ACC introduces conference autonomy priorities
The ACC announced its initial priorities for Power Five conference autonomy on Tuesday.
The priorities resemble many of the steps that schools have taken on their own to help student athletes since the NCAA granted the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC more flexibility to make their own rules.
In June, the Big Ten released a similar set of key points before the autonomy vote was taken in August.
The ACC's priorities are:
• 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.
“The ACC has consistently been a leader in appropriately balancing academics and athletics,” Miami President Donna Shalala, who is also the chair of the ACC's Council of Presidents, said in a statement. “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.”
Shortly after the Big Ten's priorities were released. Indiana announced a student athlete bill of rights that guaranteed four-year scholarships and assistance to players that left early without graduating as well as increased healthcare commitments. USC has announced four-year scholarships and Maryland has announced a lifetime scholarship guarantee.
The NCAA's new rule to provide unlimited meals and snacks to athletes went into effect on August 1. While it's a good and necessary step, some athletic departments, especially smaller schools, were worried about the increased cost of food.
The ACC also said other priorities for the future "include, but are not limited to, exploring the time demands on student-athletes and safeguarding the right of student-athletes to enjoy the full educational opportunities and benefits available to other students."
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!