The winds of change are gusting through Big 12 country.

The NCAA granted the members of the power five conferences autonomy on Aug. 7, allowing those universities freedom to legislate some of their own policies regarding student-athletes.

In the aftermath of the monumental and unprecedented decision in which the NCAA ceded more power to its members than ever before, ISU Senior Associate Director of Athletics David Harris predicted that changes would come quickly.

His predictions were proven correct as the Big 12 announced Monday that its institutions will offer scholarships that cover the full cost of attendance for student-athletes as well as amend those scholarships from a single-year to a multi-year format.

Throughout recent years, Iowa State’s athletic scholarship offers fell roughly $4,400 short of full cost of attendance, leaving student-athletes to make up the difference on their own. The numbers throughout the Big 12’s member universities were similar.

While athletic scholarships at Iowa State have rarely been revoked, they have also been dispersed on a yearly basis.

Due to the system changes, scholarships for student-athletes will now extend at the very least through those students’ years of athletic eligibility.

Financial aid will also be offered to former student-athletes interested in returning to the Big 12 member universities they previously attended to pursue their degrees.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a press conference on Dec. 1 that he was proud of the actions taken by the university presidents and chancellors to provide a better climate for student athletes.

Harris said in August that improving the collegiate experience for student-athletes was both the initial mandate and the primary goal of all power 5 schools once autonomy was granted.