rate-proposal_N.htm

Never happen, but I'm among those who are sick of the emphasis they put on football & basketball in these schools.

[monmouth]

1. Many of these "students" cannot read at an 8th grade level. I agree with you..n/t

[LynneSin]

2. are they including those who leave early to join the professional ranks?

because that could skewer the numbers for some of the elite colleges. Many players choose to forgo their eligibility in order to enter the professional drafts of the NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB and other leagues. Especially for sports like Football & Basketball, where you are one injury away from a multi-million dollar contract, if you have the skills it's best some feel it's best to get into the professional ranks in hopes to make as much as you can before injuries do end your career.

I do not think those who leave for that reason should count against these schools. But I do think the schools should be held accountable for graduating the rest of them, including those sports players who have their careers ended by injury while in college. Many schools toss those players aside once they are no longer of use to the sports program.

[tammywammy]

5. You answer's in the OP "They do not include transfers or players who leave early for the NBA." n/t

[Rhythm]

6. The article specifies that players leaving early for the NBA are not counted. n/t

[CTyankee]

3. Say what you will about the Ivy League, but they do NOT give sports scholarships.

I know sports are money drivers for many state schools but the primary purpose of the university is education, not sports. This is WAY far out of hand now.

The UCONN women's basketball team is a wonderful exception to this practice! All hail the women of UCONN!

[exboyfil]

7. You get past the commercial sports (men's basketball and football)

and I think many of the kids are in it for the education. The ones I don't understand are those who know they don't have the skills to play for the big dollars, but they also don't take their studies seriously. They are throwing away a wonderful opportunity to get a good education and credentials to open doors. I especially don't understand folks who transfer from good academic schools to get more playing time at less elite schools. Get the degree at the good school.

Those who think they are going pro may or may not be stupid by focussing their efforts on atheletics and not their studies. I am all for someone who can get big bucks even forgoing college to go straight for the dollars The elite make more in one year than I will make in my entire career as an engineer. They also can go to school anytime, but they only have a limited number of years/hits to make serious money.

[CTyankee]

9. That's fine and in many ways, it makes sense.

I am one who went to an elite school and dropped out (got married) and went back years later to a local college that designed a program just for people like me. They put together basically two unfinished degrees into one and I got my B.A. in two years! I was amazed...I didn't think it could be done!

[ourbluenation]

8. They recruit players and I'd bet anything that if young recruit can't pay...

they find a way to get it covered. Merit scholarship or some such thing. D3's can't give out athletic rides, but they come up with creative ways around that rule, I can assure you.

[CTyankee]

11. The problem with your argument is that these athletes have to succeed in their academic career.

If they can't hack it,then it is a disaster and the office deciding that is NOT the athletic offices. It is the academic, admissions office. They MUST meet academic standards. Otherwise, it is self defeating, for the school and for the student. Ivies don't do that. It's one thing to get them tuition coverage, another to admit an applicant who obviously can't compete academically...

[Grand Taurean]

10. True.

Sports scholarships (an oxymoron if I ever heard one) are a waste of valuable resources.
Sports are not everything.

[RB TexLa]

15. UConn is the exception to what practice?

[CTyankee]

22. Any practice that does not give intense dedication to academic performance

as well as sports proficiency. UCONN women's basketball team coach Geno Auriemmo is one of the most intense...

[Are_grits_groceries]

25. It's not just UCONN.

Women's teams consistently have much higher graduation rates in all conferences.

[CTyankee]

32. That's true. But I am a "cheerleader" for the UCONN women.

They make me proud..:loveya:

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. And how many Ivy League schools made it to the tournament?

:)

[CTyankee]

34. Well, that wasn't my point...however, Cornell isn't doing too badly..

But as I said, the Ivies have a different philosophy...

[End Of The Road]

4. Why are we confusing college sports with academics?

College sports is about big money (for everyone but the athletes).

A college degree is about education (for everyone but the athletes).

Why do we care about this?

