National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2007
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NCAA creates Eligibility Center to consolidate certifications
The Association has announced the creation of an NCAA Eligibility Center that will bring the initial-eligibility and amateurism certification functions together under one roof beginning later this year. The change is expected to provide increased efficiency and enhanced customer service to the membership, prospective student-athletes and their parents.
Currently, the NCAA’s initial-eligibility certification process is administered by American College Testing (ACT), Inc., an independent, nonprofit organization in Iowa City, Iowa. The contract’s approaching expiration (October 31, 2007) provided an opportunity for the national office to examine options available for the future of academic and amateurism certification. ACT was informed January 22 of the decision.
“There is a broader vision for how we can interact with student-athletes and bring them into the NCAA family,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for membership services. “We want to provide a better understanding of what the NCAA is about. We’re excited about bringing a new vision beyond the transactional nature of a clearinghouse and exposing prospects and parents to more NCAA values, specifically gambling education, drug-testing education and what it means to be successful in college.”
Lennon said bringing the processes in-house will better integrate the academic and amateurism functions the NCAA provides before a student-athlete enrolls in college. The new center also will afford increased use of technology and direct access to data by staff members. In addition, combining initial-eligibility and amateurism certification procedures will improve service to the membership and the public and relay to prospects and their parents both the core values of the NCAA and its commitment to higher education.
NCAA senior staff collaborated with an outside consultant to conduct a comprehensive analysis before opting to create the Eligibility Center. The action aligns with elements of the Association’s strategic plan, which calls for the national office and its functions to be operate in an “accountable, effective and efficient manner.”
Todd Leyden, who spent 17 years with the international professional services firm Arthur Andersen before starting his own management consulting and financial management business, has been named president of the center, which will be established as a limited liability corporation, similar to the structure of the National Invitation Tournament.
Leyden will report to a board of directors composed of NCAA senior staff, including Lennon. The LLC will not develop policy or hear appeals. Those functions will remain with the NCAA membership services staff and membership committees.
Lennon and the membership services staff will evaluate the quality of services provided by the LLC, and the board will complete all personnel transactions. Officials anticipate that some NCAA staff will move to the Eligibility Center.
The Association benefits from an experienced leader in Leyden. During his time at Andersen and his own firm, Leyden led a number of strategic initiatives for organizations such as Simon Property Group; Clarian; Ivy Tech; the City of Indianapolis; and Indiana University, Bloomington. Lennon said Leyden’s vision and expertise will provide “the strong leadership necessary to run an effective process.”
Other specifics of the plan are still being finalized. NCAA staff will seek membership feedback on what features they value about the current process and what they would like to see added with the creation of the new center. The search for feedback could occur in several formats, including focus groups, surveys and discussions within the governance structure.
Lennon said the solid business plan, strong leadership and transition team should create a smooth transition and avoid some of the growing pains that the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse experienced when it was established in the mid-1990s. While similar challenges aren’t anticipated because the processes already are in place, Lennon acknowledged a likely adjustment period while the Eligibility Center staff, the membership and prospective student-athletes grow accustomed to the change.
“Any time you make a change like this, there are going to be challenges,” Lennon said. “But this is also a great opportunity to look at how we have been doing things — from programming and interactions to customer service. We look at this as a real opportunity to examine our processes over the transition period.”
Once the transition is made, Lennon said he anticipates the NCAA Eligibility Center providing a higher level of service and greater flexibility within the certification process, as well as providing the Association with some cost savings.
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By Michelle Brutlag Hosick
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
The Association has announced the creation of an NCAA Eligibility Center that will bring the initial-eligibility and amateurism certification functions together under one roof beginning later this year. The change is expected to provide increased efficiency and enhanced customer service to the membership, prospective student-athletes and their parents.Currently, the NCAA’s initial-eligibility certification process is administered by American College Testing (ACT), Inc., an independent, nonprofit organization in Iowa City, Iowa. The contract’s approaching expiration (October 31, 2007) provided an opportunity for the national office to examine options available for the future of academic and amateurism certification. ACT was informed January 22 of the decision.
“There is a broader vision for how we can interact with student-athletes and bring them into the NCAA family,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for membership services. “We want to provide a better understanding of what the NCAA is about. We’re excited about bringing a new vision beyond the transactional nature of a clearinghouse and exposing prospects and parents to more NCAA values, specifically gambling education, drug-testing education and what it means to be successful in college.”
Lennon said bringing the processes in-house will better integrate the academic and amateurism functions the NCAA provides before a student-athlete enrolls in college. The new center also will afford increased use of technology and direct access to data by staff members. In addition, combining initial-eligibility and amateurism certification procedures will improve service to the membership and the public and relay to prospects and their parents both the core values of the NCAA and its commitment to higher education.
NCAA senior staff collaborated with an outside consultant to conduct a comprehensive analysis before opting to create the Eligibility Center. The action aligns with elements of the Association’s strategic plan, which calls for the national office and its functions to be operate in an “accountable, effective and efficient manner.”
Todd Leyden, who spent 17 years with the international professional services firm Arthur Andersen before starting his own management consulting and financial management business, has been named president of the center, which will be established as a limited liability corporation, similar to the structure of the National Invitation Tournament.
Leyden will report to a board of directors composed of NCAA senior staff, including Lennon. The LLC will not develop policy or hear appeals. Those functions will remain with the NCAA membership services staff and membership committees.
Lennon and the membership services staff will evaluate the quality of services provided by the LLC, and the board will complete all personnel transactions. Officials anticipate that some NCAA staff will move to the Eligibility Center.
The Association benefits from an experienced leader in Leyden. During his time at Andersen and his own firm, Leyden led a number of strategic initiatives for organizations such as Simon Property Group; Clarian; Ivy Tech; the City of Indianapolis; and Indiana University, Bloomington. Lennon said Leyden’s vision and expertise will provide “the strong leadership necessary to run an effective process.”
Other specifics of the plan are still being finalized. NCAA staff will seek membership feedback on what features they value about the current process and what they would like to see added with the creation of the new center. The search for feedback could occur in several formats, including focus groups, surveys and discussions within the governance structure.
Lennon said the solid business plan, strong leadership and transition team should create a smooth transition and avoid some of the growing pains that the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse experienced when it was established in the mid-1990s. While similar challenges aren’t anticipated because the processes already are in place, Lennon acknowledged a likely adjustment period while the Eligibility Center staff, the membership and prospective student-athletes grow accustomed to the change.
“Any time you make a change like this, there are going to be challenges,” Lennon said. “But this is also a great opportunity to look at how we have been doing things — from programming and interactions to customer service. We look at this as a real opportunity to examine our processes over the transition period.”
Once the transition is made, Lennon said he anticipates the NCAA Eligibility Center providing a higher level of service and greater flexibility within the certification process, as well as providing the Association with some cost savings.
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