Over the summer the 65 schools making up the power conferences voted in favor to form a new structure of autonomy. Now that this major step was behind them, conferences were tasked with coming up with the details for this new structure. The ACC has taken that step by submitting its initial priorities for consideration under the new power structure. Among the items listed by the ACC are scholarship protection for student-athletes, meeting the cost-of-attendance and the ability an institution can provide for educational support for former student-athletes. The deadline to send these priorities to the NCAA offices is tomorrow, October 1.
“The ACC has consistently been a leader in appropriately balancing academics and athletics,” said Donna Shalala, Chair of the ACC Council of Presidents and President of the University of Miami, in a statement released by the ACC. “The list of priorities that we are submitting to the NCAA reflects our determination to continue improving our student-athletes’ experience as an integral part of the educational missions of our world-class universities.”
Per a release from the ACC, the initial priorities being sent forward by the ACC include:
- Examination of scholarship protections for student-athletes;
- Meeting a student-athlete’s cost of attendance;
- Ensuring institutional flexibility to provide educational support for former student-athletes;
- Examination of career-related insurance options for student-athletes; and
- Ensuring that nutritional needs of student-athletes are met in a reasonable way
Most of this is rather straightforward at this point in the development of the autonomy structure. Cost-of-attendance has been discussed for a long time now, and the opportunities to expand on assisting former student-athletes looks like a nice benefit as well for players who may turn pro and return to school to finish their education.
It is somewhat expected the other power conferences -- Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC -- will echo these priorities in some form.