Levels of Membership

The National Consortium for Academics and Sports membership dues are assessed and collected on an annual basis. Membership discounts are offered to conferences, state university systems and sports commissions representing several institutions. Membership dues can be waived. Institutions that desire membership and require a waiver of the NCAS membership dues are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the NCAS National Staff. Membership waivers for dues are for a predetermined length of time granted to schools that demonstrate a strong desire to be active members of the NCAS and demonstrate financial need.

NCAA Division I

NCAA Division II

NCAA Division III & NAIA

Community Colleges

Associate Members

NCAS Associate Members have access to the award winning programs of the NCAS at a 10% discount. With all of the attention being paid to race, gender and violence, NCAS programs can prove to be enormously valuable.

The Teamwork Leadership Institute (TLI) is the NCAS' diversity training program. Its mission is to help senior administrators and athletic department staff, through the provision of diversity training services, to apply the principles of teamwork to all areas of athletic departments. Because of its success, TLI was adopted by the National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer. In addition, TLI has completed training on over 125 college campuses nationwide.

The Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Program is the NCAS' nationally acclaimed gender violence prevention program. MVP was created in 1993 by Northeastern University's Sport in Society to address the national epidemic of violence toward women. The program is tailored for, though not limited to, the high school and college campus. The program's unprecedented success stems from the fact that the focus is on male behavior and responsibility. What has traditionally been considered a female issue is now understood as a function of male aggression in the main, and well informed intervention has proven to be effective as a preventative measure.

MVP has been so successful, that the U.S. Marine Corps had all of their non-commissioned officers world-wide trained by MVP trainers. MVP training sessions have taken place on 80 college campuses.

In addition, the NCAS received a major grant which will allow trainers from the TLI and MVP programs to run two-day train-the-trainers programs at NCAS regional meetings. This will allow member institutions to send representatives to be trained in these programs. In turn, those representatives will return to campus to train student-athletes. There are no registration fees for these training sessions.

NCAS Associate Members may attend the Annual Winter and Summer Conferences free of the $300 registration fee. All NCAS members are invited to participate in the Annual Conference held in the winter. This conference allows NCAS members to come together to discuss pertinent issues facing today's college student-athletes and athletic departments. Panel discussions and breakout sessions take place throughout the three day conference as well as updates on program development and new programs. There is also an opportunity to meet with NCAS Executive Committee Members and make contacts with member institutions from across the country.

One ticket to the Annual Giant Steps Award Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, that concludes the Winter Conference, is included.

NCAS members are also invited to bi-annual regional conferences for member schools. These meetings are program oriented and will now include the TEAMWORK Leadership Institute and MVP Institutes referred to above. Again, these programs will consist of two-day train-the-trainers programs which will allow member institutions to send representatives to be trained. In turn, those representatives will return to campus to train student-athletes. There are no national conference, regional conference or training session registration fees, for one person, if a members dues are paid for that fiscal year.

NCAS Associate Members will receive the NCAS Newsletter.

NCAS Associate Members will be recognized in the NCAS Annual Report.

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Criteria for Membership

As a member of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), institutions are asked to commit to taking an active part in the programs we offer.

Degree Completion and Community Service Requirements for former student-athletes

Athletes who entered the member institution on an athletic scholarship in a revenue sport in the 10 years prior to the institution joining the NCAS are eligible to be re-admitted, if academically eligible, on a basis where tuition is supported by the institution in the same proportion as it was during the student's last year of eligibility. They will be able to continue their education as long as they are making progress toward their degree. This policy applies only to former student-athletes and not to current or future student-athletes.

In exchange for their tuition-remission, returning former student-athletes are required to participate in the school's community service and outreach program, in which former student-athletes meet with school-age youth to talk with them about a variety of critical issues for a minimum of ten hours per week.

If an NCAS member's former student-athlete wants to attend an NCAS school in another geographic location, member schools agree to help those former student-athletes transfer credits. Similarly, NCAS members will aid in facilitating the receipt of transfer credits of student-athletes from other NCAS schools.

NCAS members are not obliged to pay the cost of their students who attend other members schools. Likewise, they are not obliged to pay for former student-athletes from other NCAS schools to come to their institution. However, members do agree to attempt to reduce or eliminate barriers that exist between athletes and degree completion or achieving other educational goals. That assistance should include academic advisement, academic advocacy, and, when necessary, negotiating on behalf of athletes with their former colleges and universities. Furthermore, assistance should become consistent with institutional policies, in the form of the assurance of affordability of higher education for athletes via loans, work-student programs, grants and other forms of financial assistance available to all students.

The NCAA has approved that NCAS member institutions who meet this criteria can have their student-athletes continue on aid beyond the fifth year. The ten hour per week is evaluated by the NCAA at a higher per hour rate than normally afforded former student-athletes working in a university job because of the value of public speaking fees.

General

NCAS schools agree to participate in National STUDENT-Athlete Day by planning events on their campus to recognize student-athletes for their accomplishments in the classroom, in the community and in their sport.

Each member agrees to submit an annual report on their school's NCAS related activities. Monitoring progress allows NCAS members to be recognized for their work in the annual report of the NCAS distributed nationally.

Each member agrees to pay the annual dues to support the development of the NCAS, its programs and conferences.

In order to have common policy among NCAS members, the member institutions agree to follow the reasonable guidelines established by the NCAS Executive committee, acting as a focal point for the Consortium.

NCAS members agree not to approach professional leagues and players associations to fund programs. Sport in Society is available to do the fundraising with all of our members.

Optional Criteria for those members interested in Degree Completion Program for Professional Athletes:

The member institution agrees to establish a Degree Completion Program (DCP) similar to the program based on an NCAS model and make it available, on a reasonable basis, to all of the professional franchises in their area. This might include courses on adult re-entry to college, financial management or "Bridge Courses" to be taught at the team's facilities.

In turn, the member institution agrees to include the pro athletes in their outreach program. The member institution may provide the athletes with tuition assistance in exchange for their efforts in the schools. Such assistance can be he result of special fundraising efforts. The Consortium school is not responsible for the tuition of members of local pro teams who enroll.

A participating member institution agrees to make the schools support program available to entering current and former professional and Olympic athletes. Such support shall include academic and career counseling (provided by persons who can relate to athletes and their situations) and cooperation with other NCAS members on the transfer of credit in cases where a player is traded or relocates.

To join the NCAS please contact the National Office at (407) 823-4770 or join via our online membership form.

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We like to keep current on our members and their progress each year. Please fill out the 2007-2008 Year-End-Stats Request Form.