Calendar

CONVENTION

Increased attendance expected for 98th annual Convention

Attendance for the Association's 98th annual Convention is expected to be higher than in recent years, thanks to a landmark legislative agenda in Division III and a new legislative cycle in Division I.

Through mid-December, about 1,800 delegates had registered for the Convention, which will be conducted January 9-12 in Nashville, Tennessee. That is about 200 more than total attendance for the 2003 Convention but about 300 short of the post-restructuring record of 2,096 set in 1998.

Division III will be focused on the landmark "Future of Division III" legislative package, which is designed to bring Division III practices more in line with the division's philosophy.

In Division I, attendance is likely to increase because of a new single annual legislative cycle that provides an opportunity for Convention debate on proposed legislation.

GENDER EQUITY

Study shows I-AAA equal in male, female participation

The latest NCAA Gender-Equity Report shows that Division I-AAA is the first NCAA division or subdivision in which participation is equal among male and female student-athletes.

In Division I overall, women accounted for 44 percent of all student-athletes, up from 41 percent in the previous report.

The report found that in most other categories -- such as dollars spent on athletics, scholarships and coaches' salaries -- women's athletics showed minor gains compared to males.

Division I-A men accounted for 57 percent of the participants in that subdivision and received 59 percent of the scholarship dollars. But in Division I-AAA, which does not have football, women received the most scholarship money (55 percent) while making up 50 percent of the student-athlete population.

"It is encouraging to see the progress that is being made, especially in terms of the number of opportunities for women to participate," said NCAA President Myles Brand. "The goal is full compliance with federal law, as a minimum, and we have to keep our eyes on that goal."

Staff contact: Rosie Stallman (rstallman@ncaa.org).

ACADEMICS

Summer bridge program helping academic performance

Entering basketball student-athletes who took advantage of a Division I summer financial aid program appear to have an increased likelihood for improved academic performance in their first year of college.

Preliminary results from two years of a five-year pilot study suggest success for the program, which is aimed at improving graduation rates in men's basketball.

The program, sometimes referred to as the "summer bridge program," is the result of a proposal that evolved from the Division I Working Group to Study Basketball Issues. The Division I Board of Directors established that group five years ago to improve basketball student-athletes' collegiate experience, change the recruiting process and enhance the image of the sport. The bridge program was one of the group's landmark proposals because it allowed schools to provide financial aid to entering men's and women's basketball student-athletes the summer before their first fall term.

Although the two-year data do not yet reveal the effect on graduation, indications are that program participants are at least more on track to graduate. Male basketball players who participated in the program in fact ended their freshmen year with an average of seven more credit hours than those who didn't participate.

Staff Contact: Todd Petr (tpetr@ncaa.org).