The Academic Reform of Intercollegiate Athletics

The Good, the Problematic, and the Truly Worrisome

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a response to Harrison’s (2012) work. The author highlights the positives associated with many of the academic reform efforts Harrison highlights (i.e., the good); addresses concerns about academic clustering, rewarding teams performing at high academic levels, and athletic administrators’ resistance to upset the status quo (i.e., the problematic); and the strong association between efforts for academic reform and large revenue streams found in men’s basketball and football (i.e., the truly worrisome). Recommendations and conclusions are advanced.