I doubt calculus will go away as a core requirement at Georgia Tech.
The UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA, Academic & Student Affairs Handbook, Academics Affairs Division, 2.4 Core Curriculum states, "A calculus course is required in Area A2 for all engineering majors and for all programs at Georgia Institute of Technology. While students may fulfill this requirement with a math course higher than a first course in calculus, institutions may not require them to do so."
But there is hope for students not prepared for Georgia Tech's core requirements. The Learning Support Program (aka 0999 math and English courses). Georgia Tech uses benchmark scores earned via the SAT (Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing and Math) or ACT (English and Math) to determine placement in Learning Support. Students who score below 480 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section (or 17 on the ACT English) will be required to complete the learning support program for English. Students who score below 530 on the SAT Math Section (or 21 on the ACT Math) will be required to complete the learning support program for math. Georgia Tech will consider the higher of the SAT and ACT scores when determining learning support placement.
According to Fitch Ratings. Georgia Tech is a major research university with premier engineering and applied sciences programs, as evidenced by consistent growth in enrollment and very strong student quality indicators over time. Regarding the influence of the Athletic Director on changing the Georgia Institute of Technology curriculum. The GTAA's positive credit rating is very dependent on Georgia Tech's very high credit rating and historic support to the GTAA as a component unit of Georgia Tech (similar to GTRI and the Georgia Tech Foundation). With the GTAA having a approximate $289M debt (including a 2024 revenue bond for $40M for the Student Athlete Performance Center) and Georgia Tech the school not being legally obligated (but historically willing) to back the GTAA debt, I would think it would be difficult for the GTAA to ask Georgia Tech to ask the University System of Georgia to change the requirement for calculus for the benefit of athletics success. GTAA's annual budget of ~$128 M supporting facilities, scholarships, and salaries, compared to Georgia Tech's ~$2.1B budget supporting ~45,000 students plus faculty and facilities would likely not be enough influence to remove calculus from the requirements as preparation for success in graduating from Georgia Tech. The Board of Regents value Georgia Tech as STEM university and they own the land upon which GTAA and Georgia Tech operates. Academics may be of more value than athletics for the brand and culture of Georgia Tech.
If I could pass calculus in 1968 coming from a public high school in southwest Georgia with a senior class of 35, any of today's student athletes should be able to if they can get accepted into Tech. If they cannot pass calculus, hello portal. At least they might get a degree from somewhere.
