National Collegiate Athletic Association
Executive Committee Working Group on
Membership Eligibility for International Institutions
NCAA Canadian Membership Pilot Program
Background
In 1998, a Canadian university sought entrance into NCAA Division II. During the 1999 NCAA Convention, a Division II proposal that would have allowed institutions outside the United States, its territories and possessions to apply for membership under specified conditions was ruled out of order by the NCAA Executive Committee. The Committee noted that this issue was more appropriately acted on as an Association-wide issue rather than by a single division. Recently, a second Canadian university expressed similar interest in exploring membership opportunities. During its April 2006 meeting, the Executive Committee established a multidivisional working group to consider the issue of membership eligibility for international institutions from an Association-wide perspective.
The NCAA constitution and bylaws
provide for membership to colleges, universities, athletics conferences or
associations and other groups that have acceptable academic standards?and that
are located in the
Objectives of the Pilot Program
1. To assess the benefits as well as the challenges of international membership for the Association generally, and student-athletes specifically.
2. To determine how seamlessly international colleges and universities could integrate into the NCAA system.
Parameters of the Pilot Program:
The Canadian membership pilot program will offer the opportunity for a limited number of Canadian four-year colleges or universities to enter the exploratory period with the opportunity to attain provisional NCAA membership status and advance through the membership process in a specified division. Pilot institutions will be selected based on:
1. Demonstrated ability to meet sports sponsorship and minimum participant requirements.
2. Ability to enhance the cultural and educational experience of currently enrolled NCAA student-athletes.
3. Ability, based on geographic proximity, to enhance opportunities for regional competition.
4. Ability to develop a conference alliance and/or strengthen an existing conference.
Rationale
The opportunity to permit Canadian membership offers several possible benefits for the Association. These include a significant cultural benefit for student-athletes, as well as the potential that the addition of Canadian institutions may strengthen some conferences and provide more reasonable travel circumstances for institutions within certain regions of the country. In education, business and communication, increasing globalization and advanced technology have removed many of the barriers and boundaries that once existed between countries. Further, trade liberalization systems like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization and North American Free Trade Agreement have created environments that encourage free trade and free exchange of knowledge, goods and services. Higher education has expanded worldwide, with many American colleges and universities forming partnerships with international institutions or establishing branch campuses in foreign countries to provide a more global education. Intercollegiate athletics, as an integral part of higher education may also benefit from some limited expansion that would permit greater interaction and collaboration with international institutions. The NCAA strategic plan speaks to better education and preparation for student-athletes for increased and life-long achievement and success, with a goal that student-athletes will be better prepared to achieve their potential because they have participated in intercollegiate athletics.
Assessment of the Program
The pilot program will be assessed by the divisional membership committees over a 10-year period. Each pilot institution will be required to submit to the respective membership committee reports that outline any issues or challenges relating to international membership. During the provisional process, these reports should be completed on an annual basis. Once the institution has attained active membership, the reports should be completed biennially. These progress reports will form the basis for an overall evaluation of the pilot program. However, in addition to the issues raised by the pilot institutions, the membership committees should consider overall impact on the NCAA membership.
At the conclusion of the assessment period, a multidivisional working group should be established to review recommendations from each divisional membership committee and determine whether the program should be expanded to include additional Canadian institutions. Further, while the pilot program focuses on Canadian colleges and universities, future policy should account for potential interest by other countries. To this end, the working group should consider whether membership opportunities should be expanded to include institutions from other countries.