Rowe, Quagliana Receive NCAA Research Grant 

Madeline Rowe and Kyle Quagliana, PhD Students in Higher Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, were named recipients of an NCAA graduate student research grant  in the amount of $7500 for their project examining graduate transfer Student-Athlete Experience. 

Titled "Taking Advantage of One More Year: The NCAA Graduate Transfer Student-Athlete Experience," their project examines a new trend that has emerged since the changes made to the NCAA's transfer portal, and the additional eligibility granted during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Abstract

Over the last few years, graduate transfers have been greatly proliferated by the extra year of eligibility granted to student-athletes who were competing during the pandemic. This research will investigate the experience of Division 1 and 2 NCAA student-athletes who elected to graduate transfer. Specifically, to better understand their reason for transfer, their transfer experience, including recruitment and navigating the transfer portal, and ultimately, their academic, athletic, and social outcomes after transferring. Utilizing mixed methods, this research will build upon the existing student-athlete transfer research, and allow for a better understanding of the unique and complex student-athlete graduate transfer experience.

About the NCAA Graduate Student Research Grant Program

Now in its 18th year, the NCAA Graduate Student Research Grant Program aims to stimulate research on college sports by providing financial support to graduate students in social and behavioral science fields.

A review panel comprising nine athletics administrators and faculty from NCAA member schools selected five research proposals to fund in the 2024 cycle of the program. Their work will help inform NCAA member schools and the public on key topics.

"This award challenges graduate students to develop research that is impactful on college athletics," said Rebecca Spencer, chair of the panel and professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences and faculty athletics representative at Massachusetts. "This year's awards will support research that may identify ways to support athletes' mental health during and after their college careers and explore ways for colleges to support underrepresented student-athletes and coaches."

"These awards not only support this important research but also are an asset to the career development of the five awardees. These findings will be reported to their peers at professional conferences and in publications, allowing them to have an impact on future research and college athletics programs."

Awards for these one-time grants are set at a maximum of $7,500. Recipients are expected to culminate their project in an article written for publication in a scholarly journal or in a completed master's thesis or doctoral dissertation.