The NCAA News - Digest

April 29, 1996

• Council supports changes for learning-disabled students
• Committee to consider special assistance fund issues
• Stratten rejoins staff -- Canavan announces resignation
• First of three seminars set for May 8-10 in St. Louis
• Association begins certification of summer basketball leagues
• 1996-97 NCAA Manual mailed to membership

COUNCIL

Council supports changes for learning-disabled students

The NCAA Council will support changes in the way the Association accommodates learning-disabled students attempting to meet initial-eligibility requirements.

The Council, which met April 15-17, agreed to sponsor legislation that would eliminate the rule requiring certification that a high-school prospect have specific academic achievements in order to take an early official visit. It also will sponsor a proposal that would allow learning-disabled students to count high-school courses taken in the summer after they graduate toward their core-course requirements.

The Council also heard a report from the NCAA Eligibility Committee, which raised the possibility of creating a special committee to study amateurism issues.

The Council requested a clarification on whether the Special Committee to Study Agents and Amateurism is planning to undertake a comprehensive examination of amateurism as part of its work. If so, the Divisions II and III Steering Committees noted that because the question of amateurism transcends all three divisions, representatives from those divisions should be added to that committee, which currently is made up exclusively of Division I representatives.

A request for the Council to sponsor legislation permitting employment income for student-athletes during the school year was referred back to the NCAA Committee on Financial Aid and Amateurism. The Council asked the committee to identify why similar legislation has been defeated at the last two NCAA Conventions and to report back to the Council for its August meeting.

Staff contact: Nancy L. Mitchell,

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Committee to consider special assistance fund issues

The NCAA Executive Committee will consider several aspects of the special assistance fund at its April 30-May 2 meeting.

Both the Focus Group to Review Student-Athlete Benefits and the NCAA Committee on Financial Aid and Amateurism are examining several elements of the special assistance fund, and both will report to the Executive Committee.

The meeting also will feature a report from the NCAA Budget Subcommittee, which will meet April 29. Staff contacts: Tricia Bork and Frank E. Marshall

STAFF

Stratten rejoins staff, Canavan announces resignation

Ronald J. Stratten, a management and training consultant, has been named as NCAA group executive director for education services.

Stratten replaces Daniel Boggan Jr., who was named chief operating officer in January.

Stratten will begin his new position June 3. As group executive director for education services, Stratten will manage a staff that includes the areas of education resources, professional development, research, sports sciences and youth programs.

It will be Stratten's second stint on the staff; he served on the enforcement staff from 1975 to 1983. He was hired as an enforcement representative and spent his final six years as an assistant director of enforcement.

In another personnel matter, Francis M. Canavan, NCAA group executive director for public affairs since October 1992, announced his resignation, effective May 1.

Canavan was responsible for directing the public information, licensing, promotions, marketing and broadcast services, corporate partner, The NCAA News, publishing, statistics, Hall of Champions, and constituent-communications staffs. In addition, he oversaw the NCAA's Washington, D.C., office, which was formed during his tenure.

REGIONAL SEMINARS

First of three seminars set for May 8-10 in St. Louis

The first of three NCAA regional seminars designed to enhance rules compliance will be conducted May 8-10 in St. Louis at the Hyatt Regency Union Station.

Subsequent seminars will be May 22-24 in Boston (Park Plaza Hotel) and May 29-31 in Newport Beach, California (Marriott). Staff contact: Chris Gates.

SUMMER LEAGUES

Association begins certification of summer basketball leagues

The first 30 summer basketball leagues to be certified by the Association for 1996 competition include 16 men's leagues, seven women's leagues, and seven combining men's and women's competition. Staff contact: David J. Thurkill.

LEGISLATION

1996-97 NCAA Manual mailed to membership

The 1996-97 NCAA Manual has been mailed to the membership.

The 1996-97 Manual is written to be effective August 1, 1996, so the 1995-96 Manual will remain in effect until then. Once the 1996-97 Manual takes effect (August 1, 1996), it no longer will be necessary to use the 1995-96 Manual.

A supplement containing immediately effective legislation is being developed and will be available soon.

Staff contact: Nancy L. Mitchell.