National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Jan 13, 2010 11:16:39 PM

ATLANTA – Though the 2010 Division II business session is still two days away, the Division II Management Council took an action at its Wednesday meeting that could generate discussion for next year.

Council members asked the Presidents Council to sponsor legislation for the 2011 Convention to allow the Membership Committee to randomly audit results and action plans of an institution's completed Institutional Self-Study Guide, minimum financial aid report and minimum sports-sponsorship report.

The proposal emanated from Membership Committee efforts over the last year to enhance standards and expectations for prospective Division II members to meet even before they apply for membership. With such a stringent focus on the front end, committee members thought it only fair to expect the same high standards of current Division II members.

The proposal is seen both as an educational tool and as another compliance incentive for institutions.

"It helps the division manage growth by reviewing active members' reporting on membership requirements and holding members accountable for them," said Membership Committee chair Glenn Stokes, the faculty athletics representative at Columbus State. "We hold prospective member schools to such high standards, and it seems inappropriate to not do the same with active members."

Stokes also pointed to recent increases in infractions cases involving Division II programs that suggest more schools aren't following the division's legislation and policies.

Stokes said an audit may help mitigate those cases because it would allow the committee to review and educate the institution before it reaches the infractions process, though he stopped short of staying it was the first step toward a more rigorous certification program.

"I don't want the word ‘audit' to inspire fear," he said. "The intent of the proposal is to help institutions understand the value of the ISSG and take that responsibility seriously."

For now, the proposal suggests a "random" audit process, similar to what exists in Division III. Audited institutions also could be selected based on committee concern and prior history, Stokes said.

The Division II Membership Committee already has the authority to audit current members if they fall below financial aid or sports-sponsorship minimums twice in a 10-year period.