What does 'institutional control' mean in NCAA governance?

• A. The school's ultimate responsibility to monitor and enforce compliance with all governing rules.
• B. The school's ability to set tuition without oversight.
• C. The school's control over student housing and meal plans.
• D. The school's exclusive right to recruit athletes.

Answer: (B)

Institutional control means the school has the ultimate responsibility to monitor and enforce compliance with all governing rules within its athletics programs. This requires a solid compliance system: a designated staff or officer to oversee rules, ongoing education for coaches and student‑athletes, careful monitoring of recruiting activities and student‑athlete eligibility, adherence to practice and financial aid rules, and timely reporting and corrective action when issues arise. The idea is accountability and governance at the institutional level, ensuring every part of the athletics program operates within the rules.

This isn’t about tuition decisions, housing and meal plans, or exclusive recruitment rights. Tuition is a financial matter governed by the institution and broader regulatory bodies, housing and meal plans are campus operations, and recruitment rights are governed by the NCAA’s rules and oversight, not a unilateral grant of exclusive control.