UNLV President Carol C. Harter has been named to the NCAA's Division I Board of Directors Transition Team, which will assist with the year-long conversion to a new method of governance for the organization that governs college athletics.

Harter will represent the Western Athletic Conference, which UNLV joins this year. She is one of 16 university chief executive officers on the transition board, which will set the direction for the NCAA for the near future. (As it is now constructed, the board has one representative from both the Mid-American Athletic Conference and the Big West Conference, but they share one vote. Ultimately, the board will have 15 members).

"This is a wonderful opportunity to take part in the governance of the NCAA at an important time in its history," Harter said. "The transition board of directors is laying the foundation for the new permanent board and for a new era in intercollegiate athletics.

"I am particularly pleased to be a member of the board, because I am committed to enhancing both the athletic and academic experiences of our student athletes and believe that only presidents can ultimately make policy and create lasting positive change in intercollegiate athletics."

Harter is one of only two women on the 16-member transition board, which will ultimately consist of presidents from nine Division IA schools and 6 Division IAA and IAAA schools. UNLV is a Division IA school. There are 305 Division I members of the NCAA.

"The significance of this is that, under the new organization, the presidents will actually have policy-making authority and will truly have power in the organization," according to Steve Morgan, Division I chief of staff.

The Division I Board of Directors Transition Team will be in place until the new governance structure becomes effective on Aug. 1, 1997. At that time, the permanent Board of Directors will take over.