THE PUBLIC MIND: ACADEMIC STANDARDS WILL ALLOW COACHES TO COMPETE

To the Editor:

Since Bill Heitland's article entitled "Noble or No-Win Cause" in the February 23, 1992 edition of the Southeast Missourian I have been able to reflect on, with assistance from parties on and off campus, just how our admissions policy influences the recruitment of student-athletes. Based upon the recent discussions, it seems prudent I write with an objective to clarify.

Through its admissions requirements, the University seeks to predict which students have both the ability and academic background to be successful at Southeast. In 1985 the University began the development of its present standards for admission (ACT of 18 or SAT 700, 15 core courses, and an overall 2.0 GPA). These were fully implemented by 1990. Even so, the admissions staff does have the latitude to vary from the stated standards and admit students with a "conditional admission." Such "conditional admissions", or exceptions, are limited to 10 percent of the total number of first-year students enrolled at the University.

Our coaches need to be able to recruit with roughly the same set of circumstances as our competition the Ohio Valley Conference and for the most part they do. Murray State requires a 20 on the ACT (21 for out-of-state); Austin Peay needs 14 core courses; and Middle Tennessee wants an ACT of 19 and 13 core courses (14 in 1993). Actually Southeast's ACT requirement is one of the lowest in the OVC, the number of core courses required one of the highest, and the overall GPA in the lower half. Yes, OVC schools also provide some exceptions similar to Southeast. Public institutions in Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky have either adopted a 15 core requirement or are presently in the process of doing so. I think we are in the "ball park."

NCAA requirements are often misunderstood. They are not guidelines for success, but are established minimums. Each institution develops its own measures by which it seeks success for its students. Southeast looks for an ACT of 18 or SAT of 700, the NCAA a 17 (last year 18) or 700. Southeast wants 15 core courses, the NCAA 11 (soon to be 13). Southeast asks for an overall GPA of 2.0, the NCAA a 2.0 in the core courses. Southeast allows for 10 percent exceptions, the NCAA allows no exceptions. As a rule, our coaches shy away from students who are academically marginal, just as they shy away from students who are athletically marginal. They are high risks. A strong athletic program cannot be built on risks. Coaches at Southeast have built their success on good athletes and good students. This is evident by student-athletes' graduation rate equal to the student body as a whole, and second in the OVC.

From time to time, coaches will ask for exceptions, as they have in the past; and as in the past some will be granted, others will not. Will our coaches be able to compete? You bet!

~Richard A. McDuffie

Director of Athletics

Southeast Missouri State University