A timetable has emerged for consideration of legislation that would alter Division I amateurism regulations.

The current state of affairs is that the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet has approved a package of proposals relating to pre-enrolled student-athletes and has discussed ideas relating to student-athletes who are already enrolled.

The next important step will involve conference spring meetings, during which the discussion of amateurism will be given a high priority.

"Agent and amateurism subcommittee members or NCAA staff will attend any conference meeting if requested," said Christine H. Grant, director of athletics at the University of Iowa chair of the AEC Cabinet's amateurism and agents subcommittee. "They will describe the proposed legislation, but they also will bring back any feedback from the conferences since there is still time for change."

In June, the subcommittee will use the information gained from the conference meetings to finalize any changes in the pre-enrollment proposals and frame a recommendation to the AEC Cabinet regarding post-enrollment proposals.

In October, the Management Council will review any changes for the pre-enrollment proposals and, for the first time, formally act on the proposals, as well as post-enrollment legislation that the cabinet will review at its June meeting.

Assuming that the Management Council gives initial approval to what has been recommended, the legislation then will enter the comment period, during which the membership will be encouraged to react. That comment period will include a forum at the 2001 NCAA Convention.

After that, the Management Council would take its second and final action on both the pre-enrollment and post-enrollment proposals during its April 2001 meeting. The approval package would be advanced to the Division I Board of Directors, which also would act at its April 2001 meeting.

"During the next year, we want to make sure that everybody with an interest in this legislation gets an opportunity to understand what is involved," Grant said. "We also want to hear any suggestions for what might be done to improve these proposals."

To that end, the amateurism and agents subcommittee has scheduled a number of presentations with constituent groups over the next several months. Presentations will be provided to the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (April), the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (June), the Collegiate Commissioners Association (June) and the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (October). The Management Council and the Board of Directors also will be provided with periodic updates.

In addition, meetings have been or will be conducted with the leadership of many coaches associations. The NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee also has been working with various national governing bodies to make certain they understand any proposed legislation, especially for pre-enrolled student-athletes.

Updated information about the amateurism proposals is expected to be available on NCAA Online, beginning in April.

Key dates

June -- Amateurism and agents subcommittee to forward proposals to the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet to change amateurism legislation for pre-enrolled and post-enrolled student-athletes.

October -- Management Council has opportunity to give initial approval to pre-enrollment and post-enrollment proposals forwarded by AEC Cabinet.

January -- Proposals that are initially approved will be discussed in a Convention amateurism forum that will serve as key part of comment period.

April -- Management Council to vote on second approval for amateurism proposals. Whatever is approved will be forwarded to the Division I Board of Directors for final approval.