Should Athletes be Banned from Online Classes?

Brigham Young University faced public scrutiny when their courses were available to athletes. Media outlets claimed that coaches were acting inappropriately as proctors, giving too much assistance to students or even helping them cheat. In some cases, coaches enrolled students and completed the coursework without their knowledge so that the students would qualify to play. In other instances, players finished entire courses in only a few weeks. Making online classes available to athletes may make it easier for them to avoid completing courses at their own schools and even avoid learning altogether.

Many believe that athletes should be treated like any other student and given the same opportunities. Not allowing athletes to take online classes puts them at a disadvantage and, in some cases, excludes them from participating in their sport even if they are more than willing to make up any missing coursework. If online classes are too simple or make it too easy to cheat, perhaps the solution should be to improve the courses rather than to ban athletes.

Where It Stands