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.

Division III Analysis Working Group, Oct. 6
Eligibility case study. The working group reported that the initial feedback received regarding the eligibility case study has been positive. The working group discussed the merits of the age-based eligibility proposal and agreed not to provide a position to the councils as issues continue to be raised regarding the proposal. Additionally, the working group believes the case study is a valuable tool to evaluate the proposal and there is concern that if the working group, as drafters of the study, take a position it could undermine the usage of that resource. At this time the working group wants to focus on the case study’s data and fostering discussion as opposed to advocating for a position.

Tension options. The working group identified playing and practice season tension as its highest priority item. It received a summary of previous playing seasons reviews and membership data that was part of those reviews. Since 2004, the membership has conducted a review of its playing and practice seasons five times with a legislative change being adopted at the 2023 Convention. The working group determined that this review continues to be a priority. The working group will focus on developing questions to be included in the 2027 Division III membership survey to better understand membership concerns in this area and allow the working group and governance structure to properly develop potential action steps to mitigate existing tensions.

The working group also identified challenges with the legislative cost scoring option while noting the potential benefits of implementing a mechanism that requires all Division III legislative proposals to provide the financial impact for institutions and conferences. The group agreed to keep this as a priority item and directed staff to explore approaches to review with the working group at a future meeting. The group acknowledged that if the option is feasible, it would preferably be implemented next fall with the 2028 legislative proposals.

The working group reviewed the plug and play cost model, athletics return on investment, and impact analysis. It recognized value in developing an NCAA platform that provides financial benchmarking data to support institutional decisions (e.g., staffing, addition of teams, etc.) that have revenue impacts. The working group generally supported the concept but was concerned that to have accurate and useful data, it would require an associated burden for institutions to submit it. Ultimately, the working group believed the value did not outweigh the associated collection and reporting burden.

The working group agreed that the NCAA technology centralization option should be reviewed with a broader perspective. The working group described challenges in this space (i.e., limited staff and the need to use technology to streamline processes). The concept is to build an NCAA-owned open API layer, starting with the NCAA ID, that connects major athletics management platforms (Teamworks, Front Rush, etc.) to NCAA systems for single-source eligibility, roster, and compliance data. The working group directed staff to engage the NCAA IT department to better understand the capability and time needed to develop this concept. 

NCAA Convention. The working group discussed format and topics for discussion during the Issues Forum at the NCAA Convention. The group confirmed that the opportunity to engage colleagues in roundtable discussions is important and discussed several potential topics, including eligibility (both broadly and specific to the age-based proposal), playing and practice seasons, financial resources, and developing a vision to address budget constraints with rising athletics costs. The working group will continue to discuss the format, including roundtable topics and questions, and identify presenters at its next meeting.

Case study. The working group discussed if and when to engage in a review of a membership segmentation case study developed by the outside consultant in response to membership discussions around the concept. The group acknowledged the complexity of the topic and agreed that the group would revisit the case study after the NCAA Convention.

Joint Legislative Steering Subcommittee, Oct. 12
2027 legislative proposals. The subcommittee reviewed the proposals and endorsed ILC’s recommended groupings. Specifically, the subcommittee agreed that the following proposals should be in the Presidents Council grouping: (1) Playing Seasons – Football – Spring Period Practice Modifications; (2) Division III Presidents Council and Management Council – Term of Office and Vacancies; and (3) Eligibility – Age-Based Eligibility Model. The subcommittee agreed that the remaining two proposals should be in the General Group: (1) Amateurism – Before Initial, Full-Time Collegiate Enrollment – Permit the Use of Agents; and (2) National Collegiate Championships – Women’s Flag Football. 

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Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions. 

Management Council, Oct. 19-20
Nominating Committee. The council will consider recommendations to approve appointments to various committees. The council also will consider a recommendation for appointments to the council. If approved, those appointments will then go to the Presidents Council and then the membership for final approval.

Division III Analysis. The council will review and discuss the two options referred from the Division III Analysis Working Group. 

2027 Convention legislation. The council will consider and recommend to the Presidents Council the proposed grouping and order for the 2027 convention proposals. The council will also consider and recommend, as appropriate, governance positions for the proposals submitted by the membership. 

Interpretations and Legislation Committee, Oct. 21
Annual legislative Q&A. The committee will begin its review of the annual legislative question and answer document ahead of the 2027 NCAA Convention. The document will address application-based questions for each of the five legislative proposals that will be voted on by the Division III membership in January. The final version of the document will be published to the membership in early December.

Joint Division II and III presidents/chancellors meeting, Oct. 26
Agenda. A joint meeting of Divisions II and III presidents and chancellors will discuss the trends in higher education such as affordability and funding, enrollment pressures, innovation and technology and the impact on their campus and athletics program. The attendees will develop talking points and key takeaways, which will help inform future divisional strategic planning and potential changes in legislation or policy. Meeting attendees will include the Division II Executive Board, Division III Presidents Council, presidents from Division II conferences not represented on the Executive Board, Division III Presidents Advisory Group, and select national office staff.

Presidents Advisory Group and Presidents Council, Oct. 26-27
NCAA senior staff. The PAG and PC attendees will engage with President Baker, the Office of Legal Affairs and the Office of Government Relations.

Roundtable discussions. The attendees will discuss the age-based eligibility proposal and provide feedback after receiving an update from the NIL Working Group’s efforts.

2027 legislative proposals. The attendees will receive an update on the five legislative proposals and be able to ask questions and provide feedback.

Division III NIL Working Group, Oct. 27
Guardrails. The working group will begin its review of proposed NIL guardrails and a draft NIL philosophy to guide the division. 

Issues Forum. The working group will continue to develop its plan to report-out to, and solicit information from, the membership at the 2027 NCAA Convention’s Issues Forum.