National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) - Chair: Nicole Kim JHUMUNC 2018
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National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Chair: Nicole Kim
JHUMUNC 2018
National Collegiate Athletics Association
Topic A: Well-being of Student-Athletes
Topic B: Budgeting of NCAA
Committee Overview minimum grade point average (GPA) and
satisfying a credit minimum are two typical
The National Collegiate Athletic requirements in an effort to keep students
Association (NCAA) is a non-profit association in accountable for their academics. According to
charge of regulating and organizing student most universities’ policies regarding eligibility,
athletic programs boasting over 1,200 athletes are first and foremost to be considered
institutions in 49 states throughout the country. students, and eligibility to participate in athletics
With this label, the NCAA Committee is designed depends on their ability to perform well in class.
to be a governing body that oversees and Applying the definition of wellness to the
maintains relations between the NCAA, university environment, there are three main
participating universities and colleges, as well as areas that the committee would like to expand
individual athletes themselves, giving voice to on: mental health, injury, and student voice.
each group in the participation of well-organized First and foremost, mental health of student-
and competitive collegiate sport.1 athletes is an area well studied by experts and is
a subject that most universities strive to promote
Topic A: Well-being of for the student body as a whole. The state of
one’s mind is a major factor that affects
Student-Athletes academic and athletic performance, interactions
and relationships with others, and daily life in
Introduction general. Stress and mental fatigue is a common
Wellness, though perhaps typically defined outcome of the added responsibilities of athletics
as the state of being in good health both mentally to the academic requirements of attending an
and physically, entails more than just a level of accredited institution. Despite numerous mental
fitness. University student wellbeing is a notion wellness services available on campus, it is valid
that institutions have always strived to promote to ask whether there is a need for athlete-specific
on campus, as the idea of a successful student services, given the different stresses and
generally centers around a well-rounded and experiences that they through. With obvious
healthy individual with the ability to balance connections to the central idea of wellness,
academics with other interests outside the injury (as well as injury prevention) is an issue
classroom. Numerous institutions acknowledge that all athletes potentially face, and is a topic
the academic rigors of pursuing an that needs to be evaluated. When experiencing
undergraduate degree and the mental stress that injuries on and off the playing field, athletes risk
comes along with it, and have initiated programs their physical and mental health which can have
that seek to encourage the student with various detrimental effects, especially in serious cases.
lifestyle choices and accessible resources. Lastly, student representation is an all-
However, for the typical student athlete, encompassing area that draws attention from the
especially those categorized under Division I, fact that feeling of improvement is essential to
athletics shapes a large portion of their the idea of wellbeing. In order to have an impact
undergraduate life, adding a more serious tone in their own lives, a say in what coaches,
to the definition of wellbeing with the universities, and the NCAA are important to
accumulated responsibilities of their maintain a healthy outlook on the collegiate
undergraduate athletic careers. Maintaining a sports institution.
According to the National Wellness Institute,
wellness is defined as “a conscious, self-directed
1 "About the NCAA." NCAA, www.ncaa.org/about.
1
and evolving process of achieving full potential,”2 until 1910 that the IAAUS was rebranded to its
meaning that the active process of becoming present name, the National Collegiate Athletic
aware of one’s decision to live a healthy and Association (NCAA). For the first several years of
fulfilling life is considered to be “wellness.” This its operation, the NCAA remained a decision-
is an important goal that all universities making body, focusing its attention on
nationwide should strive to promote for the discussion of rules and regulations for all
entire campus, and within the scope of this participants rather than hosting sports events.3
committee, within the athletic department. The The National Collegiate Track and Field
need for better defined measures of action to Championship of 1921 was the first official NCAA
promote wellness is a prevalent issue facing sponsored event, marking the NCAA’s transition
thousands of student-athletes across the country, from a simple legislative body to intercollegiate
as the participation in sports distinguishes organization.
student-athletes from the rest of the student Over the decades following the first
body. The lack of guidance in the area of athlete- championship, college athletics continued to
specific measures for wellness is a problem that grow in both popularity and size, leading to the
this committee seeks to address. formation of more rule committees and
organized events. Due to the overwhelming
Historical Background participation of athletics at all different levels of
skill and competitiveness across the member
The beginning of intercollegiate sports in the institutions, the NCAA was forced to create a
United States dates back to 1852 when teams divided structure that grouped universities into
from Harvard University and Yale University appropriate levels of emphasis. Thus, the
met to challenge each other in a rowing race, Association’s membership was split into three
quickly expanding to include other institutions separate divisions (I, II, III) that recognized each
that participated in the competition. Initial collegiate institution as one of the three for each
debates concerning eligibility, rules, etc. were sport that was participated in.
settled through the Rowing Association of Women’s involvement in collegiate athletics
American Colleges and the Intercollegiate was not officially recognized by the NCAA until
Rowing Association, both of which were solely the 1980s. Up until that point, the Association
concerned with logistics and planning of the for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW),
specific sport. As other intercollegiate sports founded in 1971, was taxed with governing
emerged, similar associations were formed in an collegiate athletics as well as organizing
attempt to regulate the respective games but championships. Peaking at almost 1000 member
resulted in constantly changing regulations and schools, the AIAW was considered a major
amendments with rules often having to be advancement for women’s athletics and a success
altered for individual contests. due to its rapid growth and influence. However,
The official formation of the National due to the overlap between the NCAA and
Collegiate Athletic Association can be attributed AIAW’s championships for women, most schools
to the influence of President Theodore Roosevelt decided to support only one of the two
who encouraged the reformation of college organizations, the NCAA largely overshadowing
football practices after countless the instances of the AIAW for its better funding and access to
injury, some even leading to death, that occurred television contracts/publicity. By 1983, the
during practices. After discussion stemming AIAW ceased operations in all sports, member
from two White House conferences concerning schools continuing their participation in
the issue, Henry MacCracken, chancellor of New collegiate athletics under NCAA for both men
York University, called a meeting between 13 and women’s events.
different collegiate institutions to establish set The official list of sports endorsed by the
rules in football playing. During a follow-up NCAA is as follows: basketball, baseball (men),
meeting held on December 28, 1905, 62 higher- beach volleyball (women), bowling (women),
education universities became charter members cross country, diving, fencing, field hockey
of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the (women), football (men), golf, gymnastics, ice
United States (IAAUS), which was officially hockey, lacrosse, rifle, rowing, skiing, soccer,
created on March 31, 1906. However, it was not
3"National Collegiate Athletic Association." Encyclopedia
2National Wellness Institute. Britannica, www.britannica.com/topic/ National-
www.nationalwellness.org/?page=AboutWellness. Collegiate-Athletic-Association.
