The NCAA News - News and Features

September 14, 1998

NCAA endorses ACE action

The NCAA Executive Committee voted unanimously August 12 to endorse a resolution adopted by the American Council on Education (ACE) board of directors entitled, "A Statement of Principles Regarding Student Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics."

The resolution, along with a cover letter signed by ACE President Stanley Ikenberry, was mailed to all ACE member institutions June 2.

The adoption of the resolution follows a commitment to voluntarily address issues related to sports-team discontinuation made by the ACE and NCAA to Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, and Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minnesota. Hastert and Wellstone alleged that students were treated unfairly and not given adequate notice when decisions to discontinue sports teams were made. Both members of Congress had proposed new federal legislation, which -- had it been adopted -- would have placed restrictions on colleges and universities as changes in athletics programs were considered.

In his letter to institutional CEOs, Ikenberry wrote, "Earlier this year, Sen. Wellstone and Rep. Hastert indicated that they planned to introduce legislation to protect the interests of student-athletes whose sports teams were being discontinued. They expressed concern that students active in intercollegiate sports were being adversely affected when teams were eliminated. We have since had several conversations about the academic, financial, and other pressures faced by colleges and universities and the several concerns and considerations that contribute to the difficult decision to eliminate athletics programs."

The resolution was initially proposed and drafted by the NCAA and modified by the ACE board of directors and is intended to establish a written policy of what is currently common practice among NCAA member institutions involving issues associated with sports-team discontinuation on campus.

"Although most NCAA member institutions already practice the principles outlined in the resolution, it is important for the Association membership to review the resolution to ensure that improvements in campus policies are not warranted," NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey said. "Institutions are encouraged to always seek other alternatives before discontinuing a men's or women's sports team and place the well-being of students at the center of the decision-making process when it becomes necessary to consider the discontinuation of a sports team."

The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics recommended that the NCAA endorse the resolution July 15. The NCAA Divisions I, II and III Management Councils recommended at their July meetings that the resolution be endorsed.

A Statement of Principles Regarding Student Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics

Whereas, the primary mission of colleges and universities is to provide a rich academic environment for students; and

Whereas, many college students benefit from participation in intercollegiate athletics; and

Whereas, colleges and universities recognize that student participation in intercollegiate athletics promotes goals that are compatible with academic pursuits, such as teamwork, health, fitness, camaraderie and competition; and

Whereas, colleges and universities are committed to equal opportunity in intercollegiate athletics participation, as they are in all other aspects of college life; and

Whereas, intercollegiate athletics participation for men and women has increased dramatically over the past 20 years; and

Whereas, the range and type of intercollegiate athletics opportunities are often influential factors in decisions by students to enroll in a particular college or university; and

Whereas, colleges and universities have the responsibility to make decisions about which athletics programs to sponsor based on a consideration of multiple factors, such as institutional mission and priorities, budgetary pressures, institutional reforms and restructuring, liability insurance premiums, student and community interest in a particular sport, and the advancement of diversity in intercollegiate athletics;

Therefore, be it resolved that the American Council on Education urges colleges and universities to place the welfare and well-being of the student-athletes at the center of their decision-making process in intercollegiate athletics programs, particularly in the event that discontinuation of a particular sport becomes a necessity, by: