MINUTES OF THE

 

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

 

POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

 

 

The Westin Riverwalk                                                                                           February 24 -27, 2005

San Antonio, Texas

 

 

Participants:

 

Elwood Hahn, Pacific West Conference

Nancy Hamant, University of Cincinnati

John Hardt, Bucknell University

Marchelle Lane, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Rosalie Resch, University of Chicago

Maureen Schaukowitch, Loyola Marymount University, chair

Arthur J. Hightower II, NCAA

Teresa Smith, NCAA

 

 

[Note:  These minutes contain only actions taken (formal votes or stated "sense of the meeting") in accordance with NCAA policy regarding minutes of all Association entities.  While certain items on the committee's agenda were acted on at various times throughout the meeting, all final actions within a given topic are combined in these minutes for convenience of reference.]

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by the chair, Ms. Schaukowitch.  All members were present as noted above.

 

 

1.      Welcome and Announcements.  Ms. Schaukowitch welcomed the committee to San Antonio, and welcomed Rosy to the committee.  Each committee member introduced them self and gave a quick overview of the process they use for ranking.

 

      The previous meeting's minutes were reviewed and accepted.

 

It was VOTED

 

"That the minutes of the June 24-27, 2004, meeting be approved."

 

 

2.   Business Items.

 

a.   Nominations for Marlon Evans' replacement were reviewed and narrowed to a finalist to be forwarded for Management Councils approval.  The committee would like to replace Mr. Evans with another former NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship awardee.

 

b.      The committee reviewed the first-year commitment to the Walter Byers Scholarship first- and second-place runners-up for men and women.  Referring to the April 22-25, 2004, meeting minutes, Mr. Hightower explained that in year one (2004-05) the fall sports awardees would equal 28 men and 28 women, the winter sports awardees would equal 28 men and 28 women, and spring sports awardees would equal 29 men and 29 women for a total of 170 awards for 2004-05.  Four (two from fall sports and two from winter sports) awards will be reallocated to the Walter Byers Scholarship finalists.

 

c.       Clarification was given regarding the time awardees have to use the award.  Presently, there is a three-year term, which means the scholarship should be paid out before the end of the fiscal year three years after the academic year the award was given.  For example, 2004-05 fall sports awardees have until August 31, 2008, to have the scholarship paid to the graduate institution of their choice.

 

d.      A discussion was held discussing pros and cons of asking the seven members of the national committee to chair one of the seven regional selection committees.  Presently, the regional chairs review the nominations to make sure they are complete, gather additional information as it is sent in, and forward the nominations to the members of their regional selection committee.  It is a lot of work to ask of volunteers.  If the online submission process is functioning as planned in the near future, that work would be performed by the national office staff.  The regional chairs would need only to chair the selection meeting three times a year and forward the finalists to the national office.  Greater insight and background about finalists' selections could be brought to the national committee meeting.  The committee felt uncomfortable that they might be put in a position to become advocates of regional nominees.

 

e.       There was a discussion about the eligibility of a Division II student-athlete if he or she transferred to a Division I institution and still had sports eligibility.  It was agreed that the student-athlete would be unable to utilize postgraduate scholarships, if awarded, until all athletics eligibility had ceased.

 

f.        It was agreed that the committee would request to meet in Key West, Albuquerque or Savannah, for its February 2006 meeting and in New York for its April 2006 meeting.

 

 

3.   Review of Applications.  The committee reviewed 145 fall sports applications and awarded 28 postgraduate scholarships for men's sports and 28 postgraduate scholarships for women's sports.  In addition, five alternates were selected for both men's and women's sports.  The awardee listings are attached.

 

 

4.   Review of Correspondence to the Committee.

 

  1. The committee considered an extension request from Eric Swedberg, a 2002 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship awardee.  The committee needed more information in order to reach a decision.  Mr. Swedberg will be asked to explain what he has done since he earned his undergraduate degree and why he needs two years to obtain a postgraduate degree.

 

  1. The committee approved an extension request from Johanna Olson, a 2002 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship awardee.  Ms. Olson was granted a one-year extension based on her original award, meaning she must be enrolled in the graduate institution of her choice and submit a request for the scholarship payment so that it can be paid out not later than August 31, 2006.  No further extension will be considered unless extenuating circumstances arise.

 

  1. The committee approved an exception request from Brad Schick, a 1999 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship alternate notified in December 2004 that the scholarship was available.  Mr. Schick was granted exception status to use the scholarship as part-time student.

 

  1. The committee approved an extension request from Timothy Hess, a 2002 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship awardee.  Mr. Hess was granted a one-year extension based on his original award, meaning he must be enrolled in the graduate institution of his choice and submit a request for the scholarship payment so that it can be paid out not later than August 31, 2006.  No further extension will be considered unless extenuating circumstances arise.

 

  1. The committee considered an extension request from Steven Rowe.  The committee needed more information in order to reach a decision.  Mr. Rowe will be asked to provide clarification of his future plans.

 

 

5.   Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 4 p.m. Saturday, February 26, 2005.

 

 

 

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The National Collegiate Athletic Association

March 11, 2005                                   AJH:tks