The change isn’t coming for three-plus more years, but KU’s athletics department has already been preparing for some time for higher NCAA eligibility standards coming down the road, Inside Higher Ed reports today.

In August 2016, the NCAA will raise the academic standards that incoming students must meet to be eligible for athletics, and administrators at the NCAA’s annual convention last week were urging departments to quickly start getting the word out to high schools and parents so students coming to school at that time can be ready.

Inside Higher Ed cited KU’s athletics department as one that has been thinking about the change for a while now. Cooperating with Kansas State and Wichita State universities, KU athletics officials have developed brochures to distribute to counselors and parents. They’ve also met with high school and community college officials to inform them about the changes.

The story quotes Theresa Becker, associate athletics director for compliance, saying getting the word out has been a “challenge,” but “you have to get your attitude in check about it.”

Fortunately, there are no eligibility requirements for submitting KU news tips to Heard on the Hill. So what’s your excuse for not sending them to merickson@ljworld.com?