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.
DIIICA and NADIIIAA executive leadership, Sept. 6-7 Meeting. During the day and half meeting in Indianapolis, the executive leadership of the DIIICA and NADIIIAA engaged on topics such as the work of the newly created Athletic Training Working Group, possible enhancements to Division III championships, the Financial and Risk Management Working Group’s discussion on obtaining a third-party vendor to conduct a financial review of Division III. The meeting also included updates from NCAA staff on the federated playing rules process, the proposed waiver for mental health, engagement strategies with Congress and the NCAA State of Business Review. Finally, the attendees engaged in several roundtable discussions: sportsmanship and its relation to the officiating crisis and a discussion on the membership’s identified threats and concerns to the division and potential solutions/actions to mitigate those threats/concerns.
Presidents Council Nominations Subcommittee, Sept. 11 Nominations. The subcommittee identified new members to join the Presidents Council, effective with the close of the NCAA Convention. The Presidents Council will review and act during its late Oct. meeting.
Championships Committee, Sept. 11-12 Per diem increase. The committee forwarded a request to approve a one-time spend of $800,000 to implement the championships per diem increase planned for the 2024-25 championships a year early (i.e., the 2023-24 championships). The Division III Administrative Committee asked the Championships Committee to consider this one-time spend after its review of the current budget and the funds above the mandated reserve indicated that the championships per diem increase planned for the 2024-25 championships could be implemented a year early. The Championships Committee based its recommendation on several factors, including membership surveys indicating a desire to increase per diem, it does not impact future budget enhancements, and it supports the Division III governance structure’s focus on maximizing the division’s budget and reducing the amount above the mandated reserve. Past decisions have proven that a fiscally responsible way to reduce the mandated reserve is to have one-time spends versus on-going annual expenses.
Budget planning. The committee continued discussing its budget priorities in preparation for finalizing recommendations during its February 2024 meeting. The committee revisited results from the membership survey in May in which the following four concepts emerged consistently: increasing championships access, travel party increases, per diem increases, and giving sport committees the flexibility of adding one or two flights in bracketing to separate higher regionally ranked teams in the first round. The committee worked to develop a strategic framework and principles regarding how to further prioritize championships enhancements. The committee will re-survey the membership in late October now that it has narrowed the budget priorities with results available for the committee’s November or December videoconference.
Championships selection criteria database. The committee discussed feedback obtained from sport committees and regional advisory committee members, which has been positive so far. To date, two sports per season have been tested to compare the metrics and the results have approximated the fields selected by the sport committees. Next steps include communicating with various membership stakeholders to ensure the database is properly vetted and then evaluating the remaining team sports to determine whether any modifications are necessary. The committee will formally consider whether to implement the database for the 2024-25 academic year at its February 2024 meeting when it considers all budget items for the next budget cycle.
Championships hosting considerations. The committee continued its discussion regarding accountability measures to ensure that all sites during all rounds of a championship provide an experience that meets expectations stated in the bid specifications. Staff noted that concerns are tracked annually, and institutions are notified when they fail to meet any expectation. The committee supports a process that if sites do not meet hosting expectations, the sport committee will contact the host institution’s director of athletics and tournament director to make them aware of concerns. To be eligible to host the following year, the institution in question would need to submit an action plan that addresses the specified concerns. Hosting privileges will be reviewed annually and institutions that have continued feedback concerns, or institutions that do not submit an action plan, may no longer be able to host during that championship.
In-region waiver guidelines. The committee approved guidelines regarding documentation institutions must provide when seeking a waiver from the in-region requirements in place for championship selection purposes (NCAA Division III Bylaw 31.3.2.1). The guidance will be incorporated into the Championships Committee Policies and Operating Procedures.
Sport committee reports. The committee reviewed governing sport committee reports and discussed sport specific recommendations. It also approved a feedback instrument to obtain membership feedback for sport committees to use when they are considering proposals to modify the championship date formula in ways that either change the selection/AQ submission date or extend the length of the tournament (or both).
Men’s basketball. The committee supported, in concept, to conduct the 2026 Division III Men’s Basketball Championship as a joint championship with the Division I Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis.
Men’s and women’s basketball. The committee tabled a request to provide video review equipment/staffing at the finals site at each championship until the committee discusses budget enhancements during its February meeting. The committee requested additional membership input regarding a recommendation to require hosts to provide video review as a condition of hosting preliminary-round games effective with the 2024 championships.
The committee requested additional membership input regarding a recommendation to require hosts to provide video review as a condition of hosting preliminary-round games effective with the 2024 championships.
Men’s golf. The committee discussed, but did not act, on a recommendation to approve a variable increase in the number of selected individual participants, dependent on the number of selected teams, to eliminate twosomes in the field and to improve scheduling efficiency and pace of play. It will revisit in February when it discusses all requests with a budget impact.
Women’s golf. The committee requested additional membership feedback regarding a request that after 36 holes the field be cut to 15 teams and six individuals.
Men’s ice hockey. The committee discussed, but did not act, on a request to expand the bracket for the 2024 Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship to 13 teams. It requested additional budgetary information.
Softball. The committee tabled a recommendation to change the super-regional competition dates from Friday/Saturday to Thursday/Friday until the committee obtains membership feedback.
Division III Financial and Risk Management Working Group, Sept. 12 Third-party review. The working group provided feedback on a proposed third-party review of the division’s finances, and in particular, how to strengthen the division’s overall financial performance, improve revenue growth, identify financial priorities and threats, and provide risk mitigation and financial structure options.
Membership Committee, Sept. 15 Sports sponsorship waiver requests. The committee will consider one waiver request.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
Division III Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, Sept. 18 Diversity recruiting and retention train the trainer program. The working group will receive an update from the consultants regarding the new two-hour facilitation program to assist institutions with recruiting and retention of students of color. The anticipate program release is after the 2024 NCAA Convention.
Name, image, and likeness. The committee will continue its discussion regarding the impact of NIL for Division III student-athletes and campuses and discuss progress of potential NIL proposals at the Division I level.
Bylaw 16 review. The committee will start an exhaustive review of Bylaw 16, with the approach of asking the following questions (1) what is the concern that is being addressed in this restriction; (2) is that concern still relevant; and (2) if it is relevant, is the restriction appropriate to address the concern. This is a start of a conversation that will likely continue through multiple meetings.
2024 Convention legislation. The committee will start developing the question and answer document.
Permission to contact NAIA student-athletes. The committee will review the continued relevancy of the legislation that requires Division III institutions to receive permission to contact an NAIA student-athlete with respect to recent changes in NAIA legislation that no longer requires the reciprocal permission to recruit NCAA student-athletes.
Division III legislative process review. The committee will consider potential changes to the legislative process including a comment period, sponsorship and amendment flexibility.
Division III LGBTQIA+ Working Group, Oct. 2 Communications resource. The working group will review the resource recently released to the membership to provide LGBTQ+ inclusive communications practices and templates specific to athletics communication departments.
Division III Presidents Council statement of inclusion. The working group will review the Presidents Council statement on inclusion released in early Aug. to the membership.
LGBTQ of the Year. The working group will discuss this year’s LGBTQ of the Year nomination and selection process as it prepares for the awards celebration at the 2024 NCAA Convention on Thursday, Jan. 11, 6:45 to 8 p.m. local time.
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.
