Perspectives: The NCAA Convention

On January 11-14, Indianapolis hosted more than 2400 delegates attending the annual NCAA Convention, and although a majority of convention delegates and attendees were from Divisions II and III, much of the news and many decisions of the week centered on Division I and specifically on Division I reform.

In a broad way, the messaging from Division I was “progress made, but much work to be done.”

Certainly, progress made in academic reform as stronger standards are being activated in the areas of initial eligibility and academic progress rate (APR) and, the Division I membership is embracing academics metrics for championships access and revenue sharing.  The NCAA Board also sent back to the membership for final vote the new concept of four-year scholarship offers.  Board task forces studying NCAA rules revisions and an improved enforcement methodology are also progressing on expedient tracks.  The NCAA Leadership Council recommended to the Board, and the Board approved, a new men’s basketball recruiting model designed to help both college coaches and prospects make more informed decisions, and to emphasize academic progress and coach/student access.  Again, progress made.

The Cost of Attendance/Miscellaneous Expense concept passed by the Board in October has met resistance from more than 175 members of Division I and as a consequence, that legislation has been suspended.  Rather than rescind or send the issue back to the membership for a vote, the NCAA Board elected to reconsider it in April.  The legislation remains suspended pending Board action.  The Board also turned down a number of recommendations from the Resource Allocation Presidential Reform Task Force including scholarship reductions, the elimination of foreign tours, and tabled a recommendation from this same group regarding limiting non-coaching staff positions.

Clearly, work remains on these issues.

My hope is that as a Division we will stay focused and committed to real, sustainable, transformative change.  Not change that results in a few dollars saved, a few people pleased, and a few voices quieted, but in reform that on one hand addresses the threats and opportunities inherent in the continuing growth of commercial scale programs, particularly in football and men’s basketball, but at the same time reconnects our enterprise to learning, service, leadership, and accountability – the fundamentals of an educationally based model.