The Division I Council as early as next month could formalize a quicker pace to consider changes to rules that are outdated or no longer justify the use of significant resources to monitor and enforce. Rules modernization has been a strategic priority of the division for several years, as stated by the Division I Board of Directors, and this new process could help the division achieve change sooner.
On Wednesday, Council members initially discussed a proposal from the Division I Legislative Committee that would allow certain changes to be introduced at a meeting one month and voted on the next month, although votes might not occur every month. The recommended process would complement, not replace, the standard legislative process, by providing a way to quickly make changes that the division is prepared to make.
Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the Council has been meeting virtually monthly, and sometimes more often. The fast pace of rules adjustments during the pandemic illustrated that the division can move quickly when necessary.
The Legislative Committee believes the recommended process could help prepare the division for the work of theNCAA Constitution Committee, whichwill likely result in an accelerated pace of rules changes and will be conducted alongside the division's efforts to eliminate or adjust some of its more specific rules in favor of a broader approach to rules-making.
The current process for all rules adoption outside the emergency or noncontroversial processes involves introduction and publication of concepts in the summer, final proposal submission by Nov. 1 and Council votes in either January or April. To adopt something using the emergency or noncontroversial processes, larger majorities are needed for adoption. This new process would require only a simple majority.
The proposed process would be labeled a "modernization track" and would encompass proposals that are intended to update the Division I rules to better fit today's student-athletes. The modernization track would allow for the Council to consider introducing recommended changes at a meeting one month and then vote on those changes the next month. Any recommendations the Council believes would benefit from more time for review and membership input could be redirected to the traditional legislative process.
"This process would provide notice to the membership regarding the concepts the Council will talk about at one meeting and vote on the next month," said Council chair Shane Lyons, athletics director at West Virginia. "The timeline provides an opportunity for groups like coaches associations and other stakeholders to review the concepts and provide feedback and shows the division can be responsive to needs effectively and efficiently."
Based on feedback from member schools, the concepts could be revised or delayed before a vote or move ahead as scheduled.
The Council could vote on creating the new process at its September meeting.
Council members also reviewed thegender equity report recommendationsand the Council Coordination Committee's decisions on how the governance structure will be engaged in the work. In addition, they heard an update on the involvement of the Women's Basketball Oversight Committee and Women's Basketball Committee, groups vital to the implementation of recommendations.
The Council members will receive updates each month on the work of reviewing and implementing the recommendations.
Members also heard an update on the Constitution Committee, which met for the first time earlier this week.