[CTyankee]

13. Isn't this sad? I am sad about it. It's horrible.nt

[rucky]

12. I thought college students were adults?

maybe I'm missing the point?

[RB TexLa]

14. The schools don't have any responsibility to graduate other students why would

they have to have the responsibility to graduate these?

[Fumesucker]

16. I bet Duncan just made a whole bunch of powerful new enemies..

Way more Americans pay obsessive attention to sports than to politics and this will *not* be popular with a lot of sports heads..

[Blue_Tires]

17. I really wish he had the stones to say that during football season

if for entertainment value alone...


Seriously: If he dared say that during BCS bowl week, Duncan would vanish dismembered in an oil drum in some deep south swamp...

[4lbs]

19. If he did, then about 15 of the schools normally in the top 25 every year wouldn't be bowl eligible.

.

[Blue_Tires]

21. at least that many...

but it's such a huge money grab for athletic departments, conferences, advertisers, networks and bowl cities that it would have been political (and literal) suicide for him to dare mention it...

[Brickbat]

18. Which, you know, pretty much illustrates Arne Duncan's approach to just about anything.

[gratuitous]

20. You want to see the sports machines get serious about academics?

Spot the team with the higher graduation rate the number of points equal to the disparity in graduation rates. So Kentucky (38%) plays Tennessee (30%), and starts off with an 8-0 lead. Or Kentucky (38%) plays Duke (100%). You think the Wildcat fans, rabid to see a big-time matchup are going to sit still for being down 62-0 before the opening tip?

I wonder if the universities that currently recruit, play and use up young talent before these young men are old enough to drink legally might not be a little more interested in making sure those recruits are in class on Monday morning, and LEARNING?

[bridgit]

23. Ban American Corporate Sports shaped & funded collegiate sports programs...

That should balance all kinds of books

[mmonk]

24. Personally, I think sports opens up opportunity for kids to at least

go to college that might not normally get there. If the graduation rate is low for a particular year, they should enhance the delivery of academic help, especially with the demands of being on the team, instead of just profiting on their athletic skills and I don't believe in punishing the whole team or department. I know my position is not popular but I'm not about putting on airs concerning education, but thinking of opportunities.

[Gaedel]

27. This reminds me

Some years ago when Northwestern had something like a 0 and 40 losing streak, a football commentator was asked which university had the most successful football program. The commentator replied "Northwestern" which took the questioner aback until the commentator explained that Northwestern had the highest football player graduation rate among all of the major universities.

[mmonk]

29. That's a good way of looking at things.

I think also, there are times when players transfer to another school and times when their skill level is high and they leave early for professional sports. In those areas, I do not feel the graduation rate is refective of reality if those things aren't also factored in when talking about the rate. I have also seen where the sports programs' graduation rate isn't any lower than the overall graduation rate of the school and thus, shouldn't be blamed on the department of athletics, but should be an academic matter with the school in general.

[Are_grits_groceries]

26. *Snort* Please check your calendar.

That will happen on the Twelfth of Never.

[Are_grits_groceries]

28. Women's grad numbers outperform men

<snip>
Players on teams headed to the NCAA women's tournament are graduating at a higher rate than those in the men's field, a study released Tuesday showed.

An annual report by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida also found that the graduation gap between white and black players is smaller among women than men.

There were 19 women's teams that had a 100 percent graduation rate compared to six men's teams. And 51 women's teams graduated at least 70 percent of their players compared to 29 men's teams.
<snip>
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/news/story?id=5000761

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Well Arne does know more about basketball than education

He really needs to be working in the betting cage instead of the US Dept of Ed.

[Renew Deal]

33. They should rename the NIT to National Idiot Tournament and send those teams

:evilgrin:

[tonysam]

35. Duncan needs to run the NCAA and be banned from the Department of Education. n/t

[LLStarks]

36. I agree with Arne, but colleges have no obligation to let you graduate. They just want money. nt

[Dinger]

37. They Cut Teachers First

The answer to everything!
:sarcasm: