National Collegiate Athletic Association |
The NCAA News DigestApril 14, 1997
DIVISION ICEO subcommittee examines certification, eligibility process The Division I subcommittee of the NCAA Presidents Commission recently reviewed modifications of the Division I athletics certification program and also discussed 1997 Convention Proposal No. 62. At its March 27-28 meeting, the Division I subcommittee focused on proposed changes in the athletics certification program as it moves toward its second cycle. The Commission also expressed concern about 1997 Convention Proposal No. 62, which will permit Division I student-athletes the opportunity to earn up to their cost of attendance through out-of-season employment. The presidents expressed questions about how to effectively monitor employment by student-athletes and whether the definition of cost of attendance should be clarified. The Division I Board of Directors also met and reviewed the initial-eligibility certification process. The Board noted that it did not support changes in the standards for initial eligibility, but it did ask for an expeditious review of the initial-eligibility and clearinghouse system. Staff contact: Stephen R. Morgan
DIVISION IIEducational assessment OKed; compliance efforts enhanced The NCAA Division II Presidents Council Transition Team has approved details of an educational assessment program for provisional Division II members. At its March 27 meeting, the transition team also approved enhancement of compliance services for active members. The educational assessment program was authorized by Division II members at the 1997 Convention, at which time the Association also voted to lengthen the provisional-membership period from three to four years. In Division II, the provisional-membership period's first year will be devoted to an orientation to the NCAA, the second year to achievement of compliance and rules awareness, the third year to a self-assessment of rules compliance, and the fourth year to verification of compliance. The program will become effective after the current moratorium on new NCAA members is lifted, and will apply only to schools applying for Division II membership after that date. The presidents also approved a plan that will enhance compliance services for active Division II members primarily by increasing awareness of and the number of compliance reviews conducted by the NCAA staff at Division II institutions and initiating "mini-regional seminars" in conjunction with regularly scheduled conference meetings. Staff contact: Nancy L. Mitchell
DIVISION IIICEOs endorse statement on educational, competitive values The Division III subcommittee of the NCAA Presidents Commission has endorsed a statement reasserting the primary importance of the educational and competitive value of in-season regional play and conference championships. The subcommittee, which met March 27, reviewed the results of straw votes concerning championships alternatives that occurred during the Division III business session at the January Convention. It also reviewed a subsequent statement prepared at a joint orientation meeting of the Division III Management Council and Presidents Council in March. The straw vote -- following discussion at the Convention of proposals for subgrouping or subdivision of championships -- indicated that about 60 percent of the Division III membership prefer to stay with previously approv-ed championships enhancements. Staff contact: Daniel T. Dutcher
TELEVISIONFinal-game ratings increase for men's, women's basketball Television ratings for the 1997 Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships showed an increase over the previous year. The rating for the men's championship game between the University of Arizona and the University of Kentucky was 18.9, which is a three percent increase over the 1996 championship game. The women's championship game drew a rating of 4.0, which made it the cable network's highest-rated and most-watched women's game ever. Staff contact: James A. Marchiony
1997 CONVENTION ATTENDANCE
|
