NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The work of the 20/8-Hour Working Group and the Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee were among topics discussed during the Division I Issues Forum January 11.

Jerry Kingston, faculty athletics representative at Arizona State University and chair of the 20/8-Hour Working Group, provided an overview of the group's work, saying that the goal of educating student-athletes and athletics staff on the rule has been addressed.

Kingston noted that information on current rules regarding athletically related activities has been sent to campuses and conference offices, though the information was received in the middle of the fall semester. This educational outreach will continue, he said, and materials will be sent out this summer, before the new school year begins.

Liz McCaslin, a member of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, said that from the student-athlete point of view the educational materials were a step in the right direction, though it was important they be sent out earlier in the school year.

Kingston said the enforcement of the rule has proven more difficult. Student-athletes, he said, may not always know what counts and what doesn't toward the number of allowable hours. Also, he said, student-athletes may find it difficult to confront a coach who breaks the rule.

The working group, he said, is looking at changing the rule to allow for better enforcement and so student-athletes and coaches can better understand when the rule is being broken.

The Management Council also approved the group's request to survey student-athletes to gather empirical data related to the number of hours spent engaged in noncountable athletically related activities. The data could then be used to determine if hour limitations should include additional activities.

Playing and practice seasons

Carol Reep, senior associate athletics director at Butler University, presented an update from the Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee of the Championships/Competition Cabinet. The group was formed to look at the appropriate number of contests/dates of competition during the nonchampionship segment and the appropriate overall number of contests for all Division I sports.

Though there are no legislative proposals at this point, Reep said, the subcommittee has chosen to further study changing dates of competition in the non-championship segment to contests (for those sports governed by contests during the championship segment) and eliminating the limit on the number of contests that may be played in the nonchampionship segment.

These options address time demands on student-athletes while providing flexibility to institutions for scheduling.

For the issue of the maximum number of contests/dates of competition, the subcommittee will further study the elimination of some or all of the legislated exemptions to the maximum number of contests/dates of competition and adjust the maximum number of contests/dates of competition to reflect the appropriate number for each sport.

The subcommittee said this would represent a more accurate depiction of the number of contests/dates of competition in which student-athletes compete. Also, the effects of student-athlete time demands would vary by institution based on the number of exemptions generally used by the institution.

Reep said the idea is to look at the demands on the student-athlete and see if time can be given back to them, while taking into consideration the importance of competition.

Dylan Malagrino, chair of the Division I SAAC, stressed to the subcommittee the importance of not taking too much away from student-athletes.

"We are student-athletes for a reason," he said.

Other forum topics

The forum also included a report from the Women's Basketball Issues Committee, which focused on the group's mission of elevating the game through increased marketing and a strategic plan.

Committee Chair M. Dianne Murphy, athletics director at the University of Denver, said the committee has three subcommittees looking at specific issues, such as marketing and promotions, quality of the game and recruiting and student-athlete welfare.

Focus-group research, which studied positive and negative aspects of the game, has shown that the top positive areas are increased public interest and more exposure. Areas that need improvement include marketing, television coverage, officiating and tournament locations.

Future work of the committee includes preparing a strategic plan that will be presented to various groups throughout this year. A formal report is expected at the 2005 Convention.

Also, Paul Risser, chancellor for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, gave an update on the athletics certification process on behalf of the Committee on Athletics Certification.

Risser said improvements have been implemented to make the athletics certification process easier for institutions, such as reducing the cost and time included in the self-study.

Further recommendations include eliminating the interim reports, reducing the number of operating principles from 13 to seven, shortening the process from 24 months to 12 months and requiring two people, rather than three, on the peer review team.

Those recommendations would have minimal financial impact on institutions and enjoy broad support from the membership. Also, they do not negatively impact student-athlete welfare.

The issues forum concluded with an update from the Division I Working Group on Incentives/Disincentives. Working group Chair Todd Turner discussed the Academic Performance Program, which includes the Academic Progress Rate, a term-by-term measurement of eligibility, retention and graduation. It also includes the Graduation Success Rate, which is a six-year proportion of student-athletes who graduated versus those who entered an institution. It accounts for student-athletes who transfer in and discounts those who transfer out in good academic standing. It is anticipated that data for this rate will be collected and rates calculated as part of the annual graduation-rates reporting process in the spring.

A Committee on Academic Performance will be formed to support this program.