The intercollegiate athletics program is helping to create a sense of community among faculty, staff and students as well as foster a feeling of institutional pride. In this regard, student-athletes are totally integrated in the student body and are often more involved in campus activities than other students. The NCAA provides a summary Graduation Rates Report for all Division I schools. Authority for admissions and certification of academic standing is vested in the same bodies that are charged with these responsibilities for all students. In certain ways, support is more formalized for student-athletes than other students, including monitoring processes to ensure participation and satisfactory progress.
Adequate policies exist to minimize conflicts between athletic and academic schedules.
Scheduling of athletic competitions and practices are reviewed by the Athletics Advisory Committee to ensure that athletics schedules comply with these policies. The campus Eligibility Committee must determine the academic eligibility for all student-athletes. The NCAA requirements for new student-athletes include a high school degree with a minimum gpa in a successfully completed core curriculum which include at least 13 academic courses. While a recent court decision has put the following NCAA requirements for a minimum score on national standardized testing in question, these scores will still be required until the case is resolved. The NCAA uses a National Clearinghouse which reviews all high school records for entering freshmen who have no previous college attendance.