Skip to main content

NCAA’s modified proposal for governance change

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Highlights comparing alterations made to a proposal that could change the NCAA’s governance structure. The modifications were released Friday and are scheduled to be voted on Aug. 7.

— Original Proposal: The five biggest football conferences — the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC — would gain more autonomy over a number of key areas, including funding scholarships up to the full cost-of-attendance (money beyond tuition, room and board, books and fees) and additional academic and career counseling. Approval would require two-thirds of the 65 schools in those conferences.

What’s New: In order to be granted autonomy over any area, at least three of the five league representatives must agree along with 12 of the 20 presidents or chancellors on the board of directors. Only then can an item be considered autonomously. One representative from each of the 65 schools and three student-athletes from each conference would then vote on each proposal. Items would pass with 60 percent of the 80 votes (48) and a simple majority of support from schools in at least three of the five conferences or a simple majority of all votes (41) and a simple majority from schools in four of five conferences. The board will not allow rules changes for transfers to be considered. The five major conferences would have until Oct. 1 to create their first list of proposals.

— Original Proposal: All 32 Division I conferences would have a say in any legislative matters not deemed “autonomous.” These areas would include championship administration and policy, oversight of membership standards, proposals that require consideration by all conferences and management of sports or topic-specific studies intended to formulate recommendations for action by the council. Voting rights would be delegated by the new board to a newly-created council and would include two athlete representatives. The voting would be weighted, with the five conferences and their schools accounting for 38 to 40 percent of the vote.

What’s New: Nothing.

— Original Proposal: The board would continue to have 17 presidents or chancellors as members but would add an athletic director, faculty athletics representative, senior women’s administrator and an athlete to the voting bloc. The possibility of adding voices from outside college campuses has been discussed but is not part of the current proposal.

What’s New: The board would increase to 24 members with one president from each of the five biggest conferences, one president from each of the other five FBS leagues, five total presidents from FCS schools and five presidents from non-football playing Division I schools (total of 20). The other four members would be the chair of the Division I student-athlete advisory committee, the chair of the newly created council, an appointee of the executive board of the Division I Faculty Athletics Representative Association and an appointee of the executive committee of the National Association for Collegiate Woman Athletics Administrators.

— Original Proposal: The Legislative and Leadership Councils would be replaced by one council comprised of 38 athletic directors, faculty athletic representatives, senior women’s administrators or conference commissioners, one representing each Division I league. Two athletes also would have privileges. The recommendation is that 60 percent of the school leaders be athletic directors.

What’s New: Two faculty athletic representatives are added to the voting bloc for a total of 40. Increasing the council’s voting members would change the weighted voting to give the five major conference reps 37.5 percent of the total vote, the other FBS league would get 18.8 percent, FCS and non-football playing schools would have 37.5 percent, while athletes and the designated faculty athletic reps would each account for 3.1 percent.

— Original Proposal: The NCAA would reduce the large number of current subcommittees to three: One focused on academics, one on competition and student well-being, and one to assist the council with its legislative role.

What’s New: Not much other than the formal idea of having a Committee on Academics that reports to the board and is still expected to maintain a close relationship with the council and the other two subcommittees. Those details will not be ready for a vote in August.

— Original Proposal: University presidents would maintain control on oversight and strategic decisions through the board of directors, but the council would focus on operational and legislative issues. In addition, the five power conferences would be better able to address criticisms regarding athletes’ well-being. Athletes and athletic directors also would get a louder voice in the process.

What’s New: Nothing.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote