DI Council reviews transfer proposals

The Division I Council discussed proposed changes to transfer rules and suggested some adjustments from the package the group initially reviewed last month. The Council met virtually Wednesday.

The Council considered the academic eligibility exception, which would allow undergraduate student-athletes to transfer and be immediately eligible if they leave their previous school academically eligible and in good standing and will be academically eligible at the new school prior to competition.

Members discussed potential concerns with the changes, including the academic impact on students who transfer multiple times, and they noted the influence of name, image and likeness opportunities on the transfer environment. The Council acknowledged that unless transfer rules change, the waiver process that has dissatisfied members will continue. 

The Council continued to support the transfer window concept and agreed with the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee that a fall notification-of-transfer window for spring student-athletes would be appropriate. Members also supported the continuation of current restrictions preventing competing for two schools in one year, also supported by SAAC members. The Council committed to reviewing the timing and duration of transfer windows in the future. 

Under the proposed transfer package, students in a winter or spring sport could provide written notification of transfer the day after NCAA championship selections in that sport for 60 calendar days. In fall sports, two separate windows would provide a total of 60 calendar days. The first window would be 45 days beginning the day following championship selection, and the second would be from May 1-15. Reasonable accommodations will be made for participants in the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision championship games. 

Additionally, schools that accept four-year transfer students receiving financial aid would be required to provide financial aid to the student-athlete through the completion of the student's five-year period of eligibility or undergraduate graduation, whichever comes first, unless the student transfers again or engages in professional athletics opportunities. The student would continue to count against financial aid limits unless the student is medically disqualified, exhausts eligibility, transfers or engages in professional athletics opportunities. 

The Council also introduced three proposals that would make several changes to the infractions, infractions appeals and Independent Accountability Resolution processes. A standing committee of the Division I Board of Directors, the Infractions Process Committee, in collaboration with the Independent Accountability Oversight Committee, recommended the independent process be eliminated, and the Council agreed. 

The Infractions Process Committee proposals reflect ongoing membership efforts to modernize and enhance the current peer-review infractions process, provide greater transparency, expedite case processing and focus on the most serious NCAA violations. The IPC determined that discontinuing the Independent Accountability Resolution Process — combined with the implementation of the other proposals — would streamline the infractions process and make better use of membership and national office resources. 

Additional changes to the infractions and infractions appeals processes would include: 

• Incentivizing parties to secure cooperation from representatives, family members and others with relevant information. 
• Expanding the use of a public dashboard for all infractions. 
• Establishing a new standard for head coach responsibility requirements.
• Reserving hearings before the Committee on Infractions for only the most significant behaviors. 
• Removing the automatic stay of appealed penalties. 

Council members expressed concerns about some portion of the proposed changes to the appeals process and suggested waiting until October for adoption could be prudent. 

The Division I Board of Directors will meet Aug. 31 to consider the transfer proposal and infractions process changes for final adoption.