House Resolution 167

PAG LIN

  1  1                HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.    
  1  2                        BY  FORD
  1  3 A Resolution encouraging the state board of regents to
  1  4    establish a task force to develop a model athlete
  1  5    recruitment policy and to review college
  1  6    student=athlete graduation rates at the universities
  1  7    under its control.
  1  8    WHEREAS, college student=athletes must balance
  1  9 their endeavors between academics and athletic
  1 10 competition, making success in both challenging; and
  1 11    WHEREAS, there is a significant gap between the
  1 12 graduation rates of African=American student=athletes
  1 13 and white student=athletes; and
  1 14    WHEREAS, the national collegiate athletic
  1 15 association tracks student=athlete graduation rates at
  1 16 its member colleges and universities and promotes the
  1 17 long=term importance of enrolling in and competing at
  1 18 an institution with high student=athlete graduation
  1 19 rates; and
  1 20    WHEREAS, the state of Iowa values its student=
  1 21 athletes and demands excellence in both academic
  1 22 achievement and athletic competition; and
  1 23    WHEREAS, Iowa state university, the university of
  1 24 Iowa, and the university of northern Iowa enjoy
  1 25 success in recruiting student=athletes in this state
  1 26 and throughout the nation and have a stake in ensuring
  1 27 continued success; NOW THEREFORE,
  1 28    BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
  1 29 That the state board of regents is encouraged to
  1 30 establish a task force to review college student=
  2  1 athlete graduation rates at the institutions of higher
  2  2 education under the control of the state board of
  2  3 regents, make recommendations on ways to improve
  2  4 student=athlete graduation rates, and develop a model
  2  5 athlete recruitment policy that at a minimum
  2  6 establishes strong, clear standards and behavioral
  2  7 expectations for recruiting visits.  The task force
  2  8 shall consider the disparities that exist in the
  2  9 graduation rates of the various subgroups of student=
  2 10 athletes.  The task force shall review the current
  2 11 policies and practices at the institutions to
  2 12 determine whether the best practices are being used to
  2 13 promote academic excellence.  The task force shall
  2 14 complete its review and submit its findings and
  2 15 recommendations in a report to the general assembly by
  2 16 January 15, 2005.
  2 17 LSB 6863HH 80
  2 18 kh/cf/24.1