Division I moved one step closer to a reshaped governance structure October 22 when the Management Council endorsed the recommendations of the governance subcommittee and sent the plan to the Board of Directors for final approval.

The governance subcommittee proposal, which is designed to improve the effectiveness of the overall structure and support the leadership of the Board of Directors, includes a reconfiguration of the Management Council into two 31-member bodies (Legislative and Leadership Councils). The revised cabinet structure features five 21-member groups (academics, administration, amateurism, recruiting, and student-athlete awards, benefits and financial aid) and one 31-member championships cabinet.

To facilitate better communication among the groups within the substructure, the governance subcommittee suggested creating a group composed of the chairs of each of the eight proposed governance bodies that will meet regularly (via conference call or in person) to share information on the agendas of the various bodies and ensure that issues will be addressed in a coordinated manner.
Gender and diversity requirements would be fulfilled at the 21-member body level and at the 31-member body level, and the subcommittee recommended that the Board assume ongoing responsibility for evaluating the slates of candidates to ensure diversity of representation among those who serve in the structure.

Some groups within the Association have expressed concern about the plan for diversity of gender, ethnicity and position, and the subcommittee worked to create a plan that will both ensure that a variety of backgrounds are represented and allow for flexibility in the appointment process.
However, the subcommittee also acknowledged that more thought and study could be devoted to the issue, and it recommended that the Board ask the new Leadership Council to examine the issue and offer recommendations for balancing the need for flexibility in the nominating process with the need for a diverse representation of Division I in the structure.

Among the possibilities the Leadership Council could consider as part of its review include whether conferences should be required to develop governance succession plans, whether each conference should be required to meet representational requirements over a specific period, whether the minimum percentages for gender and ethnic representation are appropriate, and whether the practice of ouble counting(that is, a female and an ethnic minority) should be eliminated.

The subcommittee also proposed a conference representation rotational chart, which provides for all conference seats to rotate simultaneously, as well as all the seats within the same subdivision to rotate at the same time. Having all seats from a conference rotate simultaneously could make it easier for conferences to nominate a diverse slate of candidates.

A modified recommended meeting schedule is also part of the proposal, with the six cabinets and the Legislative Council and the Board meeting on the same basic schedule as the current cabinets, Management Council and Board (the cabinets would meet in September, February and June, and the Legislative Council and Board would meet the same times as the Management Council and the Board do now). The subcommittee did not provide a suggested meeting schedule for the Leadership Council to give the group some flexibility, but proposed that the group could have an initial meeting in conjunction with the summer 2008 Board meeting.

The Board was to consider the plan as emergency legislation November 1. If approved, officials expect the new structure to be in place by September 2008.

In other business, the Management Council delayed consideration of a measure designed to prohibit institutions from reducing or canceling aid to student-athletes during the term of the scholarship because of an injury, illness or medical condition, regardless of whether it affects the student-athlete ability to participate with the team during that academic year.

Council members preferred that proposal go into the regular 2007-08 legislative cycle.
The Board is the only body that can propose legislation at this point in the cycle. If the Board chooses to sponsor legislation on the topic, it would receive first official consideration by the Management Council in January.

In addition to pregnant student-athletes, the legislation also could apply to student-athletes diagnosed with other conditions such as mental illness, eating disorders, drug addiction and alcoholism.

The Management Council supported a Championships/Competition Cabinet plan to address the use of male practice players in women sports. The nonlegislative plan includes expectations for institutions that use male practice players, including compliance with applicable NCAA, conference and institutional rules and an assurance that their use does not compromise competitive opportunities for women.

The plan is the result of a year of surveys conducted by the NCAA research staff. It includes a recommendation that a membership survey regarding the use of male practice players be conducted every four years, with a more comprehensive study conducted if needed.

Other highlights
Division I Management Council
October 22/Indianapolis

Received an update on the first meeting of the Division I Men Basketball Academic Enhancement Working Group, which divided into subcommittees to study the issues surrounding the academic achievement of men basketball student-athletes. The group is expected to meet over the next year to evaluate the challenges to the game and examine initiatives that might be employed to improve graduation rates and the Academic Progress Rates of men basketball teams.

The Committee on Academic Performance reported that its July meeting emphasized improvement, including the development of meaningful improvement plans for teams that fail to meet the prescribed benchmarks. Additionally, the group is examining the impact of transfer student-athletes on the APR and hopes to have a final recommendation in January.

Received information on the Graduation Success Rate, including an analysis of trends in the GSR. The NCAA research staff also presented information regarding transfer student-athletes. The information was presented in several formats, including by gender, sport and two-year and four-year transfers. Overall, transfer student-athletes have a reduced chance of receiving a degree and often take longer to graduate.

Reviewed selected pieces of legislation in the 2007-08 cycle, including proposals that would regulate the distribution of meals to student-athletes in conjunction with competition and measures that would impact the use of a student-athlete image or likeness in promotions.
Agreed to take part in a follow-up to an earlier Association-wide examination of life-work balance issues. Several Council members from each division will form a group to scrutinize the issue and possibly devise best practices or legislation designed to improve the balance of work and life for people in athletics.