Conferences Begin Second Year Of Autonomy Process

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Conferences Begin Second Year Of Autonomy Process

Preliminary Concepts have been Submitted; Final Proposals to be Released on Nov. 15; Autonomy Session on Jan. 15 at NCAA Convention



Irving, Texas – Over the past several years, the five conferences of the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC have worked both individually and collectively to create a 21st Century experience for student-athletes. Areas of reform have included enhancements to the health and well-being of students, including liberalizing meal legislation and focusing on sport-related injuries, notably concussions. The five conferences have also adopted protections for athletic scholarships as well as increased the value of a full grant-in-aid to cover the full cost of attendance. Finally, additional benefits incidental to participating in athletics have been made available to student-athletes and their families, which have been in addition to the millions of dollars in direct assistance provided each year through the Student Assistance Fund.



The 2015-16 year marks the second year in which the five conferences have autonomy over certain areas of NCAA rules. Numerous preliminary concepts intended to enhance the student-athlete experience have been submitted into this year’s legislative cycle. These concepts will now undergo a period of preliminary review and refinement, during which time amendments may be proposed and any or all of the five conferences may join together to support a concept through co-sponsorship. Proposals will take their final form by November 15th, at which point they will be published and made available for comment by all of the Division I membership. The proposals will then be voted on during the autonomy session at the NCAA Convention on January 15, 2016.



The commissioners of the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC commented on the importance of the autonomy process: “Our universities have made significant strides to modernize college athletics and improve the student-athlete experience. There is more work to do, but collectively we have sharpened our focus on the overall objective of preparing our student-athletes to succeed on and off the field – in college and in life.”

 

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Big 12 Conference Outlines Autonomy Concepts


Irving, Texas – The Big 12 Conference has outlined the initial concepts it submitted for the Autonomy Session at the 2016 NCAA Convention. Again this year, concepts center on student-athlete welfare matters and include time demands, health and safety, representation and financial issues.



The Big 12 concepts are as follows:



·To ensure that medical personnel have independent authority to make medical decisions in the best interest of student-athletes.

· To permit an additional volunteer diving coach for institutions that sponsor only men’s or women’s swimming and diving.

· To permit a baseball prospective student-athlete who is drafted by a pro baseball team prior to enrolling at a collegiate institution to have representation during the contract negotiation process.

· To permit institutions to pay for or rebate pre-enrollment fees for prospective student-athletes after they are admitted.

· To establish a Health and Wellness Committee that focuses on student-athlete health and wellness issues.

· To permit institutions to provide meals, lodging and entertainment for up to four family members accompanying a prospective student-athlete on an official visit.



“This is just another step in the process of improving college athletics,” noted Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “We must continue to work hard the give our student-athletes the best possible experience.”