2
softball (women), swimming, tennis, track and The NCAA subsequently passed several
field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling (men). reforms to define admission standards for
Yearly, there are 90 national championships (46 students participating in athletics: Proposition
women’s, 41 men’s).4 48 outlined the eligibility requirements for
The current organization and structure of the student athletes, with Proposition 16 being a
NCAA is divided into various cabinets that host more restrictive successor, implemented in 1986.
representatives from member schools. In short, the qualifications for admission to a
Legislation from smaller sub-committees, NCAA member school included a minimum 2.0
initiated by athletic directors and faculty grade point average, 13 approved “core” courses,
advisors, such as the Management Council and a score of 1010 on the SAT (1600 scale) or
legislation moving on to the Board of Directors equivalent on the ACT. Failure to meet these
(school presidents) for approval. The role of requirements resulted in rejection from
NCAA staff is to provide support and act as participation in athletic competition and denial
guides/liaisons between groups, public, and of any sort of athletic scholarship. The NCAA
media, mitigating communicational hoped to better meet the standards used to admit
discrepancies that could arise. non-athletes with those used for student-
athletes, in an effort to ensure that athletes
Reform would be able to meet the academic demands
The National Collegiate Athletic Association imposed while on campus.
(NCAA) has gone through various periods of
reform concerning the challenge and execution Brief Historical Overview of College
of balancing athletic and academic Mental Health
responsibilities. Collegiate sports in the 1920s As integral factors contributing to an
were marked by numerous reports throughout individual’s well-being, mental health and
the media that portrayed the games as mental health resources have had long histories
deplorable and corrupt, citing the over- in the United States, ultimately leading to the
commercialization and exploitation of student development of numerous counseling centers
athletes by the NCAA. These accusations led the and programs on most if not all college
Carnegie Foundation of Advancement of campuses.
Teachers (CFAT) to initiate a study on the In the early 19th century, the idea of one’s
discrepancy between intercollegiate athletics and mental state was more or less reduced to either
the core purpose of universities in their role as being sane or plagued with a psychotic order,
educational institutions. This was the first type and the idea of maintaining a healthy mental
of investigation into the impact of full-time state was not well developed. Early therapies for
university students participating in organized mental illness centered around the treatment of
collegiate sport and confirmed the patients in hospitals and asylums with the shift
inconsistencies of colleges fulfilling the primary to treatment of patients with personality or
goal of education. milder disorders only emerging in the 20th
Over the following decades, the gap between century. Although by the late 1800s social
academics and athletics continued to widen, workers and psychologists were caring for
prompting further studies on ethics in collegiate patients in hospitals, Sigmund Freud was the
sports. Not only did monetary differences first to begin treatment on patients with
broaden, with separate budgets and expenditures functional illnesses.7
reserved for the purpose and benefit of athletes, In 1861, Amherst College was the first
but also admissions practices 5were revealed to university to develop a student health service
vary, providing exceptions and different that centered around physical illness by
standards for the acceptance of undergraduate emphasizing exercise and avoiding emotional
athletes which ultimately were at odds with problems in order to live a healthy lifestyle on
implemented educational goals.6 campus. However, any sort of counseling or
general support was exclusively offered to faculty
4 “NCAA WOMEN’S SPORTS INVENTORY.” NCAA. and clergy but not to undergraduate students.
www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/NCAA-WSI.pdf.
5 "Reform Efforts." NCAA,
www.ncaa.org/governance/reform-efforts. 7Tandor and Francis Online.
6 "Reform Efforts." NCAA,
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07448481.2011.56
www.ncaa.org/governance/reform-efforts. 9964.
3
The first mental health service for students in traditional health professionals and mental
was organized by Steward Paton, MD at counseling services.
Princeton University to help with “personality In the recent years, mental health services on
development” problems. This arose from the campus have seen a greater presence and
observation that many students took leaves of positive response from both students and faculty.
absences without finishing their courses due to The move towards increased awareness and
personality and emotional issues. Other dispelling the stigma of mental health issues has
specialists were quick to follow and create allowed the growth of programs nationwide.
mental health services on different campuses Students are encouraged to seek professional
including University of Wisconsin, the United help when dealing with stressful times or
States Military Academy at West Point, personal issues, and the creation of 24/7
Dartmouth College, Yale University, among hotlines, walk-in hours, and seminars are well-
many others. The importance and reasoning established on many campuses today.
