(Huntsville, Ont; May 10, 2006) OUA BOARD VOTES IN FAVOUR OF OFFERING ATHLETIC FINANCIAL AWARDS TO FIRST-YEAR STUDENT-ATHLETES: First-year student-athletes at Ontario University Athletics institutions will be getting some more help on the financial front when the 2007/08 season commences. The OUAs Board of Directors voted 16-3 in favour of the league providing Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs) to entering student-athletes (individuals who have yet to complete two full semesters of study in one academic year at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport school they are attending). Entering students with an average of at least 80 per cent are eligible to receive up to $3,500 annually from their university to help with expenses for the school year.
This is a significant day in OUA history, said outgoing President David Dubois. As a conference, we have always tried to attract the best and the brightest student-athletes out there and with the implementation of this new policy on the granting of Athletic Financial Awards, I believe we will see more of Canadas best at the doorsteps of our 19 member schools.
At the OUAs Semi-Annual General Meeting held in Hamilton this past January, a motion was unanimously passed to strike a Task Force to investigate what has long been a contentious issue throughout the league. A survey of OUA member schools determined that the granting of awards to eligible entering student-athletes was the highest priority, prompting the Task Force to offer guidance on a new model.
Though this debate has been going on for years, the Task Force was very aggressive in terms of proposing a new model for AFAs, said Dubois. We have had the support of the university presidents to examine this issue. Its rewarding to know that in just four short months, we have made a proactive and positive change to our model. What this means is that some of our finest young student-athletes will see the OUA as a great option to help them advance from an academic and athletic standpoint.
The OUA has traditionally had a higher academic standard for returning student-athletes to meet in order to obtain an AFA. Returning students must maintain a 70 per cent average to be eligible. While the OUA Board of Directors felt there was a need to open up opportunities to entering students, it was imperative that the standards remain high, hence the 80 per cent minimum for those in their first year of university, which is also the standard requirement for entering students in the other regional associations.
In September of 2001, the OUA increased the maximum level of AFAs from $1,500 to $2,500. Last September, that figure was upped again to $3,500. The Task Force will continue to examine the maximum amount of AFAs and will report back to the Board of Directors at the January 2007 Semi-Annual General Meeting.
For years, there was a stance among OUA members that offering too much in the way of AFAs would foster an athlete-first environment that is the norm at various American institutions, said Dubois. But it is clear that our student-athletes are intelligent, hard-working individuals in both the classroom and on the playing field. If first-year students can receive academic awards, then it only makes sense that those athletes who meet the strict requirements of our universities be rewarded for their achievements, as well.
Given the time our entering student-athletes commit to both their school work and competing for a varsity program, they should be eligible to receive financial assistance.