OTTAWA (CIS) - Canadian Interuniversity Sport officially responded on Tuesday to the NCAA's decision to allow universities from outside the United States to seek active Division II membership.

The 10-year pilot program was approved Monday at the 2008 NCAA Convention.

Canadian Interuniversity Sport Chief Executive Officer, Marg McGregor, offered the following perspective.

What was the NCAA decision?

NCAA Division II paved the way for Canadian institutions to seek active Division II membership when they approved a 10-year pilot program at the 2008 NCAA Convention in Nashville, on January 14.

The Canadian measure was hailed as an antidote of sorts for Division II members in the West and Northwest regions (there are currently 83 western members compared with 193 in the east).

The program takes effect immediately and Canadian schools may apply for membership as soon as June 1, 2008. Schools that meet the June 1 application deadline could start the process of joining Division II as soon as the 2008-2009 academic year.

How will this decision impact Canadian Interuniversity Sport? Is this a threat to the ongoing health of CIS, if a university elects to leave CIS and join the NCAA?

The vast and overwhelming majority of Canadian universities are very proud of their membership in CIS and their involvement in a Canadian league that celebrates academics and athletics.

The feedback from Canadian universities suggests that a very small number of universities might pursue the NCAA option. While CIS values all our members and does not want to lose any, the CIS membership has grown in recent years and indications are it will continue to do so. So from a simple number of members perspective, the potential loss of one or two members is offset by the recent expansion.

At the same time, the NCAA membership decision has changed the landscape and given CIS cause to reflect. CIS will be conducting a membership satisfaction survey to identify issues that require attention. We plan to confront the difficult issues and align ourselves for the future. We plan to build on our strengths of being a Canadian league that celebrates and supports academics and athletics, and is proud of its Canadian roots.

Some media reports have suggested that UBC wants to join the NCAA in order to provide greater financial support to student-athletes. What is the CIS reaction to this?

A common and outdated misconception is that athletic awards and scholarships are only available south of the border. In fact about one in two CIS student-athletes receive financial support to pursue their athletics and academics in Canada. Athletic Financial Awards are a vital component in providing an outstanding educational and athletic experience for our student-athletes and are critical in the decision for our students to pursue their dreams in Canada.

Student-athletes who achieve an academic average are eligible to receive athletic scholarships in an amount equal to the cost of tuition.

There is great diversity in the 51 universities who are members of CIS. There are some universities who would prefer to be able to offer athletic scholarships in amounts greater than the costs of tuition, and others who would prefer to have the maximum set at a lower cap. This is similar to the NHL which recently established a salary cap. Some teams would prefer a higher cap, others lobby for a lower cap. Part of being a member of any large organization, be it CIS or NCAA, involves compromise.

So what is Next?

CIS will have discussions with Canadian universities considering joining the NCAA to express that CIS values all its members and would prefer that none migrate south of the border.

If a Canadian university chooses to apply and is accepted as a NCAA member there will be a lot of issues to resolve as this rolls out, and we go our separate ways.

CIS will conduct a CIS membership satisfaction survey. We will continue to evolve and change as an organization that is committed to celebrating academic and athletic excellence in Canada. We will be open to embracing new ideas, philosophies and change, and we will demonstrate confidence to move in new directions.

Could a university compete in the NCAA and still maintain their membership in the CIS?

This will be decided by the CIS membership in June 2008. The philosophical position taken by the CIS Board of Directors that will be advanced to the CIS membership for their discussion and decision recommends against a joint CIS-NCAA membership scenario.

This can be considered a defining moment for CIS. At the end of the day the CIS membership is an expression of who we are and what we value. As CIS goes forward, the CIS Board of Directors wants the CIS membership to be composed of universities who are fully committed to a Canadian league and proud of the Canadian roots and "keeping it in Canada". The Canadian identity and the Canadian model are important and integral values of who we are.

Our niche is a Canadian organization with a Canadian identity and a commitment to quality education and athletics. We are proud of our Canadian identity, and our Canadian commitment to quality education and athletics.


-C