NCAA Member Schools Approve Constitution That Grants Divisions More Power

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Member schools of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a nonprofit organization that regulates student-athletes and intercollegiate sports, approved a ratified constitution that will soon give each division of college athletics more autonomy. These changes will go into effect on August 1, 2022, permitting each division to have greater oversight of its own budget, expenses, and financial distribution.

"This is an important day in college athletics as we continue to evolve to better meet the needs of our student athletes," said Dr. Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA, in a CBS news report. "I applaud the work of the Constitution Committee and the entire membership for setting a sustainable course for college sports for decades to come."

In the new constitution, student-athletes will also have more representation on the Board of Governors for each division. One member of the Board per division will be a graduated student-athlete while another, non-voting member will be a student-athlete. Each division's Board will additionally have nine members as opposed to the previously required 21 members.

NCAA representatives from more than 1,000 institutions in Divisions I, II, and III voted on this new proposal with 801 votes in support of the changes.