Following are legislative drafts of interpretations issued by the Interpretations Subcommittee of the Legislation Committee and approved by the Division II Management Council. These were recommended by the Legislation Committee for incorporation into the Division II Manual. This recommendation has been approved by the Management Council and President Council. The items that have not yet been reviewed in legislative form are marked with an asterisk.

Bold type indicates new wording; italicized type indicates wording removed.

*No. 1 Eligibility for Financial Aid

Bylaws: Amend 14.1.6.2.1.3, page 118, as follows:

"14.1.6.2.1.3 Final Semester/Quarter. A student-athlete may compete while enrolled in less than a minimum full-time program of studies, provided the student is enrolled in the final semester or quarter of the baccalaureate program and the institution certifies that the student is carrying (for credit) the courses necessary to complete degree requirements. The student granted eligibility under this provision shall be eligible for any NCAA championship, and in Division I, for any postseason certified bowl game or National Invitation Tournament that begins within 60 days following said semester or quarter, provided the student has not exhausted the five years or 10 semesters for completion of the individual's four seasons of eligibility (see 14.2). Thereafter, the student shall forfeit eligibility in all sports, unless the student completes all degree requirements during that semester or quarter and is eligible to receive the baccalaureate diploma on the institution's next degree-granting date. The Management Council, or a committee designated by the Management Council to act for it, may waive the 60-day requirement when an NCAA championship, postseason certified bowl game or National Invitation Tournament is conducted at the conclusion of the traditional playing season but begins more than 60 days following the end of said term. (See 15.01.6.1 for legislation related to the eligibility to receive institutional financial aid of student-athletes enrolled less than full-time.)"

B. Bylaws: Amend 15.01.6 by adding new 15.01.6.1, page 153, as follows:

"15.01.6.1 Institutional Financial Aid to a Student-Athlete Enrolled in less than Minimum Full-Time Program of Studies During Final Term. It is permissible for an institution to award financial aid to a student-athlete who is enrolled in less than a minimum full-time program of studies, provided the student-athlete is enrolled in the final semester or quarter of his or her baccalaureate program and the institution certifies that the student is carrying for credit the courses necessary to complete degree requirements. The institution may not award financial aid subsequent to this semester or quarter."

Source: NCAA Division II Interpretations Subcommittee (July 23, 1999, Item No. 1).

*No. 2 Division II Financial Aid -- Pell Grants

A. Bylaws: Amend 15.02.4.6, page 155, as follows:

"15.02.4.6 Exempted Government Grants. Government grants listed in 15.2.4.2 shall not be included when determining the permissible amount of a full grant-in-aid or the cost of attendance for a student-athlete. However, it is permissible for the language in a student-athlete's financial aid agreement to reflect that the student-athlete's award package includes Pell Grant funds and that the student-athletes athletics grant may be adjusted due to the receipt of such funds."

B. Bylaws: Amend 15.2.4.1, pages 158-159, as follows:

[15.2.4.1-(a) through 15.2.4.1-(d) unchanged.]

"(e) Pell Grants. Payments received as part of the Pell Grant program (see also 15.02.4.6).

[Remainder of 15.2.4.1 unchanged.]

Source: NCAA Division II Interpretations Subcommittee (March 31, 1999).

*No. 3 Awards and Benefits -- Meals Incidental to Participation

Bylaws: Amend 16.5.1, page 180, as follows:

[16.5.1-(a) and 16.5.1-(b) unchanged.]

"(d) Meals Incidental to Participation -- Student-Athletes Who Are Not Receiving Athletically Related Financial Aid. Student-athletes who are not receiving athletically related financial aid (e.g., walk-ons) may receive the benefit of a training-table meal during the permissible playing and practice season in those instances in which the student-athlete's schedule is affected by involvement in practice activities, provided the student-athlete previously has paid for the same meal (e.g., dinner) at an institutional dining facility; further, all student-athletes are permitted to receive a pregame or postgame meal or snack as a benefit incidental to participation;

"(e) Meals Incidental to Participation -- Pregame or Postgame Meals or Snacks. All student-athletes are permitted to receive a pre or postgame meal or snack as a benefit incidental to participation. If an institution provides its student-athletes a regular meal (e.g., lunch, dinner), it is permissible for the student-athlete also to receive a postgame meal or snack on competition day. Further, an institution, at its discretion, may provide student-athletes with cash in an amount equal to the cost of a postgame meal or snack following home and away-from-home contests in lieu of the postgame meal or snack that normally is provided by the institution."

[16.5.1-(e) and 16.5.1-(f) relettered as 16.5.1-(f) and 16.5.1-(g), unchanged.]

Source: NCAA Division II Interpretations Subcommittee (February 1, 1999).

*No. 4 Division II Football Recruiting Calendar

Bylaws: Amend 30.11.6, page 336, as follows:

[30.11.6-(a) and 30.11.6-(b) unchanged.]

Evaluation Period

"(c) November 1 through November 30 [except for (1) below]:

Contact Period

"(1) For two-year college prospects, the conclusion of the prospect's two-year college football season (i.e., the conclusion of the institution's last regularly scheduled contest rather than the conclusion of the institution's final post-season contest) through November 30:"

[Remainder of 30.11.6 unchanged.]

Source: NCAA Division II Interpretations Subcommittee (March 31, 1999, Item No. 2).