AAC commissioner Mike Aresco's statement regarding the NCAA Division I governance structure following Tuesday's business meeting in Orlando:

The American Athletic Conference strongly supports initiatives that contribute to the health, welfare, and enhanced college experience of our student-athletes. We look forward to evaluating the proposed autonomous legislation when released in December. However, our member schools have long provided and continue to provide a number of benefits which have been deregulated under NCAA rules, including extended opportunities for degree completion, scholarship protection, medical support, and meeting the nutritional needs of student-athletes. The American and its members remain committed to funding student-athlete scholarships up to the full cost of attendance if and when such legislation is adopted.

“Our Conference has been in the forefront of the initiatives designed to address the needs of our student-athletes. I am proud of our schools, which have taken a leadership position in committing to fund athletic scholarships up to the full cost of attendance, and which have supported reforms in many areas which will contribute to student athlete health and well-being,” said Commissioner Michael Aresco.