The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- November 22, 1999

Board of Directors minutes

Following is a report of the October 28 meeting of the Division I Board of Directors at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago. All actions taken by the Board of Directors are included. Highlights of the meeting were reported in the November 8 issue of The NCAA News.

1. Opening remarks.

2. Previous minutes: August 5, 1999.

BOARD ACTION: Approved as distributed. (Unanimous voice vote.)

3. Report of August 6 meeting of the NCAA Executive Committee.

FYI: No action taken.

4. Litigation update.

FYI: No action taken.

5. Report of the October 18-19 Division I Management Council meeting.

a. Review of proposed legislation approved by the Management Council. [The effective dates for the following proposals is August 1, 2000, unless noted otherwise.]

(1) Proposal No. 98-60 (BD) -- Housing and Meals -- Vacation-Period Expenses. Intent: To specify that an institution may provide room and board expenses for a specific period of time to student-athletes who return to the institution's campus during a vacation period following institutional competition.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(2) Proposal No. 98-68 (BD) -- Recruiting -- Competition Against Prospects. Intent: To prohibit Division I women's volleyball teams from engaging in competition against outside teams that include prospects, except for exempted contests against a foreign team or a U.S. national team.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(3) Proposal No. 98-104 (BD) -- Playing and Practice Seasons -- Contest Limitations. Intent: To permit a Division I institution to exempt preseason exhibition contests against a four-year collegiate institution, other than a NCAA Division I institution, as an alternative to exempting contests against foreign teams in the United States and USA Basketball club teams, as specified.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(4) Proposal No. 99-2 (BD) -- Outside Competition -- Division I Basketball. Intent: To specify that a basketball student-athlete must complete competition in an NCAA-sanctioned summer basketball league not later than August 31 or the institution's first day of classes, whichever is earlier.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(5) Proposal No. 99-5 (BD) -- Incidental-Expense Waivers. Intent: To specify that an institution may provide a student-athlete a specific expense that has been previously approved by the NCAA Division I Management Council, as incidental to the student-athlete's participation in athletics (without submitting a formal waiver request to the national office).

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(6) Proposal No. 99-11 (BD) -- Playing and Practice Seasons -- Division I Basketball Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament. Intent: In the sport of women's basketball, to specify that the starting date for the Preseason Women's National Invitation Basketball Tournament (WNIT) shall be no sooner than seven days prior to the starting date for the regular season.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(7) Proposal No. 99-23 (BD) -- Amateurism -- Awards. Intent: To permit a prospect's educational institution to receive a financial award in conjunction with the prospect being recognized as part of a program in which overall athletics participation, interests or ability is a criterion in the selection process.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(8) Proposal No. 99-24 (BD) -- Advertisements and Promotions -- Championship Posters. Intent: To permit an institution that hosts an NCAA or conference championship to produce a poster promoting the championship and send it to a high-school coach and/or his or her educational institution.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(9) Proposal No. 99-26 (BD) -- De Minimis Violations. Intent: To specify instances in which a de minimis violation will not render a student-athlete ineligible while retaining the fact that such a violation shall be an institutional violation.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(10) Proposal No. 99-30 (BD) -- Financial Aid -- Board Allowance. Intent: To permit an institution, at its discretion, to provide a student-athlete receiving financial aid that covers the cost of meals with a board allowance that consists of three meals per day, even if the institution's maximum permissible board allowance for all students represents a lesser cost figure.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(11) Proposal No. 99-32 (BD) -- Permissible Benefits -- Reasonable Refreshments. Intent: To permit an institution to provide its student-athletes with reasonable refreshments for student-athlete educational and business meetings and, on an occasional basis, for celebratory events.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(12) Proposal No. 99-33 (BD) -- Women's Championships Sponsorship Criteria -- Minimum Period. Intent: To specify that a new championship may be established in a women's sport if the minimum number of sponsoring institutions exist for one academic year (rather than for two consecutive academic years).