behind the establishment of mental health
services was recognized at the first meeting of Contemporary Conditions
the American Student Health Association that
met in 1920 by Frankwood Williams, MD, who Student Life
outlined four distinct points: (1) “[t]he Collegiate student-athletes have been in the
conservation of the student body, so that news and studies, especially in recent years,
intellectually capable students may not be forced because of the cumbersome hours they are
unnecessarily to withdraw, but may be retained”; known to spend each week practicing with their
(2) “[t]he forestalling of failure in the form of team, which has become notorious for taking
nervous and mental diseases, immediate or time away from their academics and personal
remote”; (3) “[t]he minimizing of partial failure lives. Recent lawsuits, such as the one made to
in later mediocrity, inadequacy, inefficiency, and University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill
unhappiness”; (4) “[t]he making possible of a and the NCAA in October 2014 by two former
large individual usefulness by giving to each a student-athletes, included claims that said they
fuller use of the intellectual capacity he were “deprived of a meaningful education” and
possesses, through widening the sphere of were forced to take “fake paper classes”9 in which
conscious control and thereby widening the either the classes provided no actual or
sphere of social control.”8 substantial lessons and were designed just for
Following the years after World War II, there student-athlete like them to take, or the teachers
was an increased enrollment of veterans in purposely graded their assignments with
universities, junior and community colleges, inflation because of their status as student-
coinciding with an increased need for mental athletes. The lawsuit was filed following the
health professionals who could meet students’ release of an investigation that showed a decades
demands on campus. By the mid 50s, health long scandal regarding the school system making
services provided by universities were well- exceptions for student-athletes such as offering
established although most services were split these paper classes through the African and
between small psychiatric consultation offices Afro-American Studies (AFAM) department, in
and separate counseling centers. The expansion order for student-athletes to maintain the 2.3
of such centers grew even more rapidly during GPA needed for NCAA eligibility. Additionally,
the 60s to accommodate the “baby boomers,” although the guidelines set by the NCAA restricts
increasing the enrollments of all colleges student-athletes to only practice up to 20 hours
nationwide. However, the late 60s to early 70s each week, a majority at UNC athletes reported
brought a wave of increased political activism on practicing 30 + hours per week. The statistic
many campuses, bringing with it an influx of provided below is the one presented in the UNC
drug and alcohol abuses by many students.
Opposition to the Vietnam War sparked distrust
8 9
One Hundred Years of College Mental Health. Taylor and The Washington Post.
Francis Online, Journal of American College www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-
Health, 2011, point/wp/2015/01/22/lawsuit-filed-against-ncaa-
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07448481.2011.56 university-of-north-carolina-in-paper-class-
9964. athleticsscandal/ ?utm_term=.8c01cd6121bf.
4
lawsuit, proving some students even reported individual student-athlete’s skills and
numbers of hours practicing in the 40’s.10 commitment, the psychological implications of
In 2015, 74 collegiate student-athletes were leaving the world of athletics can have a serious
declared eligible for the NFL draft, but Ohio toll. Many students have spent the majority of
State’s quarterback Cardale Jones declared he their childhood and adolescent years dedicated
was not ready to go pro yet. Even after his team to perfecting their skills; countless hours spent
won the national championship game, Jones on the court, field, and weight-room, in hopes of
made the decision to stay back because it was recruitment at competitive universities. With
important to him that he graduated college. undergraduate years coming to a close, and the
Additionally, Jones made recent tweets after his idea of signing with a professional team
winning year, complaining about the nonexistent dwindling, thousands of student-athletes
“college” aspect of being a college football player, undergo the transition. Some are prepared and
and that he’d gone to Ohio State “to play football, even relieved at the idea of change whereas
not to play school” and that classes were others are not able to adjust smoothly. Although
pointless. Despite the NCAA’s constant push for many are happy about moving on and starting a
addressing the issue of academics before new phase of their life, a feeling of loss and
athletics, it is evident through the cases nostalgia often accompany the more positive
presented, including recent allegations made thoughts. According to sports psychologist Mark
against Syracuse University and NCAA for not Anshell, “When you take [sports] away, the very
obliging to the standards presented in the core of their importance…you take that away
Divisional Eligibility Rules by allowing from their lives, they feel they become less of a
academically ineligible athletes to participate in person. They’re less valued as an individual and
divisional athletics, shows that it is hard to trust it’s a real blow to their personality, to their self-
both schools’ and the NCAA’s words and actions. esteem, to their sense of importance to the
A concern that many athletes have is that world.”13
they have not been adequately prepared for life
after university, especially if they have decided to Personal Health and Injury of Student-
not go the professional route. Essential to the Athletes
routine of student-athletes is countless hours at With only two guaranteed fixed mealtimes,
practice, inevitably leading to sacrificing time practice running from 7 a.m. till 7p.m, traveling
spent studying or doing work for class. The out of state on the weekends, and trying to
inability to spare time for internships can be complete homework, most student-athletes find
devastating for student athletes preparation for it difficult to find the time to take care of their
the workplace. Not only do student-athletes tend personal health and maintain meaningful
to lag behind their peers in gaining professional relationships with family and friends. A report
experience, but also they have less knowledge released by the NCAA in 2011 revealed that there
about their chosen fields, leaving many unsure of is a higher rate of student-athletes reporting to
what they want to do after graduation11. For have either formed symptoms of/or are currently
many college-level athletes, the idea of signing struggling with depression, anxiety, and other
with a professional sports team is a feasible and mental health illnesses. The American College
realistic goal; however according to a recent Health Association (ACHA) conducted a survey
study by Al Jazeera, less than 2 percent of all in which about 30 percent of the 195,000
collegiate players go professional, leaving the respondents reported having symptoms of
remaining 98 percent to shift focus to the depression in the last 12 months and 50 percent
workplace.12 Depending on the sport, the reported having symptoms of anxiety during the
same period.14 But in order to identify whether
10 Average Hours Spent per Week In-Season on Athletic the causes of these mental health issues in
Activities. NCAA, www.ncaa.org/sites/default/ college students are similar to those of the
files/GOALS_convention_slidebank_jan2016_public.pdf.
11 "College Athletes Suffer the Greatest Injustice." USA Zakcheneyrice. “here’s What Happens to the 98% of
13
Today, college.usatoday.com/2011/08/28/ college- College Athletes Who Don’t Go Pro.”
13
athletes-suffer-the-greatest-injustice-from-ncaa/.
12 14 Rpowell. “Mind, Body and Sport: Depression and Anxiety Prevalence in Student-
"Here's What Happens to the 98% of College Athletes
Who Don't Go Pro." Mic, mic.com/articles/85789/ Athletes.”NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA, 11 July 2017, www.ncaa.org/sport-
here-s-what-happens-to-the-98-of-college-athletes-who- science-institute/mind-body-and-sport-depression-and-anxiety-prevalence-student-
don-t-go-pro#.kqJgj0JiB. athletes.
