REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION I MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

MEMBERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE

ACTION ITEMS.

· Membership Requirements – Multidivision Institutions – Compliance Review.

Recommendation.  To require all new reclassifying multidivisional institutions that wish to participate in a sport in which a Division I championship is conducted to engage in a compliance review (at the institution’s expense) during the two-year reclassifying process.  Further, to require all active multidivisional institutions that sponsor a sport in which the NCAA conducts a Division I championship to engage in a compliance review (at the institution’s expense) once every four years with a copy of the report to be kept on file at the institution and submitted to the membership subcommittee for review and comment.  The review must be conducted by an entity outside the athletics department (e.g., all-sport conference outside qualified, experienced consultants), subject to approval by the subcommittee.

Rationale.    Multidivisional reclassification requires compliance with Division I legislation in the applicable sport; however, no other continuing or ongoing membership requirements exist.  The compliance review requirement is consistent with other Division I institutions and is responsive to the concerns expressed regarding compliance with Division I legislation for multidivision institutions.

Effective Date.  August 1, 2008.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

1.      Membership growth.  The subcommittee received an update from staff regarding the activities of the Executive Committee and the creation of a working group to study membership growth.  The subcommittee suggested that inasmuch as the working group is likely to review issues that directly or indirectly impact Division I membership, strong consideration should be given to including a representative from the Division I Management Council Membership Subcommittee in discussions.

2.      NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate role in the reclassifying process.  The group received an update from the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) regarding the use of an institution’s academic progress rate (APR) in considering whether to advance the institution in the provisional, reclassifying or multidivisional process.  The CAP was supportive of such a concept and the subcommittee agreed to further discuss possible legislative options at its April meeting.

3.      Failure to meet Division I standards during first year of active membership.  The subcommittee approved a policy which specifies that a provisional, reclassifying or multidivision institution may be withheld from progression to active status if it is projected during its first year of active status that any one of the required NCAA Division I membership requirements will not be satisfied.  The subcommittee, at its discretion, may approve such action regardless of whether the institution has successfully completed all other requirements of a provisional or reclassifying member.

Subcommittee Chair:  Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference

Staff Liaisons:       Bo Kerin, Membership Services

                              Steve Mallonee, Membership Services