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.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee, March 12 Legislative landscape. The subcommittee received an update on the current DEI legislative landscape. It also discussed the impact of legislative decisions on DEI programming and outcomes.
Opportunity and access programs and grants. The subcommittee reviewed the agenda for the Institute for Administrative Advancement that will be held in June at the NACDA Convention in Las Vegas. The subcommittee also received an update on the Division III Opportunity Grants awarded this cycle.
Interpretations and Legislation Committee, March 18 NIL resolution. The committee recommended to the councils a course of action responsive to the NIL resolution adopted at the 2026 NCAA Convention. The councils will review and react to the plan during their April meetings.
NCAA Convention Business Session. The committee reviewed the Division III Convention Business Session and developed alternative approaches to create a more efficient voting process. The alternative approaches will continue to be discussed and reviewed by the division’s parliamentarian. Any final recommendations will go to Management Council during its summer meeting.
Use of a season. To reduce burden for campuses and conference offices, the committee asked the Student-athlete Reinstatement Committee to consider alternative approaches to the current medical hardship waiver process for student-athletes that suffer season ending injuries prior to the first contest. The SAR Committee will likely review during its June 9 meeting and would anticipate any recommendations to be discussed at the June commissioners meeting. The committee also continued its review of student coaches and managers and how their activities may or may not impact future eligibility. The committee’s goal is to simplify the analysis to ensure consistent application across the division.
Convention Planning Subcommittee, March 20 2026 convention. The subcommittee reviewed the 2026 Convention survey results and feedback for the three Division III educational sessions.
2027 convention planning. Using feedback from the 2026 convention, the subcommittee began discussing Division III programming for the 2027 convention. Areas discussed included the convention schedule, educational sessions and other Division III specific programming, the format and possible topics for the Issues Forum and the Business Session format and voting process.
2027 convention educational sessions. The subcommittee discussed possible topics for the Division III educational sessions for the 2027 convention. The subcommittee will issue a membership survey in April to solicit feedback about possible educational session topics.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
DIII Analysis Working Group, March 24 Purpose, charge, and timeline. The working group will have its inaugural meeting. The 19-member working group will review its purpose, the charge developed by the Presidents Council Futures Subcommittee and endorsed by the full council, and a timeline for its work.
Issues Forum executive summary. The working group will review and discuss the feedback received during the Division III Issues Forum held during the 2026 NCAA Convention. The executive summary identifies the unique qualities of being a Division III student-athlete as well as tension points within the division.
Deloitte consultants. The division has hired Deloitte to assist the working group. The working group members will provide feedback on the proposed process and make recommendations regarding stakeholder engagement.
Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, March 25 Meeting cadence. The committee will review a proposal to add a third videoconference to move to a quarterly meeting cadence (i.e., three videoconferences and one in-person meeting). If adopted, the meetings will align with the quarterly council meetings.
Division III analysis. The committee will discuss the recent steps taken by the Working Group in regard to the analysis.
FY27 and FY28 budget planning. The committee will review initial budget request for championships and the Enrichment Fund and forward it to the councils to discuss during their April meetings. The committee will make its final recommendations during its June videoconference and forward to the councils to approve during their summer meetings. The new two-year budget cycle starts Sept. 1.
Championships Committee, March 31 Championships ticketing review. The committee will receive an update on a review of championships ticket prices and provide feedback on a new model that establishes standard ticket prices for Management Council to review in April. The committee will take that feedback in total and look to act at an early summer meeting to implement changes to prices for 2026-27.
Championship budget initiatives. The committee will continue to evaluate budget requests for the upcoming budget cycle (FY27-FY28).
Coaches’ Connect Program. The committee will review a draft survey to be sent to first year participants to evaluate the program and how it can be built upon. The committee will look to make recommendations for the next sports to be added to the program during its May meeting.
Presidents Council Futures Subcommittee, April 2 Division III Analysis. The subcommittee will discuss the recent steps taken by the Working Group in regard to the analysis.
With every communication, we also anticipate additional questions. Please send all questions to DIIIGovernance@ncaa.org.
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.
