The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- November 8, 1999

NCAA to vote on nondiscrimination principle at Convention

The Association will hold its first Association-wide vote in the new governance structure when it considers a modification of Constitution 2.6 at the 2000 NCAA Convention in San Diego.

The proposed legislation involves making the NCAA's Principle of Nondiscrimination more explicit by describing specifically what types of discrimination are prohibited. The proposal is sponsored by the NCAA Executive Committee.

Because the proposal (No. 2-1 in the Second Publication of Proposed Legislation) is a constitutionally dominant provision, it must be approved by two-thirds of the full membership present and voting. The vote will be taken on a one-vote, one-institution basis through a show of paddles during the Convention's opening business session Sunday, January 9. The session is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m.

This is the first time since the NCAA restructured in 1997 that an Association-wide vote has been necessary. While the full memberships of Divisions II and III still assemble annually to legislate, Division I legislates based on conference representation through the Division I Management Council and Board of Directors. A quorum for an Association-wide vote is achieved if 100 members are present (Constitution 5.1.4.1).

The proposed changes to the Principle of Nondiscrimination first were recommended by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics. The principle currently states that "The Association shall promote an atmosphere of respect for and sensitivity to the dignity of every person. It is the policy of the Association to refrain from discrimination with respect to its governance policies, educational programs, activities and employment policies."

The proposal would make the principle more explicit by adding "including on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, creed or sexual orientation. It is the responsibility of each member institution to determine independently its own policy regarding nondiscrimination."