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(13) Proposal No. 99-34 (BD) -- Committee On Competitive Safeguards And Medical Aspects Of Sports -- Composition. Intent: To increase the size of the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports from 15 to 16 members; further, to specify that one member of the committee must have expertise in the area of drug education.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(14) Proposal No. 99-35 (BD) -- Division I Golf Committees -- Men's And Women's. Intent: To establish separate Division I men's and women's golf committees, as specified.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(15) Proposal No. 99-36 (BD) -- Committees -- Women's Gymnastics Committee. Intent: To specify that the six member Women's Gymnastics Committee include five members from Division I and one member from Division II or III..

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(16) Proposal No. 99-37 (BD) -- Permissible Benefits -- NCAA Research Studies. Intent: To permit student-athletes to receive compensation for participation in specified NCAA research studies.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(17) Proposal No. 99-50-1 (BD) -- Permissible Benefits -- Postseason Events. Intent: To permit Division I institutions to secure or reserve lodging at postseason events (other than a conference event) at a reduced or special rate for the parents (or legal guardians) and immediate family of a student-athlete participating in the event.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(18) Proposal No. 99-51 (BD) -- NCAA Championships -- Minimum Sponsorship Criteria -- Men's And Women's Lacrosse Championships. Intent: To create a protected status to continue a National Collegiate Championship or a division championship in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(19) Proposal No. 99-53 (BD) -- Division I Legislative Process -- Comment/Override Deadlines. Intent: To specify that the proposals receiving initial approval of the Management Council shall be published within 15 days of the adjournment of the Board of Directors' meeting immediately following the Management Council actions. Further to specify that the deadline for both the comment period and the override period be established as the date that is 60 days subsequent to the adjournment of the Board of Directors' meeting.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(20) Proposal No. 99-57 (BD) -- Postseason Bowl Certification -- Recertification Requirements. Intent: To amend Bylaw 30.9.18 to specify that a bowl that sells an amount of tickets equal to the value of the contracted obligations of the two participating institutions would satisfy the minimum ticket-sales criteria.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately, subject to review by legal counsel. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(21) Proposal No. 99-64 (BD) -- NCAA Championships -- Religious Conflicts. Intent: To amend Bylaw 31.1.4 to eliminate the opportunity for a governing sports committee to request a waiver from the Championships/Competition Cabinet of the requirement that the championships schedule accommodate participating institutions whose written policies preclude competition on a particular day.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(22) Proposal No. 99-94 (BD) -- NCAA Championships -- Religious Conflicts. Intent: To amend Bylaw 31.1.4 to specify that an institution with a written policy against competition on a particular day due to religious reasons must provide a copy of that written policy to the national office on or before September 1 of each academic year.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(23) Proposal No. 99-105 (BD) -- Summer Baseball -- All-Star Competition. Intent: To amend Bylaw 30.14.10.2 to permit all-star competition between sanctioned summer baseball leagues, provided specific conditions are satisfied.

BOARD ACTION: Adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(24) Proposal No. 99-113 (BD) -- Committee On Infractions -- Infractions Appeal Coordinator. Intent: To expand the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions from eight to nine members and to designate that the additional committee member's sole responsibility shall be to process infractions appeals.

BOARD ACTION: Using its emergency legislative authority, under Constitution 5.3.2.2.1.3, adopted the proposal, effective immediately. (Unanimous voice vote.)

b. Status of legislative proposals related to the recommendations of the Division I Working Group to Study Basketball Issues.

BOARD ACTION: Reviewed the actions of the Management Council and accepted the time line as proposed:

* Circulation of the legislative proposals submitted by the Working Group and several conferences for a 60-day comment period.

* Conference submission of additional alternative proposals by mid-December.

* Further Management Council review in January.

* Discussion with the membership during a forum at the January Convention.

* Circulation of the additional conference proposals for a 60-day comment period.

* Second review of all conference and Working Group proposals in April.

* Anticipated Board action in April.

c. Gender identification of the Final Four.

BOARD ACTIONS:

(1) Noted that the Management Council had recommended that the Association trademark the term "Men's Final Four" as the primary brand for that event, to distinguish it from the Women's Final Four; and to direct the national office staff, in conjunction with trademark attorneys, to make use of the term "Final Four" to protect the Association's ownership of that trademark.

