DIVISION III PRESIDENTS QUARTERLY UPDATE - JANUARY 2025
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR, PRESIDENT JIM TROHA
I am Jim Troha, president of Juniata College and chair of the Division III Presidents Council. I hope this quarterly update finds you, your students, staff, and faculty having smoothly transitioned into the spring semester. The council continues to examine and discuss the ever-evolving higher education and college athletics landscape, and we are committed to engaging the membership on identifying issues and finding solutions. We also are monitoring federal executive orders, and, as needed, will communicate the anticipated impact on our division and the Association. This newsletter has some valuable information, and I encourage you to review and discuss the topics included with your presidential colleagues, athletics direct reports and commissioners.
2025 CONVENTION LEGISLATION
Division III delegates adopted six proposals and ratified the emergency legislation the Presidents Council adopted regarding the transfer regulations. The final voting results grid is available on the 2025 Convention resource webpage.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID PROPOSAL
The council approved a partnership between the National Council for Mental Wellbeing | MHFA and Division III to directly deliver Mental Health First Aid training. This collaboration aims to equip head coaches and athletic trainers with tools and skills to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health challenges. As part of the partnership, Mental Health First Aid will give a two-hour virtual and five-hour on-campus training to head coaches and athletic trainers on Division III campuses who choose to participate. The certification is valid for three years, and then participants will have the opportunity to recertify. Staff anticipates launching the partnership no later than March 1.
SPORTS BETTING
The council continued its discussions on the implications of sports betting for Division III student-athletes. In a joint session with the Management Council and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the council discussed harm reduction strategies and the potential effects of the deregulation of professional sports betting. With a commitment to provide the membership with educational resources and materials that will help support institutional harm reduction efforts and student-athlete health and wellness, SAAC and the councils are generally supportive of deregulating the prohibition of betting on professional sports. This topic will be further examined during the council's videoconference in April.
DIVISION III GRADUATION RATES
The council received the most recent Division III graduation rates. Student-athlete graduation-rate reporting was mandatory for the fifth time with this reporting cycle. The Division III national four-year average Academic Success Rate (ASR) continues to hold steady at 88 percent. Even when utilizing the less-inclusive federal rate, Division III student-athletes perform better than the general student body. Click here for more information.
CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE STREAMING INITIATIVE
The council reviewed the results of the division's initiative to livestream all Division III team championships. During the fall, ncaa.com and Hudl partnered to livestream a total of 210 Division III championship competitions for free. Viewers of the championships watched a combined 11.5 million minutes of live content, compared with 2.3 million minutes in the fall of 2023. Overall viewership increased by 40%. Among the top video streams were the field hockey championship, which was promoted through the NCAA Fan Database and saw a 158% increase in viewership, the women's cross-country championship and the men's soccer championship. Staff also informed the council that the winter and spring team championships will be live streamed.
DIVISION III AWARD WINNERS
The council would like to congratulate this year’s award winners honored at the NCAA Convention in Nashville. The Division III LGBTQ of the Year recipients are Juliett Suess, Chapman University, head swimming and diving coach (Coach of the Year), and Emerald Svienty, North Central College, cross country/track and field (Student-Athlete of the Year). Alexandra Turvey, former Pomona-Pitzer swimmer, received the 2024 Woman of the Year Award, and Ronda Jo Miller, Gallaudet, and Keiko Price, current Emory director of athletics, received the Silver Anniversary Award, recognizing the 25th anniversary of the completion of their college careers. Owen Grover, Wartburg, was recognized with Today’s Top 10 Award, given to outstanding senior student-athletes from the previous academic year. Congratulations to all this year’s award recipients.
DEPARTING MEMBERS
The Division III Presidents Council saw three individuals attend their last meeting. Mary-Beth Cooper, Springfield College, Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Trinity College (CT), and Susan Hasseler, Muskingum University, and during the NCAA Convention, we had an opportunity to thank them for their dedication and hard work. These individuals have done extraordinary work on behalf of everyone in Division III. The council also welcomes two new members: Alberto Cardelle, SUNY Oneonta and Lake Lambert III, Hanover College.
CONCLUSION
It is my intent that the quarterly update provides the necessary and critical information to assist you in the oversight of Division III athletics on your campus. You can find a full recap of the January Presidents Council meeting here and the Summary of Actions, which highlights all recent council actions. As always, I welcome any feedback or questions.
This email was sent to NCAA Division III presidents and chancellors;conference commissioners and athletics direct reports based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
