Assessing Academic Risk of Student-Athletes: Applicability of the NCAA Graduation Risk Overview Model to GPA

Abstract

In an effort to standardize academic risk assessment, the NCAA developed the graduation risk overview (GRO) model. Although this model was designed to assess graduation risk, its ability to predict grade-point average (GPA) remained unknown. Therefore, 134 individual risk assessments were made to determine GRO model effectiveness in the identification of academic risk for Division I student-athletes as determined by semester GPA. Pearson correlations and least-squares multiple-regression analyses revealed the GRO model as an effective means by which to assess academic risk. Academic advisors and other stakeholders of college student-athlete well-being can use this model to identify student-athletes most at risk for academic struggles and advise them accordingly .