Clemson Task Force Issues Report on Admissions Procedures

by Press Release - Fri Apr 13 13:43:14 GMT-04:00 2007

CLEMSON ? Clemson University released a report today (April 13) recommending changes in its procedures for admitting student-athletes that parallels procedures for non-athletes who do not meet regular admissions qualifications.

The report was developed by a task force appointed Feb. 22 by Clemson President James F. Barker to review existing procedures and recommend improvements to ensure academic integrity, athletic competitiveness, and full compliance with NCAA certification.

The task force recommended two key procedural changes:

? Separating the issuance of national letters-of-intent from the admissions decision process, since letters are issued before the completion of the high school senior year;

? Incorporating the NCAA?s graduation success rate and academic progress rate scores into the admissions director?s formula for determining which student-athlete applications warrant review by the university?s Athletic Admissions Review Committee (AARC). The formula will use a sliding scale that grants the admissions director greater flexibility if a team is successfully retaining and graduating student-athletes.

The task force also recommended shifting the deadline for submission of admissions materials for international student-athletes from July 1 to August 1, adding a staff member in admissions and a learning specialist in Vickery Hall to handle increased workloads related to supporting needs of student-athletes, and appointing an athletics representative as a non-voting member of the AARC. The new positions will be jointly funded by the university and athletics. Barker said the university will implement the group?s recommendations. ?The changes recommended by the task force will give our coaches a level playing field in the competitive world of athletic recruiting while protecting academic integrity,? he said. ?The procedures they have outlined accomplish three things. First, they clearly leave admissions decisions in the hands of the academic community. Second, they accommodate the national schedule for signing letters-of-intent. And third, they create incentives for coaches to work hard at retaining and graduating student-athletes, which is our ultimate goal.?