REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION III FINANCIAL AID AUDIT TASK FORCE

 

 

1.      ACTION ITEM.

 

Division III Task Force Charge and Timeline.

 

a.             Recommendation.  Approve the amended charge and timeline of the Division III Financial Aid Audit Task Force.

 

Charge.  Continue to pursue the development of a financial aid audit process and related legislation for consideration at the 2003 Convention.  Consider all previous information, including the 2001 pilot results and input from the Financial Aid and Awards Committee, the Presidents Council and the Management Council and financial aid aministrators.  The focus of the proposed audit process will include:

 

(1)     Audit scope/size/frequency.

 

(2)     Acceptable variance between aid for student-athletes and nonstudent-athletes.

 

(3)     Auditor (external/internal); frequency.

 

(4)     Random committee review.

 

(5)     Cost.

 

(6)     Enforcement process.

 

Timeline.  The task force conducted its first conference call December 20, 2001, and will conduct one additional call (April or June) and two in-person meetings (February and May).

 

December 20,  2001          Conference call to discuss charge; timetable and 2002 Convention discussion session.

 

         January 14, 2002                Convention financial aid discussion session.

 

........ February 2002......                   In-person meeting.  (Indianapolis)

 

April 2002                          Conference call to prepare DRAFT report for NCAA Division III Management and Presidents Council meetings and Financial Aid and Awards Committee.

 

         May 2002                          In-person meeting.  (Indianapolis or airport hub)

June 17-18, 2002               Probable National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) discussion session. (Possible appearance by task force members who are athletics administrators and already intend to attend NACDA)

 

July 21-24, 2002                Probable discussion with Financial Aid Administrators Association (NASFAA)

 

July 22-23, 2002                Recommendation to Management and Presidents Council for sponsorship of legislation.

 

         August-December 2002     Work as necessary based on actions of Management and
                                          Presidents Councils.

 

         January 2003                      Convention discussion session and legislative vote.

 

b.      Rationale.  The task force was appointed to develop an audit model that will replace the former financial aid monitoring mechanism that was eliminated at the 2001 NCAA Convention with the adoption of Proposal Nos. 46, 46-1 and 46-2. 

 

c.      Budget Impact.  $30,000 to $35,000 (governance budget).

 

 

2.      INFORMATIONAL ITEM.

 

a.      Task force composition.  The following individuals have been appointed to serve on the Division III Financial Aid Audit Task Force:

 

Susan Bassett, director of women’s athletics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Paul Boyer, director of financial aid, Williams College

Linda Case, director of athletics, State University College at Brockport

Marian Conrad, director of financial aid, Kalamazoo College

Daniel DiBiasio, president, Wilmington College

William Eng, director of athletics, Bernard M. Baruch College

Muriel Howard, president, State College at Buffalo

Karen Johnson, director of institutional research, Alfred University

Marcia Kierscht, president, Stephens Institute of Technology

Kevin LaGree, president, Simpson College, chair

Leon Lunder, director of athletics, Carleton College

Michael McPherson, president, Macalester College

Dan Preston, dean of enrollment management, Linfield College


John Roush, president, Centre College

Ellen Shilkret, associate director of financial aid, Vassar College

Bette Landman, president, Arcadia University, ex officio

Christopher Walker, professor of communicative disorders, University of Redlands,
ex officio

 

b.      Chair.  Kevin LaGree, president, Simpson College, agreed to serve as chair.

 

c.      Communication.  The task force recommended:

 

(1)     The creation of an NCAA Web site link to post its work.

 

(2)     A letter be sent to all financial aid officers following the 2002 Convention to update the status of the Division III financial aid audit legislation and the task force charge and timeline.

 

(3)     Involvement of a research staff member with the task force.

 

Committee Chair:  Kevin LaGree, president, Simpson College

Staff Liaisons: Dan Dutcher; Bridget Belgiovine; Gordon Finch; Damani Leech