The NCAA News Digest

March 16, 1998

• DIVISION I BASEBALL TEAMS OF THE '90s
• NATIONAL OFFICE -- Construction underway for new headquarters facility
• RESEARCH -- Policy affirms confidentiality of individual research data
• TITLE IX -- Latest NCAA seminar focuses on current issues
• INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY -- Nominations being taken for new core-course committee

DIVISION I BASEBALL TEAMS OF THE '90s

Wichita State University has everything but a national championship to show for its success in the 1990s. In this decade, the Shockers have won more games than any other Division I program and also have the highest winning percentage. The Shockers, who won the NCAA championship in 1989, finished second in 1991 and 1993.

NATIONAL OFFICE

Construction underway for new headquarters facility

Ground was broken March 9 for the NCAA's new national office building in Indianapolis. About 120 state and local dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon; Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith; John Hodowal, chief executive officer of Indianapolis Power and Light; and Randall W. Tobias, chairman and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly and Co.

In a related matter, Tobias said that a $15 million fund-raising drive for the NCAA project is nearing completion.

"We're probably within a million or a million and a half of the end, and we have a number of requests that are still outstanding, so we're getting there," Tobias told The Indianapolis Star.

The new NCAA facility will contain 140,000 square feet of office space and is expected to accommodate the Association's national office needs through at least 2020.

Staff contact: Frank E. Marshall.

RESEARCH

Policy affirms confidentiality of individual research data

The NCAA has adopted a formal policy on the release of membership research data that articulates the need to maintain the confidentiality of membership information and provides for a consistent approach to outside requests for data.

Several outside entities have requested access to raw data submitted by member institutions. Unlike an aggregate research report, which may combine data from hundreds of institutions, raw data may contain personally or institutionally identifiable information.

NCAA General Counsel Elsa Cole said those requests prompted development of the new policy.

Staff contact: Elsa Cole.

TITLE IX

Latest NCAA seminar focuses on current issues

The 1998 NCAA Title IX Seminar, which will be conducted May 12-13 in Chicago, is designed to assist the membership in complying with Title IX regulations.

The keynote speech will be provided by Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Iowa.

This is the first year for the seminar to be conducted in only one location. It will be at the Westin Hotel on Michigan Avenue.

Although the seminars are designed for the membership, the general public also may attend. The seminars are free for NCAA institutional personnel, $75 for students and $150 for the general public.

Rooms are available at the Westin for $135 a night if reservations are made before April 13.

Staff contact: Janet M. Justus.

INITIAL ELIGIBILITY

Nominations being taken for new core-course committee

Nominations are being solicited from Divisions I and II for members of the new NCAA Core-Course Review Committee.

The standing committee was established by action in January of the Division I Board of Directors and the Division II membership. The committee is designated as a common committee because it will review courses denied by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse for use in meeting Divisions I and II initial-eligibility requirements.

The committee will assume duties performed by a subcommittee of the former NCAA Academic Requirements Committee in the previous governance structure. In addition to reviewing core-course decisions, the committee will assist in the development of policies related to the identification of core courses.

Divisions I and II each will have at least one representative on each subcommittee.

Staff contact: Wallace I. Renfro.