(2) Based on advice from legal counsel, agreed to substitute the following language, noting that it did not substantively alter the main intent of the Management Council to use the terms "Men's Final Four" and "Women's Final Four" consistently and to permit the phrase "Final Four" to refer to the men's and/or women's championship when a gender reference is not necessary:

The term "Men's Final Four" should be used and trademarked consistent with the use of "Women's Final Four," and the Association should continue the use of "Final Four" for either championship, in a manner recommended by national office staff and legal counsel to protect the Association's ownership and trademarks. (Unanimous voice vote.)

d. Automatic qualification for the Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. Ultimately took no action, but discussed the decision of the Management Council to uphold the Championships/Competition Cabinet, which had directed the Division I Men's Lacrosse Committee to:

(1) Award automatic qualification to four conferences into the 2000 and 2001 Division I Men's Lacrosse Championships, based on the computerized Rating-Percentage Index (RPI), and to select one team at-large from the West region; and

(2) Effective with the 2002 championship, provide access into the championship for all eligible conferences via automatic qualification and play-in games.

e. Transportation expenses for play-in games. Referred the following recommendation from the Management Council to the Division I Budget Subcommittee for evaluation in conjunction with other budgetary requests: (Unanimous voice vote.)

(1) The Association should reimburse transportation expenses for teams participating in preliminary (play-in) games of NCAA team championships.

(2) The transportation costs for the 1999-00 academic year should be funded through unallocated surplus funds from the 1998-99 fiscal year, if available. [Note: There will be eight teams traveling to preliminary games during 1999-00 and the transportation costs are estimated to range from minimal ground transportation expenses to a total of $150,000 (a worst-case scenario in which all eight teams would travel by air).]

f. Discussion regarding the Association-wide and Division I budget process.

BOARD ACTION: Reviewed the Association-wide and Division I budget time line and process and agreed that the Management Council's opportunity to provide formal input to the Board of Directors would occur through its representatives to the Division I Budget Subcommittee. (Unanimous voice vote.)

g. Subdivision representation requirement among chairs.

BOARD ACTION: Agreed with the recommendation of the Management Council to: (Unanimous voice vote.)

(1) Retain the current chairs of the Board (Division I-A), Management Council (Division I-A), Academics/Eligibility/ Compliance Cabinet (Division I-AAA) and Championships/ Competition Cabinet (Division I-A); and

(2) Specify that the requirement in Constitution 4.5.3.3.2 (that at least one representative from each subdivision must serve as chair of these entities at any time) would be satisfied as the terms of the current chairs expire.

6. Approval of Division I strategic plan.

BOARD ACTIONS:

a. Student-athlete welfare. Agreed that the strategic plan should contain more emphasis and a greater focus on enhancing the educational experience of student-athletes.

b. Gender equity and diversity. Agreed with the intent of the goal regarding gender equity and diversity, but noted that it applied only to the operation of the Association (national office and committee structure) and the intercollegiate athletics programs of member institutions and that the emphasis areas should be restated to promote and encourage, rather than mandate, gender equity and diversity as follows: (Unanimous voice vote.)

(1) Raising the consciousness of individuals and institutions to the benefits of valuing diversity.

(2) Promoting access and opportunities for women and minorities in intercollegiate athletics on institutional, conference and national levels.

(3) Encouraging institutional athletics programs to meet federal gender-equity standards.

(4) Encouraging each institution and the NCAA national office to clearly define its gender-equity and diversity standards.

(5) Promoting steps to meet the above standards.

(6) Evaluating member institutions in their progress toward compliance with the institution's own gender-equity and diversity standards.

(7) Evaluating the effectiveness of NCAA programs designed to enhance gender equity and diversity.

(8) Requiring that a legislative proposal, when appropriate, include a statement that addresses the impact of the proposal on gender equity and diversity.

c. Development of Division I strategic plan. Agreed that the Division I strategic plan should offer vision and general direction and took the following actions: (Unanimous voice vote.)

