Open AccessFact vs. Fiction: An exploratory study of graduation rates of Division I student-athlete “special admits” within a single conference
Author(s) -
Alexandra M. Ingram
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of higher education athletics and innovation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2376-5267
DOI - 10.15763/issn.2376-5267.2020.1.8.55-81
Subject(s) - graduation (instrument) , demographics , athletes , exploratory research , population , psychology , medical education , special populations , cohort , exploratory analysis , mathematics education , medicine , demography , sociology , physical therapy , mathematics , computer science , social science , psychotherapist , geometry , data science
Currently, the NCAA does not track the academic outcomes of student-athlete special admits. The purpose of this exploratory study was to gain an understanding of educational outcomes for Division I specially admitted student-athletes. Findings showed the special admit population had the same six-year graduation rate as the overall FCS student body cohort (55%). Only a small percentage (4.5%) of special admits were dismissed for academic reasons. Further study is suggested regarding the demographics and incoming academic characteristics of this population in order to pave the way for academic best practices for this severely understudied group of students within higher education.