Texas bill creates new standards for athletes

AUSTIN - A Texas legislator is pushing for the creation of a state-wide minimum academic standard for student athletes to improve graduation rates.

"We've got to do something to make sure these athletes have a fighting chance to graduate," said Rep. Ron Wilson (D-Houston.)

Wilson filed a bill that calls for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create the academic standards, which could include a minimum grade-point average. The board could also track the graduation rates of student athletes and use the information to assess the performance of each university.

If the coordinating board finds a university is non-compliant with the standards, that school would be barred from using state funds or student fees to support athletic events until a compliance agreement can be reached with the board.

If the university doesn't fix the problem within a year, it would be barred from participating in intercollegiate athletics for two years.

Wilson said the bill would deter universities that "use and abuse" their athletes without making any special effort to ensure they graduate.

"At the end of the day, the school gets the money, but the student doesn't graduate," Wilson said.

Barbara Walker, UT associate athletic director, said athletes at the University are also dedicated students.

"Most of them would take exception to that, to say they're not serious students," Walker said.

The university does not have academic standards particularly for student athletes, who must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA as do all undergraduate students, she said.

NCAA stipulates that athletes have to choose a major and complete 25 percent of its requirements by their junior year. Each subsequent year the student must have completed 25 percent more of the major requirements.

Failure to meet any of these rules bans the student from NCAA competition.

To prevent academic problems, the university provides added academic perks for student-athletes including tutors, study centers and computer facilities.

"The regular student body would probably like to have as much attention paid to them," Walker said.

Overall, she said the university has an academically successful group of athletes.

The latest figures for the athletic graduation rate within six years is 59 percent, while the rate for the general student population is 65 percent, Walker said.

She added that student athletes who go into professional sports before graduating are counted as any other dropout.

"Ricky Williams is not graduating, but I'd say he's doing quite well," she said.

Kate Harrison, an undeclared first-year student and UT soccer player, said the mandatory study hall and access to tutors and mentors proves the university is dedicated to helping student athletes academically.

"I started having trouble with calculus last semester, and all I had to do was ask for a tutor," Harrison said. "Our athletic department does everything they can to help us."

Ray Grasshoff, public information officer for the coordinating board, said currently the board doesn't track academic performance of student athletes separately from other students.

"We'd have to establish whatever level indicates adequate performance. How we'd do that, I don't know right now," Grasshoff said. "We'd have to see what the final version of the bill looks like."

The coordinating board would most likely meet with the state colleges and universities and come to an agreement on what constitutes the most fair standards, he said.

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