5
subpopulation of student-athletes on campus, potentially have devastating results in the long
ACHA conducted assessment surveys beginning run. In any case, advocating that student-
in 2012. The rate of sleep difficulty and athletes consider treatment can be challenging.
loneliness were found significantly higher in the The current governing body concerned
subpopulation of student-athletes. Additionally, with injuries and the promotion of safe
it was also found that student-athletes were also environments for student-athletes is handled by
less prone to report seeking help from mental the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards
health services, and that another major cause of and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS). This
forming anxiety was stress from either poor committee seeks to provide expertise and
athletic performances or academics because of leadership to the NCAA in order to promote a
the difficulty in balancing the two sides of college health through research, education,
life.15 collaboration, and policy development.17 Its
Injuries are an unavoidable outcome for any members include coaches, sports medicine
type of participation in sports. While most experts, researchers, faculty, and even student
injuries can be treated with little to no athletes while the composition of the committee
interruption in participation and normal student is held to include six positions for men, six for
life, other injuries create devastating women, and 10 unallocated.
psychological responses in student athletes’ lives,
especially when the injury is serious. These types Eligibility
of injuries can contribute to debilitating mental Both Division I and II college-bound student-
health issues including depression, anxiety, athletes must begin the process of becoming an
eating disorders, and substance abuse, among eligible NCAA student-athlete from the start the
others.16 of their high school careers. In order to ensure
The way in which student-athletes respond potential student-athletes will meet the athletic
to injuries, especially potential life-changing and academic requirements for Divisional
one's varies widely among athletes, hence no recruitment, they must begin the process by first
predictable route or method of coping can be speaking with their high school guidance
implemented. Although for most injuries, counselors and coaches about their interest in
students are able to return to their pre-injury pursuing this path, and discussing the NCAA
state after a certain time of recovery, the more core classes that will need to be taken before
serious cases of injury in which the athletic graduating high school.v Additionally, they must
career may be at stake warrant closer inspection. maintain at least a 2.3 GPA regarding their core
In all cases, however, typical emotional courses, and by the time potential student-
responses following the injury include: sadness, athletes have entered the 10th grade, they must
isolation, irritation, lack of motivation, anger, begin registering themselves with the NCAA
frustration, changes in appetite, sleep disorders, Eligibility Center, otherwise they will not be able
disengagement, among others. The problematic to receive athletic scholarships from college
response of caloric deprivation, for example, is a sports programs. The NCAA Eligibility Center
serious issue, stemming from an athlete feeling has outlined three main criteria points that must
that since they’re injured, they don’t deserve be met for recruitment:
food. This could potentially trigger a more
serious eating disorder that possibly extends 1. Meeting core course requirements
even after the athlete is recovered. specific to NCAA Division I or II.
In some cases, student-athletes who face
a psychological response to injury may be 2. Meeting grade-point averages on a
unwilling to seek treatment, perhaps viewing the sliding scale when compared to ACT and SAT
fact of revealing injuries as a sign of weakness. test scores for NCAA Division I or meeting grade
The failure to comply with treatment can and test requirements for Division II.
15 Brown, Joel. “Anxiety: The Most Common Mental Health Diagnosis in College
Students | BU Today | Boston University.” BU Today, www.bu.edu/today/2016/college-
students-anxiety-and-depression/.
16 17
How Being Injured Affects Mental Health." NCAA, Committee on Safeguards and Medical Aspects of
www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/ Sports." NCAA, www.ncaa.org/governance/committees/
mind-body-and-sport-how-being-injured-affects-mental- committee-competitive-safeguards-and-medical-aspects-
health. sports.
63. Completion of Amateurism certificate.18 to better serve the whole community of people in
school athletics, such that it became a more
However, taking the core classes and autonomous process, giving more space for
registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center is student-athletes to have voice as well in
just the bare minimum requirements potential reviewing and revising policies and day-to-day
student-athletes must fulfill. Athletes who are legislative actions. In regards to the expansion of
certain they will be competing to join a Division I the Division I Board, the final model consisted of
college sports team must often spend time adding more seats for two more presidents, a
contacting college coaches in order for them to student-athlete, faculty representative, athletics
get to know the potential student-athlete better, director, and female administrator, making the
both as an individual outside of academics and new total 24 NCAA members.20 The addition of
as an athlete on the field, and to consider the presidents was made on the basis of having more
student-athlete for receiving an athletic presidents take on a bigger role in running
scholarship from them. athletic programs at their respective schools and
By the time the student-athletes have entered within the NCAA. In regards to the creation of
12th grade, they must be sure that they are on the new Council, its duty holds in delegating day-
the track for graduating with all core classes to-day operations of Division I, and has a
complete, a standing GPA of 2.3 or above, and modified version of their decision-making
have taken the SAT or ACT with a total score that process for creating and evaluating new rules
is equivalent to their core courses’ GPA that is subject to review by the Division I Board,
according to the Division I sliding scale. Lastly, as illustrated in the image presented below. The
they must all complete their amateurism Council has also added new membership
certification by answering questions regarding positions to the total of 32 NCAA conferences
their academic and sports participation, in order representatives, including seats for student-
for the NCAA to ensure that in a student- athletes, two for faculty, and four for
athlete’s life, academics come before athletics, commissioners who all are able to cast a vote.
and that all student-athletes are playing on an Lastly, this new model has made it flexible
equal playing field and meet the NCAA Athletic for the schools in the five main conferences
Rules. All student-athletes who have been Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference,
recruited must additionally be aware of the Big 12 Conference, Pacific 12 Conference and
requirements emplaced for them to maintain Southeastern Conference, to autonomously make
eligibility and amateurism status. This includes decisions such as changing rules for themselves
being aware of their either 1-year or multi-year in areas that are under their delegation.
contracts, determined by their college which is Additionally, new seats have been added,
offering them the scholarships, staying on track including three for student-athletes who will
to obtain a baccalaureate or equivalent degree serve as representatives from each conference
by meeting the minimum requirement of courses and will also be able to vote on these rule
need to be taken per quarter or semester, and changes.
their coach updating each year their amateur
status.19
Representation in Decision-Making
Processes
In 2014, the NCAA Division I Board of
directors developed and implemented a new
model in which the size and role of the board
expanded, and additionally, a new Council was
put in place of the original Legislative and
Leadership councils. Overall, the structure of
conferences and decision-making processes
within colleges and universities were remodeled
18 Rpowell. “Play Division II Sports.” NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA, 16 May
2017, www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/play-division-ii-sports. 20 “Division 1 Board of Directors” NCAA.
