National Collegiate Athletic Association |
The NCAA News DigestMarch 1, 1999
Division I basketball facts
DIVISION IAEC Cabinet to hear reports on alternate initial-eligibility plans The Division I Academics/Eligibility/Com-pliance Cabinet will hear reports in June on alternative proposals for initial-eligibility requirements. As part of the cabinet's February 18-19 meeting, the Initial-Eligibility Subcommittee received a preliminary report from the NCAA Research Committee on ineligibility rates for the 1998 cohort of prospective student-athletes. The report shows that the average ineligibility rates for prospects have continued to decline since the current standards went into effect in 1996 -- from 10.9 percent in 1996 to 8.0 percent in 1997 to 6.8 percent in 1998. Ineligibility rates in 1998 for low-income prospects (16.9 percent) continue to be disproportionately higher, however, than for middle- (6 percent) or high-income (2.3 percent) prospects. The greatest disparity in ineligibility rates is between African-American student-athletes (20.6 percent) and white prospects (3.7 percent). The ineligibility trends have steadily improved, however, for African-American prospects since 1996 -- 27.3 percent in 1996, 21.8 percent in 1997 and 20.6 percent in 1998. Staff contact: Kevin C. Lennon.
LITIGATIONSupreme Court rules NCAA not a recipient of federal funds The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the NCAA is not a recipient of federal funds simply because it receives dues from member schools that do receive federal money. Staff contact: Elsa Kircher Cole.
TITLE IXTitle IX Seminar set for May 11-12 in Chicago Application and registration forms for the 1999 NCAA Title IX Seminar have recently been sent to the membership. The Title IX Seminar will be held May 11-12 at the Westin-Michigan Avenue Hotel in Chicago. New this year is a special session on the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act form and its application. Other additions include a session on Title IX as it applies to the health and safety of student-athletes and a panel discussion on sexual harassment and Title IX. The keynote speaker for the seminar will be Ellen Vargyas, legal counsel for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. There is no fee for NCAA members. The fee for nonmembers is $150. Staff contacts: Sherri Mansfield
INITIAL ELIGIBILITYSurvey indivates satisfaction with Clearinghouse services A recent survey indicates customer satisfaction with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse staff and the initial-eligibility process. Survey results indicated that 98 percent of member institutional representatives, 96 percent of parents and 94 percent of high-school counselors surveyed either strongly or somewhat agreed that Clearinghouse staff members were courteous and friendly during telephone contacts. At least 80 percent of all three groups, and 90 percent of member institutional representatives, also either strongly or somewhat agreed that the staff provided clear, complete and accurate answers to questions. The survey also revealed that 88 percent of high-school counselors believe that the current initial-eligibility rules are easy to understand. In addition, 86 percent of counselors are very or somewhat satisfied with the overall process. Staff contacts: Bob Oliver.
BASEBALLPanel appointed to deal with baseball risk issues Milton A. Gordon, president of California State University, Fullerton, will head a special NCAA panel of independent scientists and experts to study risk issues in college baseball. Created by the NCAA Executive Committee in January, the panel is charged with reporting and recommending to the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee and the Executive Committee specifications for baseballs and nonwood baseball bats, as well as future certification protocol. Staff contacts: Stephen R. Hagwell. |
