REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION III MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

ACADEMIC ISSUES SUBCOMMITTEE

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

1. Waiver of NCAA Bylaw 14.1.8.2.1.3 – Final Semester/Quarter. The subcommittee approved a waiver request from Bowdoin College to permit a student-athlete to participate in intercollegiate athletics for the 2005 spring semester while working on his senior thesis, but not enrolled in 12 credit hours.

2. Waiver of Bylaw 14.1.8.2.2.1.1 – Nontraditional Academic Calendars or Cooperative Education Programs. The subcommittee denied Elmira College's request to have nine credits in Terms I and II and four credits in Term III be considered full-time enrollment for student-athletes. The subcommittee noted that the proposed credit arrangement was for special circumstances only, and should not be used as the general standard for assessing full-time enrollment of student-athletes. The subcommittee did approve the ability for student-athletes to be given the same consideration as the general student body in accepting the 9-9-4 credit arrangement as full time when the student-athlete experiences the special circumstances described in Elmira's waiver request (e.g., medical or major personal issues).

3. Waiver of Bylaw 14.1.8.2.2.1.3 – Learning Disables and Handicapped Student-Athletes. The subcommittee approved a waiver of the 12-hour requirement for a learning-disabled student-athlete at Fitchburg State College. The subcommittee evaluated the learning-disability documentation and academic progress of the student-athlete and determined that the documentation submitted by the institution provided objective evidence that the student-athlete should be enrolled in less than 12 hours to accommodate for the learning disability.

Subcommittee Chair: Joyce Wong, Eastern Connecticut State University

Staff Liaison: Leah Nilsson, Membership Services