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.
Presidents Council, April 23 Host stipend for football championship. The council approved a request to increase the host live stream stipend for Division III football championship preliminary rounds.
Eligibility pilot program. The council took action to approve a pilot program that will permit Division III student-athletes, pursuant to specific criteria, to continue to represent their institution in intercollegiate competition while enrolled at another institution that has a formal academic agreement with their institution and does not sponsor varsity athletics. The program is for the 2025-26 academic year, but institutions may submit waiver requests immediately. The council will assess the pilot program in the spring of 2026 to determine if it should continue.
Strategic priorities. The council discussed the division’s strategic priorities and identified potential future strategies. It also endorsed a new one-page document that outlines the principles and expectations institutions, conferences and the governance structure strive for regarding the student-athlete collegiate experience. The document also outlines the division’s strategic priorities and vision to support student-athletes. The governance structure encourages institutions and conference offices to use this new resource with key constituent groups to help clarify the division’s mission and demonstrate the value of being part of Division III.
Sports betting. The council supported the Management Council’s noncontroversial legislation deregulating the prohibition on betting on professional sports. Additionally, the council supported the directive to develop concepts for the appropriate Division III committees regarding a safe harbor, limited immunities or reduced penalties for student-athletes who engage in prohibited sports betting but seek help for problem gambling.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
Nominating Committee, May 8 Committee vacancies. The committee will review the nominations for some remaining September 2025 committee vacancies, and a handful of immediate vacancies including the conference vacancies for Division III SAAC.
Championships Committee, May 13 Championships per diem. The committee will review the budget impact to increase per diem to the already approved benchmarks (i.e., $150 per diem in 2027-28 and host per diem to $60) earlier than what is currently planned.
Coaches’ Connect Program. The committee will continue to discuss the Coaches’ Connect Program and begin to discuss which will be the inaugural sports.
National Collegiate Fencing Championship. The committee will consider a request from the National Collegiate Fencing Committee to split the championship into separate men’s and women’s championships. The fencing championship is currently a combined men’s and women’s championship. This change requires action by all three divisions.
Membership Committee, May 15 Updates on key Management Council actions. The committee will receive an update on the newly adopted pilot eligibility waiver program and the referral of the review on accreditation legislation.
Review of the sports sponsorship audit program. The committee will consider modifications to the selection criteria for the sports sponsorship audit program.
Reminder.
Sports Sponsorship Participation and Demographics Form Waiver. If your institution did not meet sports sponsorship requirements for the 2024-25 school year, you should consider filing a sports sponsorship waiver via Requests/Self-Reports Online. We recommend reviewing the Filing a Division III Sports-Sponsorship Waiver Request resource. If you have additional questions, please contact Eric Hartung (ehartung@ncaa.org).
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 Presidents Council, Management Council, commissioners, directors of athletics and the NADIIIAA executive board based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
