Plotting a course for the future of Division I was a central theme during the Division I Board of Directors' August 9 meeting in Indianapolis. And not only did the Board reaffirm its commitment to ongoing reform, it also reaffirmed its position as the NCAA governance group best equipped to lead the charge.

"The Board had a very good discussion about issues of concern in intercollegiate athletics at the Division I level," said William "Brit" Kirwan, chair of the Board and president at Ohio State University. "Those concerns have come from a number of sources internally and externally, including the recent Knight Commission report. It is clear to us that the Board is the appropriate body to drive reform efforts."

The task force, which will focus on issues of academic and fiscal integrity, will be chaired by Francis Lawrence, president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, and also will include presidents Kirwan, John Casteen of the University of Virginia, Carol Cartwright of Kent State University, David Frohnmayer of the University of Oregon, Milton Gordon of California State University, Fullerton, Bob Lawless of the University of Tulsa and Jim Wright of Dartmouth College.

Kirwan noted that the group also may be augmented by other individuals with particular expertise.

Part of the task force's charge will include oversight of a proposed baseline study of economic and other forces that drive the behavior of member institutions and participating student-athletes.

Kirwan also made it clear that while whatever reform agenda the Board ultimately identifies likely will include issues that also were identified in the Knight Commission report, the Board's establishment of a task force is not a direct response to the Commission's concerns.

The Board charged its task force to work with those groups and others to develop what Kirwan calls "a conceptual and visionary framework" that will guide the Board's strategic-planning efforts.

The task force will be asked to make its initial report at the Board's November 1 meeting. At that time, it will provide a sense of priority for the major issues that the Board and Division I need to address. The expected completion date of the proposed baseline study is October 2003.

Other issues

Also on the Board's agenda was a discussion of the Association's event-certification process, especially as related to events with ties to sites where sports wagering on intercollegiate athletics competition is conducted. The Board discussed three basketball events certified by the NCAA and that initially were scheduled to be conducted in a casino in Las Vegas, where sports wagering on intercollegiate events is conducted.

"Clearly, conducting these events in such a venue is inconsistent with the position the NCAA has taken regarding sports wagering," Kirwan said. "But there is no criteria in place at the moment that would prohibit certification of such events."

The Board directed the NCAA staff to review certified-event criteria, including venue policies, and submit a report for the Board's consideration as early as November. In addition, the Board requested that emergency legislation be developed for its review in November that would specifically prohibit certification of any event held in a venue where sports wagering on intercollegiate athletics is conducted, or on a property sponsored by an establishment that permits sports wagering on intercollegiate athletics, or where there is signage for such an establishment.

In another significant action, the Board approved a recommendation from the NCAA Football Study Oversight Committee to place a moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for Division I-A membership until either new membership criteria for that subdivision are established or the review of membership standards has been completed.

The proposed criteria include more stringent requirements for football scholarship allocations, overall scholarship allocations, football scheduling, attendance and overall sports sponsorship. The Oversight Committee has asked that the new criteria become effective in August 2004. The Management Council is expected to consider the proposals for the first time at its legislative meeting in October. Those proposals that receive initial approval would be sent out for membership comment and would potentially receive final approval from the Board of Directors as early as April 2002.

Other highlights

Division I Board of Directors
August 9/Indianapolis

Heard a presentation regarding the preliminary work of the initial-eligibility consultants and the subcommittees on initial-eligibility issues and continuing eligibility related to evaluating the possibility of modifying academic-eligibility standards.

Accepted the appointment to the Board, as selected by the Horizon League, of Nancy Zimpher, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, replacing Claire Van Ummersen, effective immediately. Also accepted the appointment of the following individuals to the Management Council: Lee McElroy, University of Albany (America East Conference); Jack Evans, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Atlantic Coast Conference); Jake Crouthamel, Syracuse University (Big East Conference); and Andy Geiger, Ohio State University (Big Ten Conference).

Reviewed information submitted by the Championships/Competition Cabinet in response to the concerns expressed by the Board at the April meeting when it placed an embargo on the expenditure of funds from the 2001-02 budget for regional qualification for or expansion of the outdoor track and field championship. The Board noted that the information from the cabinet did not completely respond to all issues raised by the Board and agreed to retain the embargo on the expenditure of funds for the establishment of the new format for the championship. The Board requested that the cabinet provide more detailed data regarding the actual impact of the proposed format on all institutions and conferences, particularly the impact on the academic calendar and final-examination period, the lengthening of the season and the financial costs to the institutions.

Asked the Football Study Oversight Committee to review the issues related to the composition and diversity of the Football Issues Committee.

No. 01-63, revising the 2001 fall contact period in the sport of men's basketball to conclude on October 5 (as opposed to October 14). (Effective date: Immediately.)

No. 01-65, which includes the World University Games as an exception to the outside-competition legislation. (Effective date: Immediately.)

No. 01-67, deleting the "on-the-staff requirement" for secretary-rules editors. (Effective date: Immediately.) (The Board referred a part of the proposal that limits secretary-rules editors to serving a maximum of two, four-year terms to the Championships/Competition Cabinet to allow normal legislative review through the governance structure, including discussion of the appropriate transition, as this portion of the proposal does not require immediate enactment.)