Received the draft of the "Division I strategic plan" as amended.

(2) Referred the plan as a working document to the Management Council Strategic Planning Subcommittee and NCAA staff for development of a plan that identifies Division I priorities and goals consistent with the Association's priorities as established by the Executive Committee at its October 1999 retreat; and noted that the subcommittee should link the goal statements and emphasis areas in the draft document, as amended, to the overall Division I priorities and goals established by the subcommittee.

(3) Requested NCAA legal counsel to review the strategic plan developed by the subcommittee prior to final action by the Board.

7. Discussion of initial-eligibility standards.

BOARD ACTIONS:

Heard a report regarding the status of the Cureton litigation and the continued discussions of the initial-eligibility consultants.

b. Noted that the NCAA research staff was continuing its evaluation of data for further review by the initial-eligibility consultants and the Board.

8. Report on membership response to legislation acted upon by the Board at its August meeting.

a. Proposal No. 98-107 (Part E only) -- Recruiting Calendar -- Division I Women's Basketball. Intent: To revise the current women's basketball recruiting calendar as follows: to eliminate the AAU Women's National Championship competition as a permissible evaluation period unless the event occurs during the July 8 through July 31 evaluation period.

BOARD ACTIONS:

Noted that 72 requests had been received to override the Board's action to defeat Part E of Proposal No. 98-107, expressing support for eliminating a separate evaluation period for the AAU women's national championship competition.

Rescinded the previous action regarding only Part E of Proposal No. 98-107 (Parts A through D regarding telephone calls remain defeated) and adopted Part E, effective April 1, 2000. (Unanimous voice vote.)

(3) Noted that Part E of Proposal No. 98-107 will be circulated to the membership and is subject to a new override period.

b. Proposal Nos. 99-41 and 99-55 -- Division I Governance Structure -- Management Council and Championships/Competition Cabinet.

FYI: Noted that one conference had submitted an override request and that concern had been expressed regarding the recent modification to the Management Council and Championships/Competition Cabinet composition, which had occurred without clear criteria for distinguishing among conferences.

9. Legislation tabled by the Board in August.

Proposal No. 99-3 -- Coaching Limitations -- Volunteer Coach. Intent: To permit an institution's volunteer coach to receive compensation for employment in an institution's sports camp or clinic, provided the compensation is commensurate with the going rate for camp or clinic counselors of like teaching ability and camp or clinic experience; further, to permit an institution to provide a volunteer coach with parking expenses associated with practice.

BOARD ACTIONS:

a. Amended the proposal to eliminate the prohibition from receiving compensation for special assignments or duties at an institution's sports camp or clinic. [For 13 (Davis, Eaglin, Gordon, Halligan, Harter, Lawless, Rawlins, Shapiro, Shaw, Spanier, Tyson, Van Ummerson, Wethington), against 3 (Casteen, Dennison, Spencer), not present 2 (Cartwright, Frohnmayer).]

b. Adopted the proposal as amended. [For 13 (Casteen, Davis, Eaglin, Gordon, Harter, Lawless, Rawlins, Shapiro, Shaw, Spanier, Tyson, Van Ummerson, Wethington), against 3 (Dennison, Halligan, Spencer), not present 2 (Cartwright, Frohnmayer).]

10. Ratification of Management Council appointments.

BOARD ACTIONS:

a. October 1999 appointments. Approved the individuals selected to serve on the Management Council by the conferences due to the expansion of the Council to 49 seats as follows: (Unanimous voice vote.)

*Robert Aronson, University of Washington, Pacific-10 Conference.

*Kathryn Berg, Southern Utah University, Mid-Continent Conference.

* Clarence Doninger, Indiana University, Bloomington, Big Ten Conference.

* Damon Evans, University of Georgia, Southeastern Conference.

* Alfreeda Goff, Midwestern Collegiate Conference.

* Charles Harris, Mid-Eastern Conference.

* Chris Hill, University of Utah, Mountain West Conference.

* Tom Jurich, University of Louisville, Conference USA.

* Chris Monasch, America East Conference.

* Jeffrey Orleans, Ivy Group.

* John Parry, Butler University, Midwestern Collegiate Conference.

* Chris Plonsky, University of Texas at Austin, Big 12 Conference.

* Richard M. Regan, Jr., College of the Holy Cross, at-large, Patriot League.

* Alison Sexton, Fairfield University, at-large, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

* Ron Wellman, Wake Forest University, Atlantic Coast Conference.

* Stan Wilcox, Big East Conference.

b. January 2000 appointments. Approved the following individuals to serve on the Management Council, effective following the January 2000 meeting: (Unanimous voice vote.)

* Carolyn Schlie Femovich, Patriot League (reselection).

* Thomas O'Conner, George Mason University, Colonial Athletic Association.

* Kathryn Statz, Marquette University, Conference USA.

* Betsy G. Stephenson, University of California, Los Angeles, Pacific-10 Conference.

* Kathy De Boer, University of Kentucky, Southeastern Conference.

c. Restriction regarding consecutive terms. Noted that Richard McDuffie, the individual selected by the Ohio Valley Conference, has served more than half of a four-year term on the Management Council and is not eligible for immediate reselection; and agreed that he should not be reappointed due to the term limitation specified in Constitution 4.5.3.2. [Motion to reappoint -- defeated -- for 1 (Eaglin), against 15 (Casteen, Davis, Dennison, Gordon, Halligan, Harter, Lawless, Rawlins, Shapiro, Shaw, Spanier, Spencer, Tyson, Van Ummerson, Wethington), not present 2 (Cartwright, Frohnmayer).]

d. Review of Board terms and new selections.

BOARD ACTIONS:

a. Board of Directors appointments. Approved the following appointments to the Board of Directors as selected by the conferences: (Unanimous voice vote.)

* Ron Eaglin, Morehead State University, Ohio Valley Conference, effective immediately.

* Carol Harter, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Mountain West Conference, effective immediately.

* Linwood H. Rose, James Madison University, Colonial Athletic Association, effective January 2000.

b. Term extensions. To appropriately stagger the terms of the Division I-AA and Division I-AAA Board members, agreed to provide the following term extensions, subject to the respective conferences agreeing that these individuals should continue to serve: (Unanimous voice vote.)

* Claire Van Ummerson, Cleveland State University, Midwestern Collegiate Conference (new term expiration: January 2003).

* Donald Spencer, Western Illinois University, Mid-Continent Conference, (new term expiration: January 2001).

* Leroy Davis, South Carolina State University, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, (new term expiration: January 2002).

c. Board representative to the Executive Committee. Based on seniority, confirmed that effective with the January 2000 Executive Committee meeting, both Carol Cartwright (Mid-American Conference) and Milton Gordon (Big West Conference) would serve on the Executive Committee, replacing James Halligan and continuing to serve in the seat previously shared by the two conferences.

d. Board representative to the Ad Hoc Committee to Review Issues Related to Gender and Ethnicity. Agreed that Leroy Davis would replace Ed Fort on the committee. (Unanimous voice vote.)

11. January 2000 Convention schedule for Division I.

FYI: Reviewed the schedule of Division I activities and took no action.

12. Prototype of President's Newsletter.

BOARD ACTION: Approved the prototype of a newsletter to be distributed via e-mail and U.S. postal service to Division I chief executive officers from NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey to keep them apprised of current NCAA issues.

13. Update regarding NCAA president's plan for coordinating marketing policies and initiatives.

FYI: No action taken.

14. Update from the chair of the Board.

BOARD ACTIONS:

a. Electronic meetings. Agreed that NCAA staff should investigate the feasibility of conducting some Board meetings by using a Web-based meeting format, combined with a telephone conference call.

b. Correspondence to Board members. Agreed that Board members should forward correspondence received concerning NCAA matters to the NCAA president or chief of staff for Division I for handling as appropriate.

15. Other business.

Management Council report to the Board. Agreed that legislative proposals or actions taken by the Management Council and reported to the Board should note any fiscal impact to the Association and/or institutions, whether the playing season or the time commitment of student-athletes is expanded, and any possible legal implications.