Committee on Legislative Affairs

Purpose

To provide an analysis of pending legislation which can affect N4A members and their student-athletes; to develop new proposals, amendments and concepts to be considered by the appropriate constituents within the NCAA: to serve as a liaison with these associations; and to disseminate information on legislation to the N4A membership.

NCAA Legislative Resources

Actions Taken During October 2011 Meeting - November 4, 2011

Post-Presidential Retreat Updates - October 28, 2011

Board of Directors Report - October 27, 2011

Effective Dates of Proposals - October 27, 2011

N4A Feedback on Legislative Proposals - September 2011

N4A Feedback on Academic Concepts - September 2011

Two-Year College Transfer Student-Athletes: The Board approved an increase in the transferrable grade-point average from 2.0 to 2.5 and limited the number of physical education activity courses to two. Two-year college transfers who didn't qualify academically out of high school will be required to complete a core curriculum that includes English, math and science courses. The new transfer requirements will apply to any student-athlete enrolling full-time in college for the first time in August 2012 or later (no student-athlete currently enrolled in a two-year collegiate institution will be impacted).

Access to Championships and Academic Performance: The Board set the minimum academic standard for postseason participation as a 930 Academic Progress Rate (APR). The new postseason eligibility structure will take effect in the 2012-13 academic year with a two-year implementation window. For access to postseason competition in 2012-13 and 2013-14, teams must achieve a 900 multi-year APR or a 930 average over the most recent two years to be eligible. In 2014-15, teams that don't achieve the 930 benchmark for their four-year APR or at least a 940 average for the most recent two years will be ineligible for postseason competition. In 2015-16, the 930 benchmark for postseason competition participation and additional penalties will be implemented fully. The APR requirement for postseason participation will only be waived in extraordinary circumstances.

Initial-Eligibility Standards: The Board adopted new initial-eligibility standards. Student-athletes who achieve the current minimum initial-eligibility standard on the test score-grade-point average sliding scale with at least a minimum 2.0 core-course GPA would continue to be eligible for athletically related financial aid during the first year of enrollment and practice during the first regular academic term of enrollment. Student-athletes could earn the second term of enrollment for practice by passing nine semester or eight quarter hours.

The proposal increases the standard for immediate access to competition to at least a 2.3 GPA and an increased sliding scale. Specifically, incoming student-athletes would need to earn a half-point higher GPA for a given test score compared to the current standard. For example, an SAT score of 1000 would require a 2.5 high school core-course GPA for competition and a 2.0 high school core-course GPA for aid and practice.

Core Course Requirements: The Board agreed to require prospects to successfully complete 10 of the 16 total required core courses before the start of their senior year in high school. Seven of the 10 courses must be successfully completed in English, math and science. This legislation will affect student-athletes enrolling in college in August 2015 and later.

Cost of Attendance: The Board adopted legislation that addresses the miscellaneous costs of attending college. Student-athletes who receive full athletics scholarships or get other school financial aid will have the opportunity to receive additional athletics aid (or other institutional aid, including use of the Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund) up to the full cost of attendance or $2,000, whichever is less. The new rule makes the additional aid available to student-athletes in head-count sports (for example football and basketball) and those in equivalency sports who reach the value of a full scholarship.

Multiyear Grants: The Board approved multi-year grants up to the full term of eligibility, though one-year grants will remain the minimum. A prescribed minimum award value should apply to all scholarships (percentage amount to be decided in the coming months), and institutions could increase the allotted aid during the period of the award.

Men's Basketball Recruiting Calendar: The following outlines changes to the men's basketball recruiting calendar. The comprehensive summary includes a listing of new rules adopted at the NCAA Board of Directors meeting relating to recruiting evaluations, communication with prospective student-athletes, recruiting contacts and official visits. In addition, the listing includes the applicable effective date for the change along with a synopsis of the current rule.

Recruiting Calendar Evaluations – Effective Immediately

Feature	Current Rule	New Rule
April Evaluation Period	No Evaluations permitted at nonscholastic events.	Permit evaluations at certified nonscholastic events on two weekends. Neither weekend can fall on ACT/SAT testing dates or Easter. Events must be subject to NCAA certification program, which should include an additional requirement that the event may not begin before Friday 6 pm and must conclude no later than Sunday 4 pm.
July Evaluation Period	Evaluations permitted at certified nonscholastic events during two 10-day evaluation periods.	Permit evaluations at nonscholastic certified events during a total of 12 days in July. The 12 days would consist of three four-day periods (with intervening dead periods) that run from Wednesday at 5 pm to Sunday at 5 pm. The evaluation period would consist of the first three four-day periods (Wednesday 5 p.m. - Sunday 5 p.m.) beginning with the first Wednesday on or after July 6.

Communications with PSAs - Effective June 15, 2012

Feature	Current Role	New Rule
Types of Communication and Phone Call Frequency	Phone, e-mail, fax only. June 15 of sophomore year through July 31 of junior year of high school: One per month August 1 prior to senior year of high school: Unlimited during contact period; two per week otherwise. Two-year institutions and four-year PSAs: one call per week.	Eliminate restrictions on all modes of communication on or after June 15 following the completion of the prospect's sophomore year in high school. Eliminate communication restrictions applicable to prospects participating in certified baskeyball events (April/July).

Off-Campus Contacts - Effective August 1, 2012

Feature	Current Rule	New Rule
Off-Campus Contact Starting Point	July 1 after junior year of high school.	Off campus contacts may be made with a prospect during the junior year. Recruiting periods other than April - contacts during the junior year only at the prospect's educational institution. April recruiting period - contacts during the junior year only at the prospect's educational institution or at the prospect's residence. Current rule limiting visits to a prospect's educational institution not more than once a week would remain applicable.
Off-Campus contact In Conjunction With An Evaluation	Prohibited during evaluation period.	Recruiting opportunities with juniors and seniors to be either contacts or evaluations. Contacts may not be made during the time period when classes are in session or during the day of a prospect's competition. The current academic year recruiting calendar shall maintain recruiting periods, but will eliminate distinctions between contact and evaluation periods. Institutions are permitted to still have seven recruiting opportunities during each academic year.

Official Visits - Effective August 1, 2012

Feature	Current Rule	New Rule
Starting Point	Senior year of high school.	January 1 of the junior year through the senior year of high school. Current requirements (standardized test score, high school transcript, register with Eligibility Center, placed on institution's IRL necessary to provide an official visit would remain applicable. Included in the total number of permissible visits for the prospect and institution.
Travel Expenses	Prospect only.	May be provided to the prospect and two parents/legal guardians

Committe Chair

Colleen Evans
San Diego State University
619-594-5891
E-mail: cevans@mail.sdsu.edu