The override period for the Division I Board of Directors’ decision to restructure how members govern themselves ended today, and the legislation did not garner enough override requests to require the board to reconsider.
Of the 345 schools in the division, 27 schools requested an override of the legislation that finalized the restructuring plan, less than the 75 required.
The new governance structure provides student-athletes with a vote at every level of decision-making in Division I and will preserve and improve college sports, which has helped millions of student-athletes gain access to higher education and pursue a degree.
A 24-member Board of Directors will oversee the division. The board is charged with ensuring the division adheres to appropriate values and principles as well as overseeing the workings of the substructure. Though presidents will continue to lead the group, other groups will now have a vote, including student-athletes, an athletics director, faculty and senior woman administrator.
Reporting to the board will be the Council, responsible for day-to-day operations of the division, assisted by a three-group substructure focused on academics, championships and legislation, respectively. Athletics directors would comprise the majority of the council, and two student-athletes will vote.
The new model also will allow the 65 schools within the five highest-resourced conferences the flexibility to make decisions for themselves in a specific list of areas intended to improve the student-athlete experience, including:
- Health and wellness.
- Meals and nutrition.
- Financial aid.
- Expenses and benefits for student-athletes.
- Expenses and benefits for prospective student-athletes.
- Insurance and career transition.
- Career pursuits.
- Time demands.
- Academic support.
- Recruiting.
- Personnel.
Much of the model will be effective next year, though the 65 schools have begun developing their agenda for discussion at the 2015 NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C.
If 75 schools had requested an override of the structure, the board would have been required to review the decision. If 125 schools had requested an override, the rule would have been suspended until the board review.
The full membership votes on a proposal only when both 75 schools make an override request and the board declines to change its position. If the full membership votes, the process is conducted online, and at least a 5/8 majority of those voting must support an override for the rule to be rescinded.
Schools requesting override of restructuring proposal
- Bradley University
- College of Charleston (South Carolina)
- College of William and Mary
- Drexel University
- Elon University
- Fordham University
- Hofstra University
- Houston Baptist University
- Indiana State University
- Iona College
- James Madison University
- Loyola University Chicago
- McNeese State University
- Nicholls State University
- Northeastern University
- Saint Peter's University
- Sam Houston State University
- Seattle University
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
- Towson University
- University of Delaware
- University of Denver
- University of New Hampshire
- University of North Carolina Wilmington
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- University of Vermont
- Wofford College