19 Rpowell. “Play Division I Sports.” NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA, 25 Apr.
www.ncaa.org/governance/committees/division-i-board-
2017, www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/play-division-i-sports. directors.
7student-filled positions such as chairperson,
chair-elect, secretary, treasurer, etc. Along with a
governing group of students forming the
executive board, a constitution written and
approved by all representatives is essential to
outlining the policies and ruling procedures of
the committee. NCAA recommends including the
name, purpose, membership, stricture, advisors,
and voting procedures (among other
information) in the constitution, and required to
be submitted to the NCAA national office.
On a wider scale, the NCAA institutes
national SAACs, broken into divisions I through
III. For each committee, members are selected
from a pool of applicants and meet to discuss
ways in which the total student-athlete
experience can be enhanced, how athletes can be
protected, and how to foster a positive image of
athletics on campus. Current legislation is
reviewed and new regulations proposed, with
each member actively participating as they
Legislative process calendar for represent a precinct of thousands of other
Division I.21 student-athletes within their division.
Student Voice
The current way in which student-athletes’
Past NCAA and Collegiate Action
voices have been heard is through the Initiated Programs to Help with Well-
establishment of Student-Athlete Advisory Being
Committees (SAACs) at the university, regional The NCAA has reported creating a new
conference, and national levels.22 These initiative which will install nine changes
committees include students who are asked to targeting the improvement of collegiate student-
provide insight on their experience as student- athletes’ well being and lives. The first change
athletes and how implemented they promise to implement is to redefine
regulations/policies affect their lives on campus. athletics scholarships by including all the fees
Beginning at the campus-level SAACs, the and costs reported officially by each of the
mission of these committees is mainly to universities and colleges involved in divisional
promote communication between the sports sports, for the full cost of attendance. This was
administration and athletes as well as generate a however was only voted upon by the autonomous
student-voice within the department. Other conferences – the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12,
functions include providing feedback/insight Pacific 12 and Southeastern in the 2015 January
into relevant issues, build a sense of community, Convention, but all Division 1 schools are
and even promote a “positive student-athlete welcomed to also adhere to this new policy
image” on campus. The campus SAAC is meant change. This means that student-athletes will
to serve as a vehicle for local communication at also receive an additional funds to cover the
the respective institution, fostering growth and expenses of attending their respective schools
feedback between individual athletes themselves, that was not originally covered by their athletic
coaches, and administrators. The NCAA also scholarships, such as academic-related supplies
recommends the formation of a type of executive and transportation. Second, the eligibility
board that oversees the actions of SAACs with standards mentioned before for potential
student-athletes to enroll are of the newly
initiated standards made to hold them to a
21 “Division I Council Legislative Process.” NCAA, higher level of academic rigor, and have
www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/ improved since 2012, which includes the 16 core
board-adopts-new-division-i-structure.
22 "Student Advisory Committees." NCAA, classes, minimum GPA of 2.3, and equivalent
www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/
ncaa-student-athlete-advisory-committees-saacs.
8SAT or ACT score.23 Third, also according to the 2014 Concussion Study
changes voted upon in the 2015 NCAA January In 2014, the NCAA and U.S. Department of
Convention, scholarships have become harder to Defense came together to start a $30 million
revoke, such as on the basis of athletic initiative that would include the most
performance as an understanding of some comprehensive study conducted on concussions
student-athletes struggling at different times in (mild traumatic brain injury [TBI]) and head
their college career. impact exposure regarding collegiate student-
Fourth, beach volleyball for women has now athletes, and accordingly, create new protocol
been recognized for official NCAA and safety measure to protect them as well as
championships for all divisions. Fifth, the service members.25 The study spent around 75
Southeastern Conference proposed the rule that percent of the funding to observe an estimated
all schools must create a concussion and head 37,000 male and female NCAA student-athletes,
trauma injury management plan that will now be and additionally, military service academy
thoroughly reviewed by a committee of experts students, over a three-year period, while the
and must be posted publicly. Sixth, student- other 25 percent was spent towards financing an
athletes, in Division I and II will now have a educational grand challenge whose goal was to
stronger voice in the decision-making process, as change concussion safety behaviors and the
mentioned above. In Division I, this includes the culture, or otherwise stigma, surrounding the
addition of three student-athletes from each of reporting and management of concussion
the five autonomy conferences who are also able injuries. Participants were first assessed in a
to vote during parliamentary procedures, along preseason evaluation for concussion and were
with the student-athlete added to the Division I then later monitored if a concussion injury had
Board of Directors and new Council. In Division occurred. At the end of the study, the
II, two student-athletes from the national SAAC methodology and results were published in a
will be able to vote in the Management Council paper called “A National Study on the Effects of
and at the NCAA Convention. Division III Concussion in Collegiate Athletes and US
athletes already have a similar structure in their Military Service Academy Members: The NCAA–
Management Council that includes a number of DoD Concussion Assessment, Research and
student-athletes who can vote. Education (CARE) Consortium Structure and
Seventh, Division II athletics has adopted a Methods”, which entailed substantial
new rule (that had already been a part of correlations found among high risk factors for
Division I rules since 2014) that entails the undergoing and sustaining a head trauma injury
inclusion of unlimited meals and snacks for all like a concussion, number of reports relative to
student-athletes and their respective athletic number of students who admitted they had
participation. Eighth, joining both Division I and experienced a head trauma injury, and time
II athletics, Division III has adopted a new rule given per incident reported for the individual
that allows recruits to a more “memorable” involved to heal by receiving the treatment they
signing experience. This means recruits can sign need before going back out onto the field.
