The NCAA News - Digest

• BUDGET -- Executive Committee approves $239.4 million budget for '96-97
• COUNCIL -- Agent committee proposals gain support of Council
• GRADUATION RATES -- Association reaches agreement with Department of Education
• STUDENT-ATHLETES -- Student-athlete committee focuses on representation

Budget

Executive Committee approves $239.4 million budget for '96-97

The NCAA Executive Committee has approved a budget for 1996-97 with operating revenues of $239.4 million. Of that amount, $135.7 million will go directly to the membership, 9.2 percent more than the amount that was budgeted for that purpose in 1995-96. This year, CBS will pay the NCAA $188.4 million for television rights fees, 5.7 percent more than last year.

Staff contact: Frank E. Marshall.

Council

Agent committee proposals gain support of Council

The NCAA Council will sponsor several major legislative recommendations developed by the NCAA Special Committee on Agents and Amateurism.

The Council, which met August 12-14, voted to sponsor legislation at the 1997 Convention that would allow Division I student-athletes who are on full grants to work in the off-season during the school year, earning up to the value of the cost of attendance at the institution in which they are enrolled.

The Council also will sponsor legislation that would allow Divisions I and II student-athletes to participate in activities related to radio, television, film, stage and writing projects. Such student-athletes would be allowed to accept only expenses and to participate in such activities only during the period outside the playing season. They also would be required to be academically eligible to compete.

A special committee proposal that would enable student-athletes to receive loans based on their future earnings potential as a professional athlete was referred back to the committee.

Staff contact: Stephen R. Morgan.

Graduation rates

Association reaches agreement with Department of Education

The NCAA has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education that will allow the NCAA to continue compiling, publishing, and disseminating graduation-rates data for member institutions to satisfy the requirements of the Student Right-to-Know Act.

At a recent meeting, representatives from the Department of Education agreed to several provisions that will resolve conflicts that had arisen relating to reporting for the Student Right-to-Know Act and for the Graduation-Rates Survey of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

Staff contact: Doris L. Dixon.

Student-athletes

Student-athlete committee focuses on representation

The NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is recommending several revisions to the NCAA Transition Oversight Committee's recommendations regarding student-athlete representation in the new NCAA structure.

In making the recommendations, the committee, which met August 16-17, noted that it is pleased with efforts that have been made to involve student-athletes in the new structure.

The committee recommended: