The NCAA News Digest

February 16, 1998

• SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FUND
• CONVENTION -- Survey form sent to Division I membership
• GRADUATION RATES -- Forms to be submitted to national office by March 1
• CHAMPIONSHIPS -- Bracket increases sought, but funding is a question
• WRESTLING -- Committee does not endorse modifying weigh-in procedures
• GAMBLING -- NCAA testifies to Congress on Internet gambling dangers
• INITIAL ELIGIBILITY -- Principals to receive core-course package

The growth of the NCAA special assistance fund has been rapid since its creation in the 1991-92 academic year. Expenditures for the fund, designed to aid student-athletes with unmet financial needs, were $1 million in the first year of its existence but rose to $7.8 million in 1996-97. In addition, the number of recipients also underwent a significant increase, climbing from 4,399 the first year to 18,629 in the last reporting year. The average amount of money per recipient has almost doubled in the same period.

CONVENTION

Survey form sent to Division I membership

A survey form seeking reaction to the NCAA Convention has been sent to the Division I membership.

The format for the 1998 Convention in Atlanta was different than in past years because of the new governance structure. The survey asks questions that will help the Division I Management Council determine what worked for the membership and where improvements might be made.

The form was sent to chief executive officers, athletics directors, faculty athletics representatives, senior woman administrators and compliance officers at Division I institutions. It also was sent to conference commissioners. It is to be returned to the national office by February 27.

Staff contact: Stephen R. Morgan.

GRADUATION RATES

Forms to be submitted to national office by March 1

The deadline for all member institutions to submit a copy of their completed IPEDS GRS-1 form to the national office is March 1.

In addition, Division I members must include a completed copy of the 1998 NCAA Division I Graduation-Rates Supplemental Form (Form 98-6). Submission of the forms is required by Bylaw 30.1.

The forms are to be sent to the attention of Maria DeJulio, research assistant.

Staff contact: Maria DeJulio.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Bracket increases sought, but funding is a question

The Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet has recommended expansion of five Division I men's and women's championships, effective with the 1998-99 academic year.

If the recommendations are implemented, the bracket size in the following team sports would be increased: baseball, from 48 to 64 teams; wo-men's soccer, from 32 to 48; women's softball, from 32 to 48; and women's volleyball, from 56 to 64. In addition, the field sizes for the Division I Men's and Women's Cross Country Champ-ionships would increase from 184 participants to 255 for each gender.

The financial recommendations of the cabinet still must be approved by the Division I Management Council, the Division I Board of Directors and the NCAA Executive Committee. No funding for such championships expansion has been identified in the Association's budget projections, which means that the proposals would have to compete with other initiatives for the limited amount of discretionary spending that is available.

Staff contact: Tricia Bork.

WRESTLING

Committee does not endorse modifying weigh-in procedures

The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safe-guards and Medical Aspects of Sports has declined to endorse a request from the NCAA wrestling committees to adjust weigh-in procedures at the respective division championships from those required during the regular season.

The request was made in hopes of easing logistical demands created by the large number of participants in championships. A total of 330 wrestlers compete in Division I, 140 in Division II, and 200 in Division III.

Staff contact: Randall W. Dick.

GAMBLING

NCAA testifies to Congress on Internet gambling dangers

William S. Saum, NCAA gambling and agent representative, recently testified before Con-gress on legislation pertaining to Internet gambling.

Saum's testimony was before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime. His remarks related to H.R. 2380, which is pending legislation to prohibit gambling on the Internet. A somewhat different companion bill, S. 474, is under consideration in the Senate.

Subcommittee chair Bill McCollum, R-Florida, noted that Internet gambling circumvents state laws, increases opportunities for fraud that cannot be effectively prosecuted, lacks safeguards to assure the age of the gambler and contributes to compulsive gambling because of its accessibility. McCollum, however, also noted that Congress should take care with any legislation in this area since appropriate uses of the Internet could be affected.

The NCAA supports H.R. 2380 and has offered to work with the House subcommittee to refine the legislation.

Saum and Executive Director Cedric W. Dempsey also met with the Washington Higher Education Secretariat to discuss sports gambling and higher education.

Staff contact: William S. Saum.

INITIAL ELIGIBILITY

Staff contact: Robert A. Oliver.