I'm pasting in the Atlantic 10's release that came out Wednesday night. My analysis on what this means to will be in italics and bolded.

The Atlantic 10 Conference Council of Presidents and Directors of Athletics concluded their annual joint fall meeting Wednesday, engaging in discussion and taking action on several major issues in college athletics.
 
The primary topic of discussion was the most recent wave of conference realignment. The group unanimously agreed to remain proactive in solidifying its commitment to its members as the best basketball only conference in Division I.  The Council approved a conference-wide policy to fund  the total cost of attendance for men’s and women ‘s basketball grant-in aids while confirming  that each member institution can approve similar funding for all other sports programs within their department.  This decision resulted from the NCAA recently passed legislation permitting cost of attendance additions to traditional grant-in-aid scholarship offers up to $2,000.

“This is a really positive decision for the Atlantic 10 that will immediately impact our recruiting in the sports of Division I men’s and women’s basketball and reinforces the national commitment the A-10 has to basketball,” stated Commissioner  Bernadette  V. McGlade.

* This isn't surprising, but its smart of the Atlantic 10 to get it out quickly that their school are planning to participate.  Sends a good message to recruits.

UMass will have to wait for the Mid-American Conference, Hockey East and the Colonial Athletic Association (men's lacrosse) to decide if some of their other sports will participate. UMass will decide on its own whether it will offer $2,000 to its other sports that compete in the Atlantic 10.

In addition, the Council of Presidents adopted an affiliate membership policy for Olympic sports programs which will become a part of the A-10 conference constitution and bylaws.  Currently the A10 has an affiliate member in the sport of field hockey.  This policy will allow for a more formalized process when considering affiliate member applications.
 
The league also acknowledged the potential challenge(s) of intra-conference transfers in the sport of basketball.  As a result the group unanimously approved relaxing the A-10 penalty for prospective student athletes who have signed a National Letter of Intent. 

* I'm not exactly sure what "relaxing" means here (I'll be asking shortly), but it certainly applies to Trey Davis, who wasn't able to enroll at UMass in September because he'd previously signed a letter of intent at George Washington. But it made me wonder hypothetically - If Davis, who is at Vermont Academy, decided he wanted to enroll at UMass at the end of the first semester, could he? I have no idea what Davis' financial means are, but prep school isn't free and I'm assuming not cheap. Could he under these relaxed rules enroll at UMass and redshirt the second semester while getting an academic head start and learning the system? Could he enroll and play? This is simply a hypothetical. I have no indication or even inclination that this is a possibility.

 The group accepted reports from two Atlantic 10 Strategic Initiative subcommittees on competitive operating standards and revenue resource allocation. The subcommittees are studying options to further strengthen the A-10.

In related business, the Council of Presidents discussed the recent NCAA presidential reform initiatives and voiced concern related to the upcoming NCAA legislative recommendations that would eliminate foreign tours, reduce scholarship limitations in the sports of men’s and women’ basketball and potentially reduce, by 10 percent, the overall allowable competition in all sports.  The Council also authorized the Commissioner to engage in conversations with other Division I institution presidents and Division I conferences related to the precedent being set by the current expedited governance process and the concerns related to major legislation being proposed outside of the normal governance process and adopted immediately by the NCAA Board of Directors.