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.
Championships Committee, Feb. 3-4 Championships date formula review. At the request of the Management Council, the committee reviewed and provided feedback on an initial draft of a process the committee will use to review the championship data formula and the impact of the current playing and practices seasons. The review will provide the committee with a resource that includes the entirety of each playing season – the traditional segment, the nontraditional segment, and the championships segment. It is anticipated that this resource will help inform decisions regarding future championship date formula change requests, as it will allow the Championships Committee to view the total impact on campus as it relates to concurrent sport seasons.
Championships ticketing review. The committee heard that the NCAA is conducting an internal ticketing review, which negates the need for Division III to conduct its own review. The committee will be updated on the Association-wide review during a future meeting.
Officiating fees review. The committee asked staff to explore officiating fees to discern whether adjustments were necessary. As a start, conference officials assignors will be asked whether they find it difficult to secure officials during times when there are multiple options (i.e., Divisions I and II games, conference championships and additional special events) because of differences in pay.
Football. The committee approved a recommendation that would require hosts of first, second, third and quarterfinal rounds of the Division III Football Championship be required to provide a minimum of two cameras for live streaming purposes. The increased camera minimum would be effective with the 2025 championship (i.e., next season). The recommendation also requests the $1,000 host stipend to offset production and announcing fees be increased to $2,000 per game. The Strategic Planning and Finance Committee will act on the stipend recommendation during its March meeting.
Staff updated the committee on rules pertaining to sideline-to-player helmet technology being used thus far solely by schools in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The NCAA Football Rules Committee is exploring whether there is interest in other segments of the membership to allow this technology (acknowledging the costs associated with it) as a permissive rule and is seeking broader feedback before the rules committee convenes later this month.
Men’s basketball. The committee approved a recommendation to establish an alternate championships format for the 2026 joint men’s basketball championship. The one-year format will have eight teams advance to Fort Wayne to play the quarterfinal and semi-final rounds with the two remaining teams advancing to Indianapolis to play the championship game in conjunction with the joint men’s basketball championship.
Men’s wrestling. The committee approved Messiah University to host the Region III tournament this year.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
Financial Aid Committee, Feb. 12-13 Level II reviews. The committee will review the policies and procedures for administering student financial aid from 13 institutions. If there is evidence of non-compliance, cases will be referred to NCAA Enforcement for processing.
Financial Aid Reporting Program. The committee will review and adjust the data file format to align with the Department of Education’s adoption of the Student Aid Index, replacing Estimated Family Contribution on the FAFSA.
Management Council, Feb. 17 Convention debrief. The council will discuss and review the 2025 convention and provide thoughts about the 2026 convention.
Council policies and procedures. The council will review and approve amendments to its policies and procedures manual that reflect the Division III federated playing rules process and changes made to the Division III legislative process.
2025 priorities. The council will discuss and determine its priorities and areas of focus for 2025.
Interpretations and Legislation Committee, Feb. 18-19 Standard reviews: The committee will engage in its standard bi-annual reviews of legislative and interpretative actions from the other divisions for potential application to Division III. Two specific items include legislative changes involving Major Junior Hockey eligibility consequences and Water Polo playing seasons.
Transfer portal. The committee will begin discussing the transfer portal and whether there are additional benefits to the Division III membership that can be derived from greater use of the portal.
Bylaw 16. The committee will continue its review of Bylaw 16 for potential areas of deregulation.
Sponsorship relationships. The committee will discuss flexibility and simplification of current regulations limiting the opportunity for different organizations (professional sports organizations, NGBs, etc.) to sponsor Division III activities.
Resources.
NPI ranking release dates. Click here for a chart that details the NPI ranking release dates for winter and spring team championships in relation to the selection shows. NPI rankings will be updated the Monday of each week and available to the public. A daily NPI ranking will be pushed beginning the Monday of NPI Rank 3 which is approximately two weeks prior to selections.
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.
