A new report by The Drake Group Education Fund (TDGEF) highlights the low graduation rates of Division I football and basketball players, especially Black athletes at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). It urges universities to improve academic support for these athletes, who face pressure to succeed in both academics and sports.

Julie Sommer, Executive Director of TDGEF, announced the release of the report stating, “We hope college presidents, athletic directors, faculty athletics representatives, and provosts carefully consider the report’s recommendations on how current academic support programs must be revamped to meet the unique needs of these college athletes, who juggle rigorous academic and athletic demands. If higher education institutions are committed to delivering their promise of providing a meaningful college education to all college athletes, they need to provide not just access, but also ongoing assessment and resources to help these students succeed.”