The purpose of this study was to identify selected academic variables that may serve as predictors of first semester academic success of at-risk scholarship football student-athletes who matriculated at the University of Missouri during the academic years of 2002-03, 2003-04, and 2004-05. The variables analyzed were high school grade point average (GPA), high school rank, and standardized test score. The results of the study indicated that high school GPA was the only significant predictor of first semester college GPA for at-risk student-athletes accounting for 21 percent of the explained variance.
This study compares the predictive validity of the Office of University Admission's model to predict first year grade point average for student athletes at the University of Missouri. In a majority of the cases, it was found that student athletes had higher first year grade point averages than the campus prediction. Based on these findings, the researcher used a stepwise multiple regression to identify variables that account for a significant portion of the variance in first year grade point average for student athletes. The research was able to identify a significant model including three variables that explained 50% of the total variance in first year GPA. High school GPA (42%), ACT composite (5%), and aid status (2.5%) were significant predictors of first year academic performance for student athletes at the University of Missouri.
Universities are required by the NCAA to ensure student-athletes make progress towards earning a degree. In 2004, The NCAA created the Academic Progress Rate (APR) metric to assess if universities were facilitating academic success for student-athletes. Athletic programs that fail to meet an APR score of 925 receive a variety of penalties. These penalties not only hurt the athletic program but also tarnish an institution's image. Predicting which student-athletes are at-risk can provide an opportunity for athletic programs to change procedures to reduce risk. Although the NCAA provides information about APR risk, results are calculated based on aggregated data across a variety of institutions ranging from regional colleges to elite private universities. The risk factors provided by the NCAA may not accurately reflect risk within a specific institution. The present study assessed risk factors related to losing APR points for student-athletes attending a Division I institution in a BCS conference. Archival data were collected from the institution and the NCAA for 829 student-athletes receiving athletic scholarships between 2003-2009 school years. Predictor variables included high school GPA, SAT scores, conditions of admission, SES, race/ethnicity, sex, playing time, red shirting, distance from home, and sport risk. Results of the analysis indicate that male and female student-athletes have different risk factors and should be analyzed separately. There is an interesting relationship between high school GPA and SAT scores for minority student-athletes. Finally, a combination of preadmission, social-contextual, and sport variables were associated with student-athletes at-risk for losing APR points.
The purpose of this study was to determine if noncognitive variables, alone or in combination with standardized test score (ACT or SAT) and/or high school grade point average, can predict student success (first-semester grade point average, first to second year retention and five year graduation rate) for 154 academically at-risk college freshmen admitted into the Conditional Admissions Program (CAP) at the University of Central Missouri for the Fall 2007 semester. In this investigation, student success was defined as a first semester GPA of 2.0 or higher, retaining to the second year and graduating within a five year time frame. Through the six- question short answer-style Insight Resume, noncognitive attributes were evaluated based on each student's life experiences and what they learned from those experiences. Correlations were calculated measuring the relationship between the Insight Resume and the dependent variables. Findings revealed there were only slight correlations between Insight Resume score and earning a first semester GPA of 2.0 or greater, retaining from the first to the second year, and graduating in five years. In addition, logistic regression was used to measure the predictive value of the combination of the Insight Resume scores, HSGPA and composite ACT scores on predicting first semester GPA of 2.0 or higher, retention from year one to year two, or five year graduation rate. Results indicated that there was no indication any of the predictor variables significantly improved the ability to predict earning a first semester GPA of 2.0 or higher or whether a student would retain or graduate.
The purpose of this research was to explore a range of predictor variables believed to influence the academic success of student-athletes as measured by cumulative grade point averages (CGPA) and academic progress rates (APR). This study included 210 scholarship student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics at a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) limited-resource institution. Multiple regression analysis found standardized test scores (Test), high school core grade point averages (HSGPA), the Will composite scale of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory, 2nd Edition (LASSI-II), gender, and generational status (i.e. first-generation or non-first-generation) to be most predictive of student-athlete cumulative grade point averages (CGPA). Independent t-tests were conducted on all predictor variables in the study and found significant differences between males and females on the variables of HSGPA, Test, and CGPA with female student-athletes scoring higher on all of these measures. Significant differences were also found between first-generation and non-first-generation student-athletes on variables of HSGPA, Test, Skill, Will, and CGPA with non-first-generation student-athletes scoring higher on all of these measures. Student-athletes participating in non-revenue sports had significantly higher scores on the HSGPA, Test, and CGPA variables. Logistic regression analyses using found standardized test scores to be the only predictor variable in this study to consistently contribute to the prediction of APR point loss.
