NCAA halts independent study credit for students from Utah, Ill. online schools

NCAA cracks down on correspondence courses

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The NCAA says it will no longer accept course credit from two online schools based in Utah and Illinois as part of a move to strengthen its eligibility standards for potential college athletes.

Tuesday’s announcement means high school students seeking NCAA Division I eligibility will no longer be able to submit transcripts from Brigham Young University’s independent study program based in Provo, Utah.

Also on the prohibited list is the American School, a correspondence program based in Lansing, Ill.

The move is part of new NCAA rules that require “regular access and interaction” between teachers and students in the 16 core courses required to establish initial eligibility for new college athletes.

The changes don’t affect NCAA Division II schools. An oversight panel from that division declined to endorse the proposed change but will reconsider the measure in June.