LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2018-106
FINANCIAL AID -- MAXIMUM INSTITUTIONAL GRANT-IN-AID LIMITATIONS BY SPORT -- COUNTERS -- BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL -- GRADUATE TRANSFERS
Status: Defeated Final
Intent: In basketball and football, to specify that a graduate transfer student-athlete who receives athletically related financial aid and enrolls at the certifying institution with one season of eligibility remaining shall be a counter for two academic years; further, to specify that if a graduate transfer student-athlete successfully completes all degree requirements prior to the start of his or her second academic year of enrollment, he or she shall not be considered a counter for the subsequent academic year.
Bylaws: Amend 15.5.1, as follows:
[Federated provision, Division I, FBS and FCS, divided vote]
15.5.1 Counters. A student-athlete shall be a counter and included in the maximum awards limitations set forth in this bylaw under the following conditions:
[15.5.1-(a) through 15.5.1-(b) unchanged.]
[15.5.1.1 unchanged.]
15.5.1.2 Basketball and Football -- Graduate Transfer. In basketball and football, a graduate transfer student-athlete who receives athletically related financial aid and enrolls at the certifying institution with one season of eligibility remaining shall be a counter for two academic years.
15.5.1.2.1 Exception -- Completion of Degree Requirements. If a graduate transfer student-athlete successfully completes all degree requirements prior to the start of his or her second academic year of enrollment, he or she shall not be considered a counter for the subsequent academic year.
[15.5.1.2 through 15.5.1.4 renumbered as 15.5.1.3 through 15.5.1.5, unchanged.]
15.5.1.56 Eligibility Exhausted. A student-athlete receiving institutional financial aid after having exhausted his or her eligibility in a sport is not a counter in that sport in later academic years following completion of eligibility in the sport, except as noted in Bylaw 15.5.1.2. For this provision to be applicable, the student-athlete is otherwise eligible for the aid and is not permitted to take part in organized, institutional practice sessions in that sport unless the individual has eligibility remaining under the five-year rule. (See Bylaw 15.3.1 for eligibility for financial aid.)
[15.5.1.5.1 renumbered as 15.5.1.6.1, unchanged.]
[15.5.1.6 through 15.5.1.10 renumbered as 15.5.1.7 through 15.5.1.11, unchanged.]
Source: NCAA Division I Council (Transfer Working Group)
Effective Date:August 1, 2019; applicable to a student-athlete who initially enrolls full-time at the certifying institution on or after August 1, 2019.
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Financial Aid
Rationale: Current legislation allows a graduate transfer student-athlete to be excluded from annual counter limitations once the student-athlete exhausts his athletics eligibility. While the number of basketball and football graduate transfers has grown, the current rules have not adequately held programs accountable for the academic outcomes of this cohort of student-athletes. This proposal seeks to achieve greater institutional accountability and encourage more thoughtful decision making by institutions who recruit basketball and football student-athletes for graduate school. Furthermore, this proposal aligns with the division's commitment to student-athlete well-being and sound academic standards for all student-athletes.
Estimated Budget Impact: Potential for unused athletics scholarships if a graduate transfer does not remain enrolled in the second year of their graduate program.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.
Position Statement(s):
| Women's Basketball Oversight Committee | No Formal Position | Committee would like more data on trends in women's basketball. |
| Committee on Academics | Opposes | Committee notes concern with overall concept. The proposal does not improve the academic behavior of student-athletes in these sports. Concern over proposal not being tied to providing graduate student-athlete with athletic aid and does not address issues of institutions admitting graduate transfer student-athletes into programs and "taking slots" from other students. |
| Legislative Committee | Opposes |
History
| Nov 14, 2018: | In Progress | |
| Feb 7, 2019: | Ready for Vote | |
| Apr 19, 2019: | Defeated by Council | |
| May 1, 2019: | No Board Action | |
| May 1, 2019: | Defeated Final |
Legislative References
| Division | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| I | 15.5.1 | Counters. |
| I | 15.5.1.5 | Eligibility Exhausted. |