FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISON (FORMERLY NCAA DIVISION I-A) MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS REPORTING FORM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
This document is provided to assist the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-A) institutions in completing and submitting the Football Bowl Subdivision requirements reporting form, which was sent to institutions December 19. The form also is available online under the following link:
http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/governance/division_I/DI_Membership_Info/Index.html.
Please refer to the general Football Bowl Subdivision frequently asked questions document for general interpretative information on NCAA Bylaw 20.9.7. That document can be accessed at:
http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/governance/division_I/DI_Membership_Info/DI_Requirements.
1. General Questions.
Q. Why are Division I institutions being asked to complete this form?
A. In April 2002, the Division I membership adopted NCAA Proposal No. 2001-123, which altered the membership requirements for all Football Bowl Subdivision institutions. Specifically, the standards were strengthened in the areas of sports sponsorship and attendance and new requirements were added in the areas of scheduling and financial aid. Under the prior legislation, information solicited from institutions was limited to the attendance requirement. Because of the enhancements under Proposal No. 2001-123 information on sports sponsorship, scheduling and financial aid must now be verified.
Q. Why must the form be completed by February 15?
A. February 15 is the same date that the old attendance compliance forms were submitted to the NCAA national office. The NCAA Division I Management Council Membership Subcommittee adhered to that date, because it allowed ample time to collect, review, and if need be, discuss the information with an institution. Additionally, the subcommittee did not think that waiting until the August 15 sport sponsorship report was appropriate because, if an institution was found in noncompliance, it would receive notification of its warning or restricted status just days before (and in some cases after) the start of the academic year and football season.
Q. Are there any plans to combine this Football Bowl Subdivision reporting form with the NCAA Compliance Assistant internet or to develop an online submission process?A. Yes. The subcommittee's liaisons are currently working with the NCAA information services staff to develop an electronic reporting system. Developing such a system takes time (and budgeting). Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
2. Sports Sponsorship Requirements Section.
Q. The form indicates "completed" contests, how should institutions report information for spring sports or winter sports that are in the middle of the competitive season?
A. The phrase "information available to date" on the form is to allow the use of scheduled (as opposed to completed) contests at the time the form is prepared. For example, institutions should report completed contests for fall sports and provide the number of scheduled contests for any team that is in the midst or has yet to begin its competitive season.
Q. Should conference championships or competition in an NCAA championship or bowl game be included?A. Yes. Institutions may list postseason contests on the form. For example, for football, an institution may include conference championship and/or bowl games. It would also be appropriate to report scheduled conference championships for spring sports.
Q. The attachment includes only one space for "other" sports, how should sponsorship of sports like fencing or synchronized swimming be reported?A. Unlike the August 15 sports sponsorship report, which is used (among others) for revenue distribution purposes, this form is seeking information demonstrating an institution's compliance with Bylaw 20.9.7.1. As such, institutions should include information on a minimum of 16 sports. If an institution uses a sport(s) that is not listed on the form to meet the minimum sport sponsorship requirements, it should list that sport(s) in the other category. The form is provided in Microsoft Word format to allow additional rows to be made, if necessary. Institutions may also provide that information on a separate document and simply attach it to the form.
Q. Given that the form is seeking information in the middle of the academic year, may an institution report "budgeted" versus "dispersed" athletics financial aid.
A. An institution should provide information on the financial aid awards made up to the date that the form is prepared. An institution should then note if there are any pending awards and that were budgeted but not yet dispersed. This can be done by noting the number of scholarships (or equivalency values) provided to date and then use a "/" to note additional awards are budgeted but pending (i.e., awarded but not dispersed).
3. Football Scheduling Requirement Section.
Q. Should institutions include postseason bowl games and/or conference championships?
A. The purpose of the football scheduling section of the form is to verify compliance with Bylaws 20.9.7.2 and 20.9.7.3. In that regard, it is only necessary to include regular-season contests, though an institution may include postseason games if they desire. Also, an institution may simply attach a 2006 football schedule to the form, provided the schedule includes the date of the contests, the opponent, the opponent's classification [(e.g., Football Bowl Subdivision or NCAA Football Championship Subdivision and the site of contest.
4. Additional Financial Aid Requirements Section.
Q. Given that the form is seeking information in the middle of the academic year, may an institution report "budgeted" versus "awarded" financial aid awards.
A. The financial aid section of the report is provided to confirm compliance with Bylaw 20.9.7.4. An institution may base its response on "budgeted" awards, but any failure to comply with the bylaw must be reported to the subcommittee when the information becomes certain (i.e., at the conclusion of the academic year).
NCAA/12/18/06/BK:dks
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