Eligibility

Initial-eligibility working group preparing for first meeting

The NCAA working group established to review whether some recent trends in secondary-school education align with the intent of NCAA initial-eligibility standards in Divisions I and II will conduct its first meeting February 14-15 in Los Angeles.

NCAA President Myles Brand authorized the working group after presidents from several NCAA member institutions raised concerns about the legitimacy of high school academic credentials presented by some entering student-athletes. Those concerns centered on student-athletes establishing initial eligibility by using academic credentials earned through nontraditional schools and courses.

The working group will focus on the process for reviewing and approving nontraditional courses (including correspondence courses) for use as NCAA core courses; core-course requirements and time limitations on meeting those requirements in Divisions I and II; requirements for reporting ACT and SAT scores to the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse and those requirements’ potential impact on test-score fraud; and use of core courses earned at preparatory schools and whether those courses meet NCAA minimum academic requirements.

Recommendations, which could include legislative proposals for the 2006-07 cycle, will be submitted to the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet and the Division II Academic Requirements Committee in June.

Presidential Task Force

Web site seeks feedback about student-athlete well-being

The Student-Athlete Well-Being Subcommittee of the Presidential Task Force is seeking membership feedback and comment on a number of issues within its purview.

To facilitate that effort, the subcommittee has created a Web page that includes white papers on many topics that affect student-athlete well-being,  and a mechanism for membership feedback.

 The white papers include a summary statement of the issue, historical background, current legislation and points of consideration. Readers may click on the white paper link to review the paper itself. Comments, thoughts or ideas may be submitted by clicking on the feedback link at the end of the white paper.

To access the Web page, go to www. ncaa.org, click on “Academics and Athletes” and then “Personal Welfare.”

An executive summary of the comments will be presented at the spring subcom-

mittee meeting and will be posted on the NCAA Web site in late April.

The subcommittee is one of four that compose the Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics.

Mascots

Nine institutions pursuing appeals of policy restrictions

Nine institutions currently included on a list of colleges and universities subject to restrictions on the use of Native American mascots, names and imagery at NCAA championships are in the process of  appealing to a staff review committee established by the NCAA Executive Committee, or have appealed decisions by that staff committee to the Executive Committee.

The restrictions, which became effective February 1, have been stayed for the nine institutions until all administrative appeal options are exhausted or an institution opts not to pursue further avenues of appeal.

The institutions are Bradley University; the University of North Dakota; Indiana University of Pennyslvania; McMurry University; Mississippi College; Catawba College; the College of William and Mary; Newberry College; and the University of Illinois, Champaign.

Two other institutions remaining on the list are now subject to restrictions under the policy: Arkansas State University and Alcorn State University. Eight other institutions have been removed from the list either as a result of successful appeals of the restrictions or as a result of actions to comply.