April 29, 2003
When the NCAA's new $6.2 billion CBS contract was signed more than three years ago, a commitment was made to ensure that student-athletes were direct beneficiaries of the new rights agreement. That commitment led to the creation of the Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund (SAOF). Now, in the first year of the new contract, it is time to put the SAOF into action.
Over the past months, NCAA membership and governance committees, including the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee have been engaged in dialogue about the appropriate usages of the SAOF. In it's first distribution this August, the
SAOF will total $17 million and will grow annually to over $50 million in the final year of the11 year contract.
Pending Management Council and Board of Directors' approval in April, the only restrictions on the fund will be that it cannot be used for salaries, grant-in-aid (other than summer school), capital improvements and stipends. While there has been continuing support from all groups for maximum flexibility for uses that are tied to the athletics experience and academic achievement of student-athletes, there is concern among the membership that the SAOF should not be used for unitemized cash awards.
The SAOF provides a tremendous opportunity for NCAA institutions and athletic administrators to provide direct benefits and services to student-athletes, and to do so in ways that will support the educational mission of intercollegiate athletics.
Given that the basic purpose of the NCAA is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program, I am a strong advocate that a significant portion of the SAOF be used for educational expenses and academic enhancement.
This isn't to say that other pressing student-athletes' needs such as insurance and medical care, personal expenses and emergencies not be addressed or supported. Indeed funds for these kinds of expenses should also be included in institutional usage plans. Rather, it is hoped that a priority for the SAOF will be placed on educational programs and benefits currently not provided, and ones that will help student-athletes meet their academic and educational goals.
Some examples of educational expenses that have been proposed are financial aid for summer school or degree completion programs after eligibility has been exhausted, educational supplies that currently are not covered by a full grant-in-aid, fees for graduate school and professional program exams, and post-graduate scholarships. Also proposed are costs for tutors and academic services, programs and testing for learning disabled students, and professional development and internship programs.
All of these usages and programs provide a direct benefit to the student-athlete and are intended to maximize the student-athlete's academic achievement and success.
Assuming that emergency legislation is approved at the April Management Council and Board of Directors' meetings, any funds provided to student-athletes for these kinds of programs and benefits will not be considered countable aid. This is appropriate and necessary legislation given that a full grant-in-aid does not cover the full cost of attendance.
Additionally, all student-athletes will be eligible to access the SAOF as opposed to the Special Assistance Fund that is only available to Pell-eligible student-athletes.
At a time when the NCAA membership is focused on putting some teeth into academic reform, what better message to send to our student-athletes than to utilize the SAOF first and foremost for the achievement of educational goals? It will serve to reinforce to our student-athletes the importance of academic performance, and our individual and collective commitment to their academic success. I believe this is our opportunity and our obligation as administrators and educators.