Jul 8, 2010 8:46:39 AM

The Division I Academic Cabinet is sponsoring legislation that would update continuing-eligibility legislation to address the use of nontraditional coursework.

The cabinet is sponsoring two proposals addressing the use of course delivery formats such as online classes and distance learning. The proposals are intended to ensure that student-athletes have the same access to such courses as the rest of the student body, while establishing minimum guidelines to protect against such courses being misused for purposes of simply maintaining eligibility.

The proposals also differ from one that was adopted this past April (No. 2009-64) concerning requirements nontraditional courses must meet for initial-eligibility purposes.

The first proposal for continuing eligibility would address nontraditional courses taken at a student-athlete's institution for full-time enrollment. To be eligible for competition, a student-athlete must be enrolled in at least 12 semester or quarter hours. To use a nontraditional course to satisfy the full-time enrollment requirement, the following conditions must be met:

• The course is available to any student at the institution.
• The institution considers enrollment in the course as regular course enrollment for all students.
• Enrollment in the course occurs within the institution's regular enrollment periods (pre-registration or drop-add period) in accordance with the academic calendar and all policies and procedures.
• The course is conducted during the regular academic schedule in accordance with the academic calendar and all policies and procedures.

A second proposal would apply to nontraditional courses completed at a four-year institution other than the certifying institution to be used to satisfy progress-toward-degree requirements. Current rules require student-athletes to earn a specific number of credit hours each academic term and academic year, and also to have completed 40 percent of a specific degree program by the end of their second year of enrollment, 60 percent by the end of the third year and 80 percent by the end of the fourth year.

This proposal includes several conditions:

• The course is available to any qualified student at the institution.
• The institution considers enrollment in the course as regular course enrollment for all students.
• Enrollment in the course occurs within the institution's regular enrollment periods.

Both proposals are similar to previous legislative proposals that did not pass muster with the membership. However, earlier proposals included provisions about the structure of the course (including requirements for student-instructor interaction and evaluation of the student's work) that were considered too intrusive on institutional discretion and authority in setting course content and curriculum.

While many of those parameters exist in Proposal No. 2009-64 regarding secondary-school coursework for initial-eligibility purposes, the Academic Cabinet members – including those who served on a working group that helped draft the proposals – believe that most colleges and universities have academic and curriculum authorities that govern aspects of coursework such as interaction and evaluation. Cabinet members believe those controls are appropriate and sufficient for degree purposes and should satisfy NCAA requirements, as well. The conditions in the proposals address areas where risks for abuse specific to student-athletes could occur.

Previous proposals also included limits on the number of nontraditional credits that could be used for continuing-eligibility purposes during each academic term. The limits were not included in the current proposals because of the diversity of institutional policies and the increasing popularity of nontraditional formats. Some institutions offer degree programs that require a significant amount of nontraditional coursework.

Jarrett Newby, a representative from the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, said the SAAC members had always been concerned about possible nontraditional coursework limitations for student-athletes.

"We want to do what other students do," he said. "I don't think it's too much to say that if you want to be a student-athlete on campus, you should follow the same guidelines (as other students)."

The proposals will be entered into the 2010-11 legislative cycle. The Legislative Council will review all legislation at its October meeting, with the first votes coming at the 2011 NCAA Convention in January.