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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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The university announced that the use of Chief Illiniwek would end following a February 21 men’s basketball game. The action placed Illinois in “full compliance” with the Executive Committee policy, Bernard Franklin, NCAA senior vice president for governance, membership, education and research services, said in a statement.
As a result, the university is eligible to host and participate in NCAA championship events.
An NCAA staff review committee agreed with the university in November 2005 that the nicknames “Illini” and “Fighting Illini” are closely related to the name of the state and not directly associated with Native Americans, and therefore would not be held subject to the Executive Committee’s policy.
“The NCAA Executive Committee never mandated that member colleges or universities change their mascots or logos; however, as members of the Association, NCAA colleges and universities are expected to adhere to the NCAA’s principle of non-discrimination and promote an atmosphere of respect for and sensitivity to the dignity of every person,” Franklin said.
“The NCAA remains committed to ensuring an atmosphere of respect and sensitivity for all who participate in and attend our championships.”
The program, created in response to rising medical costs and insurance premiums related to athletics injuries, again will provide basic accident insurance beginning August 1. Participating institutions will play a key role in implementing best practices to control costs as part of the program.
The program is designed to “empower” NCAA members to control costs and reduce expenses by implementing best practices to obtain competitively priced group insurance.
Information about the NCAA Group Basic Accident Medical Program will be offered through a Web cast at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) March 1.
There is no cost to participate, but advance registration is required. A link to the registration site is included in the article titled “Web cast offers basic accident program information” in the “Headlines” section of www.ncaa.org.
The committee proposal for the 2008 Convention also specifies that the two additional core courses include one unit of English, mathematics or natural or physical science and another in any core area.
Committee members, who met February 4-6 in Indianapolis, based their recommendation on research indicating that current Division II core-course requirements are lower than the admission criteria for enrollment at most Division II institutions and lower than most high school graduation requirements across the United States.
Members also cited research showing that most high school graduates already are completing at least 16 core courses. The committee believes the increase will not come as a shock to the secondary school community, and that it will in fact more closely align Division II academic requirements with current high school academic achievement patterns.
In addition, Division I recently implemented the same increase effective for the entering class of 2008, though Division I’s breakdown of subject-matter requirements is different.
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By Jack Copeland
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
Mascots
Restrictions removed after Illinois ends use of imagery
The University of Illinois, Champaign, no longer is subject to the NCAA Executive Committee’s policy regarding Native American mascots, nicknames and imagery at NCAA championship events, based on its decision to end the use of Chief Illiniwek and related Native American imagery in connection with university athletics.The university announced that the use of Chief Illiniwek would end following a February 21 men’s basketball game. The action placed Illinois in “full compliance” with the Executive Committee policy, Bernard Franklin, NCAA senior vice president for governance, membership, education and research services, said in a statement.
As a result, the university is eligible to host and participate in NCAA championship events.
An NCAA staff review committee agreed with the university in November 2005 that the nicknames “Illini” and “Fighting Illini” are closely related to the name of the state and not directly associated with Native Americans, and therefore would not be held subject to the Executive Committee’s policy.
“The NCAA Executive Committee never mandated that member colleges or universities change their mascots or logos; however, as members of the Association, NCAA colleges and universities are expected to adhere to the NCAA’s principle of non-discrimination and promote an atmosphere of respect for and sensitivity to the dignity of every person,” Franklin said.
“The NCAA remains committed to ensuring an atmosphere of respect and sensitivity for all who participate in and attend our championships.”
Insurance
Basic accident program available again for 2007-08
The NCAA Group Basic Accident Medical Program — created last summer to introduce a best-practices approach in insuring medical expenses up to the $75,000 deductible of the Association’s catastrophic-injury insurance program — will be enhanced this year through an expanded managerial partnership that includes a leading provider of basic athletics accident insurance.The program, created in response to rising medical costs and insurance premiums related to athletics injuries, again will provide basic accident insurance beginning August 1. Participating institutions will play a key role in implementing best practices to control costs as part of the program.
The program is designed to “empower” NCAA members to control costs and reduce expenses by implementing best practices to obtain competitively priced group insurance.
Information about the NCAA Group Basic Accident Medical Program will be offered through a Web cast at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) March 1.
There is no cost to participate, but advance registration is required. A link to the registration site is included in the article titled “Web cast offers basic accident program information” in the “Headlines” section of www.ncaa.org.
Division II
Committee recommends increase in core courses
The Division II Academic Requirements Committee is recommending an increase in the number of core courses required to establish initial eligibility from 14 to 16 beginning with the entering collegiate class of 2013.The committee proposal for the 2008 Convention also specifies that the two additional core courses include one unit of English, mathematics or natural or physical science and another in any core area.
Committee members, who met February 4-6 in Indianapolis, based their recommendation on research indicating that current Division II core-course requirements are lower than the admission criteria for enrollment at most Division II institutions and lower than most high school graduation requirements across the United States.
Members also cited research showing that most high school graduates already are completing at least 16 core courses. The committee believes the increase will not come as a shock to the secondary school community, and that it will in fact more closely align Division II academic requirements with current high school academic achievement patterns.
In addition, Division I recently implemented the same increase effective for the entering class of 2008, though Division I’s breakdown of subject-matter requirements is different.
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