Buckeye Insider – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | General
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%^$New rules that affect student-athletes and collegiate institutions often create a firestorm of criticism for the NCAA. However, many people, who are quick to point the finger at the NCAA when they think rules are unfair or unreasonable, do not realize that the rules originate from the colleges and universities that are members of the NCAA. In other words, the institutions make the rules by which they must abide. The following is an overview of the NCAA’s structure and legislative process.%^$
%^$The Executive Committee is the highest governance body in the NCAA and is composed of institutional chief executive officers that oversee Association-wide issues. The committee is charged with ensuring that each division operates consistently with the basic purposes, fundamental policies and general principles of the Association.%^$
%^$In 1997, NCAA Division I institutions underwent a major restructuring of its governance structure. The one-school, one-vote principle for approving legislation was replaced in with a system based on conference representation. Previously, all Division I members voted on legislation at an annual conference. Currently an 18-member Board of Directors approves legislation.%^$
%^$In addition, the committee structure in Division I includes cabinets responsible for academic affairs, eligibility and compliance, and championships and competition. The cabinets have either 49 or 34 members. Several Division I committees, including rules and sports committees, report directly to a cabinet.%^$
%^$All cabinets report to the Division I Management Council, which reports to the Board. The Management Council contains athletics administrators and faculty athletics representatives empowered to make recommendations to the Board and to handle responsibilities delegated to it. Each Division has its own Management Council with Divisions II and III each having a Presidents Council rather than a Board of Directors to oversee the Division. Thus, the legislative process moves from the cabinets to the Management Council to the Board of Directors. Ultimate control clearly is vested with Presidents and Chancellors of member institutions.%^$
%^$Institutions can propose legislation to their conference offices. If there is support for the legislation at the conference level, then the conference submits the proposed legislation to the Management Council. The Division I Management Council reviews proposed legislation twice a year, October and April, and either adopts, denies, or sends the legislation back to cabinets for further study. If the legislation is adopted, there is a 90-day comment period in which institutions can provide their input. After the comment period, the Management Council reviews the legislation a second time. If the Management Council gives a second approval then it is forwarded to the Board of Directors for final review and adoption.%^$
%^$Ohio State is in a position to influence greatly legislation proposed to the NCAA. Andy Geiger, Ohio State University’s Director of Athletics, serves on the NCAA Division I Management Council while Brit Kirwan, Ohio State University’s President is the Chairman of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors.%^$
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%^$Please remember that the above information is only an overview of the NCAA’s governance structure and legislative process and is not an exhaustive discussion. For questions or to receive more information, please contact Heather Lyke, Associate Athletics Director for Compliance at (614) 292-2681 or visit the NCAA website at www.NCAA.org.
