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Questions and answers on NCAA reform

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

The NCAA Board of Directors voted 16-2 Thursday to give the five wealthiest football conferences the ability to make some of their own rules and pass legislation without the approval of the other Division I schools. Some questions and answers:

Q: Will athletes get paid?

A: None of the college presidents who spoke Thursday at NCAA headquarters were advocating the popular pay-for-play proposal. Neither did NCAA President Mark Emmert. Instead, leaders from the power conference schools endorsed some form of a stipend to cover the full cost of attendance. A plan for a $2,000 annual athlete stipend — money that expands scholarship limits to cover living expenses beyond tuition, room and board, books and fees — was passed by the board in October 2011 but overridden two months later after smaller schools complained about the financial impact. It still might be a complicated area to address. Kansas State President Kirk Schulz noted, as an example, that meeting the full cost of attendance at his school might be $2,000 but the equivalent at UCLA might be $3,500. What is clear is that when the schools send in their wish list in October, full cost of attendance will be No. 1 when it comes to autonomy for the power conferences. Board Chairman Nathan Hatch, the president of Wake Forest, said there could be a proposal by January.

Q: What other areas will the five conferences make a priority?

A: Athlete welfare. South Carolina President Harris Pastides advocated for a reduction in practice time so students could focus more on academics. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block argued that schools should be allowed to better counsel a player about his or her professional prospects and be more accommodating to those who turn pro and later return to school. Improved health care coverage is another issue that could be in the works, too. Pastides acknowledged his school has hired a former football player to help them “figure out where to go now” and what “student-athlete well-being really means.”

Q: How will this work?

A: The 65 schools in Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference will form their own proposals and anything that gains a majority vote in three of the conferences could be sent to the board of directors. If 12 of the 20 presidents on the board agree, school leaders and commissioners will try to agree on a proposal. Each school would then get one vote and three athletes from each conference would create a voting bloc of 80. It would require 48 votes and a simple majority from three of the leagues or a 41 votes and a simple majority of four of the conferences to pass.

Q: Will other conferences try to do what the Big Five want to do?

A: Those details are still being worked out, but the leaders of the other five conferences that play at the highest level of college football, the Bowl Subdivision, have all said their members are prepared to do their best to provide the same additional benefits to athletes. Some schools, such as those in the American Athletic Conference or Mountain West, are probably better situated to spend more on athletes than others, such as those in the Sun Belt or Mid-American Conference. But they’ll try.

“Today’s vote by the NCAA Board of Directors will have a significant impact on the future of intercollegiate athletics and more than likely will result in an increase in the cost of operating the athletic programs of the universities of the Sun Belt Conference,” Commissioner Karl Benson said in a statement.

Q: Does everyone agree this is the right move?

A: No, critics contend it will create a wider gap between the haves and have-nots in college sports and some wonder whether it will impact Olympic sports and Title IX requirements. U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah after the vote released a statement that said in part: “The NCAA should be responsible for promoting fair competition among its participating institutions and their student athletes. I am concerned that today’s action could create an uneven playing field that may prevent some institutions from being able to compete fairly with other schools that have superior resources to pay for student athletes.”

Q: Will fans notice a difference?

A: Not really. Maybe in the long-term some Bowl Subdivision schools will decide it’s too expensive to compete at that level and drop down to the Championship Subdivision. And it could be a step toward full separation between the Big Five and the rest of college athletics, but there is nothing to suggest that is imminent.

“I don’t think six months from now you’re going to see any difference going to a basketball game, but I think for our student-athletes, we can provide access to things that will help them with academics and help them make better decisions,” Kansas State coach Kirk Schulz said. “I don’t think those things will be apparent to the average fan, but it will be apparent to the presidents, chancellors and faculty at our schools.”

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Online:

NCAA reforms: http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/board-adopts-new-division-i-structure

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Compiled by AP Sports Writers Ralph D. Russo and Michael Marot.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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