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.

Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, March 25
Strategic priorities. The committee reviewed a document summarizing the work of the Division III national office staff in support of the division’s governance structure priorities. The committee also reviewed a one-page document that outlines the principles and expectations institutions, conferences and the governance structure strive for regarding the student-athlete collegiate experience. This one-page document outlines the division’s strategic priorities and vision to support student-athletes. The SPFC noted this new resource clarifies the division’s mission and helps demonstrate the value of being part of Division III.

Insurance. The committee advanced a recommendation to the councils to maintain the division’s current cancellation insurance policy for FY26.

Football championships live streaming. The committee approved a recommendation from the Championships Committee to increase the live streaming host stipend for football championship rounds from $1,000 to $2,000 beginning with the 2025 NCAA championships. The increase is due to the requirement to have two cameras versus the current requirement of one camera. The councils will review and act on this recommendation during their April meetings.

Championships per diem. The committee received an update on the previously approved increases in per diem for the current budget cycle: $135 in 2024-25 and $140 in 2025-26, with dollars earmarked for future budget cycles to increase to $145 in 2026-27 and $150 in 2027-28. Upon reviewing the financials leading into the cycle, staff realized that the per diem increase to $140 was overestimated. As a result, the Division III Championships Committee revisited the increases as previously planned. Among the options it considered was to increase per diem for 2025-26 and 2026-27, which would provide an immediate benefit without exceeding the previously approved $150 level for 2027-28. The SPFC directed the Championships Committee to confirm the budget impact on the division’s future forecast and craft a formal recommendation during its May videoconference for the SPFC to consider during its June meeting.

Deloitte recommendations. The committee revisited the financial review Deloitte conducted in 2024 and discussed potential planning processes to address the identified threats and opportunities. In particular, the committee noted the positive impact from implementing the live streaming requirements for championships preliminary rounds and the anticipated positive impact of the mental health training initiative. The committee noted that the newly established Division III Presidents Council Futures Subcommittee will be continually reviewing the Deloitte recommendations as well.

Strategic Athletics Communication Working Group, March 28
CSC Survey Data. The working group reviewed results from a recent survey administered by College Sports Communicators to help assist with necessary changes to update the Strategic Guide to Athletics Communication document.

 

Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.

Championships Committee, April 15
Regional Advisory Committees. The committee will continue to discuss regional advisory committees and their changing role within the NPI and regional rankings process. 
 
Championship date formula review. The committee will review a resource that has been developed to aide in future discussions when a sport committee would like to modify its date formula. The resource will allow the committee to see the timing of the playing seasons as well as the championships segment for each sport to have a better understanding of the full impact of any potential change.
 
2026 women’s lacrosse championship. The committee will review the recommended host site for the 2026 Division II and Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship joint site.

Management Council, April 16-17
Host stipend for football championship. The council will act on a request from SPFC to approve an increase of $1,000 for the stipend for preliminary round hosts of Division III football championship. The request also will need approval from the Presidents Council.

Eligibility pilot program. The council will consider a recommendation from the Membership Committee to create a pilot waiver that will permit, pursuant to specific criteria, a Division III student-athlete to continue to participate while not enrolled at the Division III institution. The council will forward any final recommendation to the President Council for its approval.

Coaches Connect Program. The council will review a recommendation from the Championship Committee to approve a Coaches Connect Program. The program’s objective is to foster improved communication with coaches. If approved, the program would begin in 2025-26 with one sport per season.

Legislative recommendations. The council will consider the following legislative recommendations from the Interpretations and Legislation Committee:

  • Modernize Bylaw 16 and reduce the burden on member campuses.
  • Permit institutions and conferences to pursue partnerships/sponsorships with third parties including professional sports organizations.
  • Major Junior ice hockey participation is subject to the same standard as all other pre-enrollment participation.

Playing rules. The council will review a proposed process to implement the legislation adopted by the membership at the 2025 convention that permits the council to exempt Division III from a new adopted playing rule.

Flag football. The council will consider a request to sponsor legislation to add women's flag football as an emerging sport. If approved, the membership will vote on the proposal at the 2026 convention.

Sports betting. The council will consider a legislative concept to deregulate the prohibition on betting on professional sports.

Resources.

NCAA Purchasing Cooperative. Initial reports from the NCAA’s cooperative purchasing pilot program with E&I Cooperative Services show significant savings for participating schools across all divisions. This initiative has identified average savings of 28% and some as high as 45% on matched products. Participating institutions have saved an average of 34% on athletics equipment, such as weight plates, benches, treadmills and platforms. An average 12% savings was seen on athletic training supplies, such as athletic tape, bandages, braces and heat packs.

Benefits of purchasing cooperative include the following:
  • Provides subject matter expertise, convenience and cost savings.
  • Streamlines procurement, mitigating risks and boosting efficiency.
Over 95% of NCAA institutions are enrolled with E&I for free, with no contract commitment required. Learn more about the program:
  • Find my E&I representative.
  • Browse E&I cooperative contracts.
  • Member success stories.
Connect with your institution’s procurement office to explore athletics contracts and use E&I’s online resources via EdPro Hub for insights and collaboration. You also can contact Melek Ucar for spending analyses on athletic training supplies or fitness equipment, or click here to learn more information.

Division III April webinar. The division’s next educational webinar is Tues., April 8, 1:30 to 2 p.m. (EST). Please register by clicking this link. The webinar will provide a tutorial on how to use NCAA NIL Assist. Developed in partnership with Teamworks, NCAA NIL Assist is a free platform that provides student-athletes across all three Divisions with resources to support their name, image and likeness (NIL) endeavors.

Mental Health First Aid Program. Division III is excited to engage National Council for Mental Wellbeing to fund Division III athletic trainers and head coaches to receive adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to support the mental well-being of student-athletes throughout the division. Institutions will be eligible to receive one fully funded training during the program, which is in effect until Aug. 1, 2027.

To learn more about the program, click here and to schedule a fully funded Adult MHFA training for your NCAA Division III institution, athletics directors or athletic trainers should visit https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ncaa/ to complete an inquiry form.
 

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.