a non-binding, celebratory form that was crafted The research was managed by the
by the NCAA and has been handed out at all “Concussion Assessment, Research and
Division III schools. Lastly, at the 2015 January Education Consortium” (CARE), which was
NCAA Convention, more than 500 Division II composed of principal investigators from three
athletes and administrators voted on the different research institutions — Indiana
changing the slogan from “I chose Division II” to University, led by Thomas W. McAllister, M.D.,
“Make it yours.”24 chair of the IU School of Medicine Department
of Psychiatry, who served as the head of the
central coordination center for the CARE
Consortium, the University of Michigan, led by
Steven Broglio, Ph.D., ATC, associate professor
in the School of Kinesiology and director of the
23 “Division 1 Board of Directors” NCAA. NeuroSport Research Laboratory, who was in
www.ncaa.org/governance/committees/division-i-board-
directors.
24 25
“2015 NCAA Convention Division III Legislative Vcortez. “NCAA, DoD Launch Concussion
Proposals.” NCAA. Study.” NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA, 24 May
https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Q_A%20_2015%20Convention%20First%20 2016, www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-
Edition.pdf center/news/ncaa-dod-launch-concussion-study.
9charge of the Longitudinal Clinical Study Core, a other faculty members involved in college sports’
clinical research protocol which had the goal of teams about the urgency in reporting
studying the history of concussion among NCAA concussions and other head injuries. The long-
student-athlete, and the Medical College of term goal of the initiative was to use the data
Wisconsin, which was led by Dr. Michael collected from the study to better the well being
McCrea, Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of student-athletes and change their behavior
of Brain Injury Research, who was in charge of surrounding reporting concussions and injuries.
directing the Advanced Research Core that In July 2016, the eight recipients of the Mind
utilized head impact sensor technologies, Matters Challenge received $400,000 awards to
advanced neuroimaging, biological markers and fund their projects and are currently in the
detailed clinical studies to examine the acute process of implementing their proposed plans.
effects and early pattern of recovery from sport-
related concussion. Overall, his research lab had
the job of formulating a better understanding of
sports related concussion and head trauma
injuries.
The results found in a 2001 study conducted
by the NCAA, that there has been a large positive
and negative shift in attitude regarding
concussions and head trauma injuries by
student-athletes, athletics programs, and
medical providers. A large factor that played into
the recovery of the many student-athletes who
experienced a concussion or head injury was
increasing wait time to play from an average of Mind Matters Challenge Timeline and
6.7 days in 2001 to 14.3 days in 2014. However, Prize Strategy 27
there has also been an increase in the number of
student-athletes since 2001 who are hesitant to
report a concussion or the symptoms of a head
Questions a Resolution Must
trauma, which only results in damage to their Answer
personal health and the eventually the team. 1. How do the current mental health
Lastly, it was found that there were reports of services offered at most universities
repeated concussions within the 10 day period nationwide affect student athletes?
after the first concussion or head injury, but in Although there is a consensus on the lack of
this study, have been no statistics reported on mental health services catered to student
such, even though the scope of the athletes, most universities provide mental
subpopulations of student-athletes and military wellness services for the student body. These
service academy students studied is much amenities are initialed to give students access to
broader. psychiatric assessment, treatment, and even
medical evaluation.
Mind Matters 2. If implemented, what types of service
Alongside the 2014 concussion study that will student-athlete specific mental health
was being conducted, an educational program program provide?
challenge was also being implemented to create Depending on the university, the needs of the
innovative new safety protocols and techniques student body and student athletes vary widely
that changed the atmosphere surrounding the and the type of sport and proportion of students
culture of concussion reporting and participating in athletics must be taken into
management.26 The main, short-term goal was to account. Due to the diverse range of institutions
create a new multi-media educational platform nationwide, a NCAA-sponsored mental wellness
that will address student-athletes, coaches, and program would need to be discussed.
26
Rpowell. “Mind Matters Challenge.” NCAA.org - The
27 Mind Matters Challenge. NCAA.
Official Site of the NCAA, 26 Aug. 2016,
www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/topics/mind- www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/20150715%20Mind%20M
matters-challenge. atters%20Challenge%20TimelineV2.jpg.
103. If implemented, how will student- 9. How do individual universities having
athlete specific mental health services different sports and different division
impact the on-campus sports community? levels (I – III) affect the way wellness is
How will the implementation of a sports- viewed on campus?
specific mental health program affect the other Not all universities are involved in athletics
mental services on campus; do the benefits at the same level as other institutions.
outweigh the negatives? Depending on the variety of divisions and sports
offered at schools, the definition of wellness may
4. How and what kind of on-campus be different, leading to administrative
societal pressures affect the relationship differences as well as discrepancies in the
between student-athletes and their peers? relationship between the NCAA and the
Some athletes have indicated that they feel respective member school.
