The NCAA News - News and FeaturesAugust 18, 1997
Division II: Core-course panel recommended
The Division II Management Council recommended sponsorship of a variety of proposed legislation during its first official meeting in the new governance structure.
The Management Council, meeting July 28-29 in Denver, agreed to recommend to the Division II Presidents Council that it sponsor proposals originating from four committees, as well as a joint Divisions I and II initiative to create a standing committee to evaluate core courses in the Association's initial-eligibility certification process.
In addition, the Management Council agreed to ask the Presidents Council to support two of eight proposals submitted by the Division II membership for the 1998 Convention, but did not recommend cosponsorship of any of the proposals.
The Management Council recommended sponsorship of the following committee proposals:
A Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports proposal (developed in cooperation with the American Football Coaches Association and Collegiate Commissioners Association) dealing with spring football practice. The proposal would limit spring practice to three days of noncontact practice (helmets only), with only two occurring initially; four days of contact practices (full pads optional) with no tackling; and eight days of contact practices (full pads) with tackling. Also, no more than three of the eight contact/tackling practices could be devoted primarily to 11-on-11 scrimmages, including any "spring game."
Olympic Sports Liaison Committee proposals to permit educational expenses to be provided to qualified student-athletes by national governing bodies and to allow student-athletes in the sport of diving to practice beyond the end of the swimming playing season, provided those student-athletes engage in no more than a 144-day playing season.
An Academic Requirements Committee proposal to amend the conditions under which a student-athlete may enroll in a joint high-school/academic program for outstanding high-school students without starting a student's "eligibility clock."
Eligibility Committee proposals to clarify NCAA Bylaw 10.3, which deals with gambling activities; to govern circumstances in which repayment or restitution is required as a condition for restoration of the eligibility of a student-athlete; and to specify additional instances in which a violation would be classified as de minimus and would not render a prospective or enrolled student-athlete ineligible.
The Divisions I and II initiative to establish a standing core-course review committee originated in the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet. The standing committee would include representatives of both divisions; Division I representatives would report to the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet and Division II representatives to the Division II Academic Requirements Committee.
The Division II Presidents Council is being asked to sponsor legislation granting Division II approval for the committee and its composition.
Membership proposals
The Management Council recommended that the Presidents Council support a pair of related membership proposals for the 1998 Convention. The companion proposals would permit annually the exemption of up to two contests against either foreign teams or "club" members of USA Basketball from limits on the permissible number of basketball contests.
However, the Management Council declined to recommend sponsorship or support for six other membership proposals, including a measure that would decrease the permissible number of scholarships in Division II football from the equivalent of 36 financial aid awards to 30.
The Management Council also declined to support a membership proposal to reduce the number of equivalency scholarships for cross country and track at schools that sponsor only cross country, opting instead to recommend its own proposal to the Presidents Council.
Under the Management Council's proposal, such institutions would be limited to six cross country scholarships for women and five for men, compared to the 12.6 scholarships that currently are permissible. The proposal seeks to address concerns expressed earlier by the Presidents Council regarding whether a reduction would negatively impact institutions' Title IX compliance.
Other proposals
The Management Council also agreed to recommend sponsorship of these proposals:
To require every Division II conference to form a conference student-athlete advisory committee (see story on page 1).
To add two members to the Men's and Women's Tennis Committee to ensure that all Division II regions are guaranteed representation in the sport.
All proposals recommended by the Management Council for sponsorship by the 1998 Convention were submitted to the Presidents Council for consideration at its August 12-13 meeting in Atlanta.
Other highlights
Division II Management Council
July 28-29/Denver
Approved the formation of project teams to review the role of student-athletes in the Division II governance structure and related matters (see story on page 1); to review procedures for filling Division II Management Council vacancies and discuss ways to enhance diversity of representation at Division II institutions and conferences; and to develop a list of expectations of Management Council representatives.
Approved the Deep South Lacrosse Conference's application for Division II membership and approved a request by Elon College for an exemption from the maximum limit on financial aid awards.
Agreed that the Division II Championships Committee will not be required to seek Management Council approval of championships actions that do not involve financial, safety or image impacts.
Agreed to change the name of the Division II Eligibility Committee to Division II Committee on Reinstatement.
Appointed the following individuals to committee positions designated for Management Council representatives: Lawrence E. Fitzgerald of Southern Connecticut State University to the Memorial Resolutions Committee and James W. Watson of West Liberty State College to the Division II Membership Committee. Also, Doug Echols of the South Atlantic Conference was appointed to serve on the Management Council subcommittee that will hear waiver requests and infractions appeals.
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