The NCAA Division III staff has created this bi-weekly communication for the Division III membership to provide up-to-date communications on recent Division III governance meeting discussions and outcomes. Please share this communication with your campus and conference colleagues.
Recent Governance Meetings - Key Discussions and Outcomes.
FAR Advisory Group, March 11 Review of Division III transfer legislation. The Advisory Group engaged in a review of the Division III transfer legislation. The feedback, along with the review conducted by additional governance committees, will be shared with the Management Council during its April meeting.
Financial and Risk Management Working Group, March 14 Prioritization workshop. The working group participated in a workshop with Deloitte and identified its opportunities for the division based on membership interviews, survey feedback from the members of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee and market research conducted by Deloitte. The opportunities include revenue growth, cost containment, and brand amplification.
Convention Planning Subcommittee, March 15 Convention. The subcommittee reviewed membership feedback related to the convention and began to discuss plans for the 2025 convention that will take place in Nashville, TN.
Subcommittee for Legislative Relief, March 15 Graduate and post-baccalaureate student participation. The subcommittee discussed if it should extend the 2023-24 blanket waiver that incorporated the existing waiver directives. Additionally, the subcommittee reviewed the recommendation for non-controversial legislation from ILC that would incorporate those existing waiver directives into NCAA legislation (thereby negating the need for a waiver). The subcommittee supported incorporating the directive into the legislation. The subcommittee also extended the blanket waiver until such legislation would be effective (or otherwise defeated). Management Council will consider the ILC non-controversial legislation during its April meeting.
Standardized dates in a delayed enrollment analysis. The subcommittee reviewed the current blanket waiver, specific to the use of standardized dates in a delayed enrollment analysis. The subcommittee recommended legislating standardized dates of October 1 for Fall enrollees and March 1 for Winter/Spring enrollees.
Transfer regulations. As the group responsible for reviewing waivers of the year in residence requirement for transfers, the subcommittee discussed the current regulations and the continued relevance of these regulations.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
Championships Committee, March 19 Budget enhancements. The committee will forward recommendations regarding budget enhancements for FY25 and FY26 to the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee. Based on membership feedback, budget priorities include per diem increases, expanding the football championships bracket, reviewing proposed championship access models, and reviewing opportunities to separate top regionally ranked teams.
Selection criteria database. The committee will review sport committee feedback related to a selection criteria database (i.e., NCAA Performance Index – NPI). Click here for the FAQ and an educational webinar held this fall for sport committee chairs.
Championships webstreaming enhancements. The committee will engage in a discussion on ways to increase the Division III championships webstreaming on ncaa.com beyond the current semifinals and championship games. It also will discuss a short form video proposal.
Officiating fees. The committee will consider proposed officiating fee increases for all sports and individual sport requests from women’s volleyball, indoor and outdoor track and field, wrestling and tennis.
Administrative Committee, March 20 Discussion topics. The committee will use the in-person meeting to discuss the division’s strategic priorities for the coming year. Key discussions include identifying ways to amplify the Division III brand, transfer regulations, NIL, Congressional engagement, the Division III federated rules process, budget planning, sport wagering, and identification of campus and conference issues.
Financial Aid Committee, March 20 Confirmation of selection criteria. The committee will confirm the selection criteria to be implemented for the 2024-2025 review cycle. Any changes to the criteria will be communicated to the Division III membership with the opening of the 2024-25 review cycle on June 1.
Membership Committee, March 21 Regional Rules Seminar livestreaming. The committee will consider making a recommendation to budget for a future livestream option for the Regional Rules Seminar.
Division III new member process. The committee will continue its discussion of possible changes to the New Member Process. Considerations include a change to the application due date, adjustments to the Exploratory Year waiver criteria and process, and a waiver of the reclassification process three-year provision.
Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, March 25 Policies and procedure. The committee will approve its policies and procedures and consider adoption of Division III budget guidelines and principles.
Budget planning. The committee will discuss the division’s two outside financial reviews and the correlation to the FY25 and FY26 budget planning process. It will consider approving, in concept, championships, Enrichment Fund and one-time expenditures for the next budget cycle.
Enrichment Fund programs. The committee will review agendas, participant feedback and budgets of recently held Enrichment Fund programs.
Athletic Trainer Working Group, March 28 Discussion. The working group will begin to develop, categorize, and prioritize potential recommendations to address the areas of focus previously identified by the working group: workload, work life balance and culture and communication.
Interpretation and Legislation Committee, March 28 Transfer regulations. The committee will continue its discussion regarding the year in residence requirement for transfer student-athletes including input from the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief and the FAR Advisory Group.
Resources
Congressional Talking Points. To assist with outreach to elected officials, click here for Division III specific talking points to help guide your discussions.
With every communication, we also anticipate additional questions. Please send all questions to DIIIGovernance@ncaa.org. Thank you for your continued collaboration and leadership.
This email was sent to NCAA Division III commissioners, directors of athletics and the NADIIIAA executive board based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
