forensicbuzz
Varsity Lurker
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2004
- Messages
- 194
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting tired of hearing about graduation rates. My understanding is that the graduation rate is based on atheletes that have graduated within 6 years of matriculation. I think that's a crock.
I could go through the litany of retoric that's been thrown out there that it doesn't include transfers that go somewhere else and graduate, it doesn't include those who leave early and come back to finally get their degrees, etc. However, I'd like to focus on a couple of other points. These are the things that I never hear, but continue to swirl in my mind.
1. The graduation rate of the student atheletes should not be held to a higher standard that the overall graduation rate of the non-athelete at the particular school. For instance, the graduation rate at Georgia Tech is much lower than many, if not most, other schools. I remember during the first day of FACET being told "look to your left, look to your right, one of the three of you will graduate." As it turns out, he was right in my case. The two guys next to me lasted about 5 quarters. I don't know what the institutional graduation rate is currently at Tech, but back then it was pretty difficult to get through. Throw varsity atheletics on top and it gets more difficult. Granted they have a lot of help, but they're also generally behind academically compared to the average non-athelete. The NCAA should hold the AA departments to the same standard that the school President holds the academic colleges.
2. Although I co-oped (13 quarters), it took me 6 1/2 years to graduate. Under current rules, I would count against the graduation rate. Now, I have an undergraduate in Engineering, and subsequently went on to obtain a Master's in Engineering. Does the fact that I took 6 1/2 years to get my degree lessen the accomplishment? My boss doesn't think so. Nor do my parents and friends, nor does the Alumni Association. The latter keeps calling for money, knowing that I'm more likely to give because I am an alumnus.
It ires me to no end when I hear all the bunk about graduation rates. The NCAA has set up some arbitrary cut-off for time and makes no qualifications for the difficulty in acheiving the degree. If scholarships are to be tied to graduation rates, then the rates should be reflexive of the overall graduation rate at the particular institution.
Just one man's opinion.
I could go through the litany of retoric that's been thrown out there that it doesn't include transfers that go somewhere else and graduate, it doesn't include those who leave early and come back to finally get their degrees, etc. However, I'd like to focus on a couple of other points. These are the things that I never hear, but continue to swirl in my mind.
1. The graduation rate of the student atheletes should not be held to a higher standard that the overall graduation rate of the non-athelete at the particular school. For instance, the graduation rate at Georgia Tech is much lower than many, if not most, other schools. I remember during the first day of FACET being told "look to your left, look to your right, one of the three of you will graduate." As it turns out, he was right in my case. The two guys next to me lasted about 5 quarters. I don't know what the institutional graduation rate is currently at Tech, but back then it was pretty difficult to get through. Throw varsity atheletics on top and it gets more difficult. Granted they have a lot of help, but they're also generally behind academically compared to the average non-athelete. The NCAA should hold the AA departments to the same standard that the school President holds the academic colleges.
2. Although I co-oped (13 quarters), it took me 6 1/2 years to graduate. Under current rules, I would count against the graduation rate. Now, I have an undergraduate in Engineering, and subsequently went on to obtain a Master's in Engineering. Does the fact that I took 6 1/2 years to get my degree lessen the accomplishment? My boss doesn't think so. Nor do my parents and friends, nor does the Alumni Association. The latter keeps calling for money, knowing that I'm more likely to give because I am an alumnus.
It ires me to no end when I hear all the bunk about graduation rates. The NCAA has set up some arbitrary cut-off for time and makes no qualifications for the difficulty in acheiving the degree. If scholarships are to be tied to graduation rates, then the rates should be reflexive of the overall graduation rate at the particular institution.
Just one man's opinion.