alienated and distanced from their peers due to
the fact that they spent a disproportionate Bloc Positions
amount of time with their teammates. Does this
hold true for most universities; and if so, what Division I
are the specific stigmas associated with athletes The NCAA allocates the most funds to
vs. non-athletes? Division I sports, compared to Division II & III,
and accordingly, Division I tends to offer a larger
5. How can the NCAA better provide variety of athletic activities, enrolls more
mental health services to member students, and offers more scholarships and
universities? student aid. According to the 2015-2016 fiscal
The NCAA claims mental health of athletes is year, the highest streams of revenue come from
an important issue, but given past action and Division I Men’s Basketball Championship
stances, in what specific ways can the NCAA television and marketing rights ($797.9 million)
cater to its members and Championships ticket sales ($ 123.5
million), so accordingly, the most money is
6. How important is it that individual budgeted towards those two sectors, as well as
athletes are given a voice in the NCAA? Sport Sponsorship and Scholarship Funds (only
Depending on the level of involvement as a for Division I) — in which $205 million was
member institution of the NCAA, different spent towards that and the same exact amount
universities may have varying stances on how towards Division I Men’s Basketball Fund. In
important it is for their athletes to be April 2010, the NCAA made a deal with CBS
represented. Sports and Turner Broadcasting System Inc. to
present Division I Men’s Basketball
7. How can the NCAA better help athletes Championship which greatly increased revenues
with post-injury recovery? up to the billions.28 In 2016, two changes have
Should the NCAA be better involved with been made by the Board of Governors and
aiding athletes with post-injury recovery? What Division I Board of Directors. So, along with the
can the NCAA do to help with serious cases of long-standing annual financial distributions
injury; should the current programs in place be made towards student-athletes, there will also be
better funded? a single $200 million distribution to Division I
schools solely for the purpose of aiding student-
8. How can the NCAA better communicate athletes in their academic careers and personal
with member institutions, health; this allocation also aims to increase
administrators, coaches, and athletes? acceptance of diversity and start inclusive
Based on the current system of initiatives, however, it is up to the schools at the
communication between athletes, schools, and end of the day as to how exactly they will divide
the NCAA, the idea of committees may not be up the $200 million.29 Additionally, a part of the
suitable for all member universities. Based on
factors such as the location, participating sports, 28 Jjackson. “Fiscal Management.” NCAA.org - The Official
and overall campus mission, are there better Site of the NCAA, 19 Sept. 2014,
ways to facilitate communication between levels www.ncaa.org/governance/fiscal-management.
within the department? How do new regulations 29“Special One-Time Division I Distribution Q&A.” NCAA.org - The Official Site of the
affect all schools nationwide? NCAA, 15 Sept. 2017, www.ncaa.org/about/resources/finances/special-one-time-division-
i-distribution-qa.
11NCAA Division I revenue will be put towards $39,000 to $90,000 depending on membership
supporting student-athletes of high academic count.31
standing by allocating money towards these
student-athletes’ schools, beginning in the 2019- Conclusion
2020 fiscal year.
As a well-known organization whose actions
Division II are always in the scrutiny of the public eye, the
In 2011, Division II Presidents Council promised NCAA prides itself on being dedicated to the
to continue providing access to championships success of all student athletes as the overseer of
for all sports in the division, valued programs, competitive collegiate sports. Though the NCAA
and conferences in the future. Roughly 60 has made considerable progress from its humble
percent of the budget is allocated towards beginnings, there remains solutions to be found
Division II’s 25 national championships — which when dealing with contemporary issues such as
is the time when all the student-athletes are able the well-being of participating students. Taking
to compete, and the rest of the funding is spent into account the different needs of individual
towards member schools and conferences athletes, the respective sports they participate in,
through the Enhancement Fund and Conference and the athletic goals of universities, nationwide
Grant Program. To further break down the policies are in need of debate in order to be
Enhancement Funds, which was formed by the effective.
NCAA Board of Governors, it allocated 75 The goal of this committee is to foster debate
percent of the money to member conferences on the past actions, present regulations, and
and 25 percent to be divided up equally amongst possible future actions that are in the best
the division’s member institutions. Lastly, the interest of the NCAA. With the protection and
Conference Grant Program was formed to aid the success of student-athletes at the core of the
organization of conferences, that have to apply NCAA’s mission, and keeping in mind the large
for a grant application to determine how much magnitude and voice in public entertainment,
they will exactly receive, and national efforts.30 every action decided on can have large effect on
the future of the collegiate sports enterprise. This
Division III committee seeks to understand the concerns of
Similar to Division II, the NCAA has only one participants at all levels (athletes, coaches,
source of funding for Division III sports, which administrators) at a nationwide scope in order to
according to the 2015-2016 fiscal year was $26.2 shed light on areas of needed improvement
million. As an attachment to the previously regarding athlete wellbeing. The proposed
mentioned deal made with Division I sports and outcome of debate is the creation of new or
CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting, the NCAA revised policies that keep the individual athlete
also signed an eight year extension onto the deal at the heart of its intent.
which added $8.8 million that the Division III
Presidents Council has said to allocate towards
Division III educational programs and create Topic B: Budgeting of NCAA
better access to championships. Approximately
75 percent of the budget is allocated towards Introduction
supporting Division III’s 28 national
championships — which is when over 18,000 The National Collegiate Athletic Association
student-athletes compete, and the rest of the (NCAA) is an enormous organization dedicated
money is allocated towards other educational to supporting its member schools and student
programs and initiatives. Additionally, there is athletes across the country through programs,
also the Division III Strategic Initiatives Grant conferences, and competitions in a range of
Program, which receives approximately $2.5 sports. The amount of money generated annually
million, and each conference in the Association is estimated to be around $870 million, a
of Division III Independents receive between combination of television and marketing rights
fees, championships, investments, among other
sources. Yet still maintaining a non-profit status,
31“DIVISION III 2017-18 FACTS AND FIGURES” NCAA.
30 “Finances.” NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA,
www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2018DIII_FactsandFigur
www.ncaa.org/about/resources/finances?division=d2. es_20170906.pdf.
12the NCAA claims most of the revenue is used for the breakdown of the NCAA’s large budget
redistribution to member schools (division I ,
division II, division III) to support athletic
programs and departments.
With the ultimate goal of supporting the
student athlete and promoting the success and
legacy of the NCAA, this committee seeks to find
solutions to the many problems regarding the
generation and allocation of the NCAA’s budget.
