The NCAA recently launched “Change,” a new 30-second video highlighting important reforms underway at the association. The spot premiered on Selection Sunday and will run in broadcast and spots during the Division I men’s and women’s basketball championships.
“Change” highlights the transformational initiatives the association is undertaking to further benefit student-athletes. The NCAA requires all Division I schools to provide guaranteed scholarships, tuition assistance, expanded access to health care, and advanced mental health support services. Additionally, the NCAA is pushing new bylaws to improve outcomes for student-athletes who profit from their name, image and likeness.
new benefits
Effective August 1, the NCAA has mandated increased support for the physical, mental and academic well-being of Division I student-athletes. It also adopted new mental health best practices that all members will be required to follow. Best practices include emerging information about the intersection of mental health and sports betting, social media, corruption in sport, suicide and name, image and likeness issues.
Additionally, beginning in August, the NCAA will provide student-athletes in all three divisions access to post-eligibility insurance to cover injuries sustained while playing for their school. Coverage will be for two years after student-athletes complete their college athletics experience.
march madness graduation rates
NCAA student-athletes are graduating at an all-time high rate. That academic success is on full display this month, with the teams participating in this year’s Division I men’s and women’s basketball championships posting a combined four-group average graduation success rate of 90%. Women’s teams scored an average of 96%, while men’s teams recorded an average of 84%.
Changes underway to better support student-athletes
The NCAA is also developing recommendations to modernize Division I, including creating a subdivision for high-resource schools and giving members more flexibility in student-athlete educational benefits and NIL agreements.
The NCAA adopted Division I student-athlete NIL protections effective August 1, which include voluntary registration, disclosure requirements, standardized contracts and comprehensive education.
To protect student-athletes from the risks of sports betting, the NCAA has partnered with industry experts to provide education, prevent harassment on social media, and monitor the integrity of competitions. The association launched its Draw the Line campaign earlier this week to prioritize student-athlete education on the impacts of sports betting.
The “Change” spot will remain in rotation throughout the next year in broadcasts, at the NCAA Championships and on NCAA-owned social platforms.