Dissatisfaction with the way in which the NCAA
divides budget among member schools is an
issue that currently exists, as well deciding
appropriate amounts and factors that are taken
into account when allocating revenue. The
heated topic of paying student athletes is another Much of the NCAA’s revenue comes
issue that has many differing opinions. As this from TV deals set up by Walter Byers33
committee debates current issues, the voice of
the student athlete should be at the core of the When the NCAA formed in 1906, it served as
resolutions that are to be made. a discussion group and rule-making body.34
From individual universities to national Given that the NCAA was more of a meeting than
organizations, the way in which money is spent an organization, budget statistics during its early
affects all levels, and many factors need to be years are not as clear. It was not until 1921 that
taken into account when making budgetary the NCAA hosted its very first national
decisions. In the face of the public, societal championship for track and field.35 And, it was
pressures, the NCAA needs clear guidelines in not until 1939 that the very first basketball
determining how their budget is spent/split national championship was held. However, even
among schools, and how individual schools are during the 1940’s, the NCAA did not scarcely
to use their budget to support the student resemble the organization it is today. Budgets
athlete. from that time period would scarcely compare to
the organization’s current budget. However, in
the 1950’s, after a generation of college students
Historical Background had come back from fighting in the Second
The NCAA has maintained non-for-profit World War, major shifts occurred.
status for much of its history. The continuation The landscape of college athletics took a
of this status has continually been challenged. dramatic shift, due to two main factors. The first
This status exempts the Association from paying being the lack of a centralized body to govern
most taxes, if it did not hold the tax exemption. postseasons for various team sports. The second,
As of 2014, the NCAA has assets totaling to over and perhaps more important factor, was the rise
$600 million.32 Although none of this money of television. Schools preferred a governing body
goes to the players that generate it, there is a to regulate postseasons of their various collegiate
large sum of money in the NCAA budget. sports and had a broad concern over how this
Discussions continue to circulate on the ethics of newly popular way of delivering media would
having unpaid players that generate such large affect attendance of sports games. As a result,
amounts of income due to lucrative TV deals and schools looked to the governing body of
an abundance of merchandise. Keeping that in collegiate sports, the NCAA.36
mind, there is still much discussion to be had on
33Jcoram. “Revenue.” NCAA.org - The Official Site of the
NCAA, 22 Nov. 2013,
www.ncaa.org/about/resources/finances/revenue.
34
Treadway, Dan. “Why Does the NCAA Exist?” The
32 Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 6 Aug. 2013,
Berkowitz, Steve. “NCAA Has Net Assets of $627 Million,
www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-treadway/johnny-
Say Records.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information
manziel-ncaa-eligibility_b_3020985.html.
Network, 20 Mar. 2014, 35Ibid
www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2014/03/20/ncaa
36
-expenses-revenue-money-mark-emmert/6651133/. Ibid
13It seems obvious today that the NCAA would female participation in NCAA-regulated
step into its role as the leader of collegiate sports, collegiate sports. Women have gone from
however the NCAA did not assume this position making up 30 percent of college athletes in 1982
until about 1951, when Walter Byers was named to almost 47 percent in 2016.
executive director. Through his immense
leadership, Byers served as a catalyst for many Average Hours Spent Per Week In-
organizational changes. His first major step was Season on Athletic Activities, divided by
setting up the NCAA headquarters in Kansas City sport.41
in 1952.37 He then set out to quell tensions
surrounding collegiate postseasons and the
rising use of home televisions. Byers set up a
legislative body comprised of members of the
NCAA to govern the postseason. Additionally, he
created a program to control the distribution of However, schools spend almost twice as much
live television games. NCAA transformed from a money on men’s sports than women’s sports.
small group to the major governing body of Much of this can be attributed to large spending
college sports. It was in this time that modern on football, of which there is no female NCAA
discussions on an NCAA budget began. equivalent. For schools that do not have a
In the decades since, the NCAA has split football program spend roughly the same
itself into three divisions38, each with their own amount of money on men’s and women’s sports.
considerations regarding the budget and Top schools spend an average of $16 million
incorporation of women’s sports into the on men’s football alone, three times the amount
organization's jurisdiction. Growth-wise, the spent on men’s basketball, and nearly 6 million
NCAA has made bowl games into some of the more than that spend on all women’s athletics
most watched sporting events in America39 and combined. However, this investment does, in
turned betting on March Madness and creating some part (see How Universities Spend Their
“brackets” into a national pastime. In 2017, while Money), pay off with men’s football bringing in
the NCAA is the main body surrounding college the largest amount of revenue on average for
sports it must be wary of hubris as it looks at the schools that have a football program. However,
present, and looks toward the future. the costs to maintain a football team, which
include stadium upkeep, training staff, and
Contemporary Conditions coaching staff, are tremendous.
The NCAA currently earns its largest revenue The NCAA also currently has the largest
in the organization’s history -in large part due to amount of diversity in organizational history in
the sustained success of the college football terms of directors, athletes, and coaches. Still,
games and the increasing popularity of “March growth can be made, especially in regards to
Madness” College Basketball. As a result, coaches and directors. Almost no women in
spending has more than doubled on collegiate history have coached a men’s football or
sporting programs, for both men and women, basketball team compared to the multitudes of
since 2006.40 Additionally, the number of men that coach women’s teams. The number of
student athletes continues to rise each year. female coaches in the NCAA has declined since
Some of this can be attributed to the rising Title IX was enacted in 1982. 42
37
Ibid
38 “The 50 Most-Watched Sporting Events of 2016 (So
Far).” SI.com, www.si.com/extra-
mustard/photo/2016/07/15/50-most-watched-sporting-
events-2016-so-far.
39
“The 50 Most-Watched Sporting Events of 2016 (So
Far).” SI.com, www.si.com/extra-
41Ibid
mustard/photo/2016/07/15/50-most-watched-sporting-
events-2016-so-far. 42Longman, JerÉ. “Number of Women Coaching in College
40 Meredith, Luke. “NCAA Title IX Report: Spending up,
Has Plummeted in Title IX Era.”The New York Times, The
Gender Gaps Remain.” AP News, Associated Press, 21 June New York Times, 30 Mar. 2017,
2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/sports/ncaabasketball/coa
www.apnews.com/7b4e53eb40094a3b8337f322b715e57a. ches-women-title-ix.html.
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