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.

Nominating Committee, July 13
Committee vacancies. The committee forwarded several committee nominations to the Management Council for final approval. 

National Collegiate Sport Committee. The committee reviewed, provided feedback, and supported a new concept developed by a cross-divisional group created to review the current composition standards and duties for the National Collegiate championships. The concept would permit National Collegiate committees to recommend divisional appointments, subject to approval by the divisional championships committees. The committee noted that this change would streamline the nomination process for National Collegiate committees and permit subject matter experts to make the recommendations, while retaining Championships Committee approval of Division III representatives. At a future meeting, the committee will receive an update on implementation.

Membership Committee, July 16 
Athletics program assessments. The committee  accepted the athletics program assessments from three institutions currently on probation for failure to meet Division III sports sponsorship minimums. 

Sports sponsorship waiver requests. The committee considered requests from two institutions to waive sports sponsorship requirements for the 2025-26 academic year. One was approved and the other denied.

Presidents Council Futures Subcommittee, July 17
Division III Analysis. The subcommittee received an update and engaged in discussion regarding the efforts of the Division III Analysis Working Group. The subcommittee noted the options, timeline and structure was well organized and helpful. The subcommittee supported a broader review of the two options recommended to Presidents Council (i.e., Model 2035 membership and Presidents Council chair term extension).

Campus senior leaders initiative. The subcommittee is recommending that the Presidents Council support a new initiative to better engage and educate campus senior leaders (i.e., presidents/chancellors and Athletics Direct Reports). The initiative provides virtual and in-person opportunities to meet with campus senior leaders throughout the academic year. The Presidents Council will act during its August meeting and if approved, it will become effective Sept. 1.

Joint presidential session. The subcommittee reviewed the identified higher education trends and roundtable questions for the joint presidents meeting (i.e., Presidents Council and PAG) occurring in Oct. with Division II presidential leadership. 

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, July 18-19
Key items. The committee received updates on key legal and congressional developments impacting college athletics, including discussions around the Protect College Sports Act and advocacy efforts related to the Division III student-athlete experience. The committee also reviewed findings from the NCAA GOALS Study, focusing on student-athlete time demands, academic experiences, identity development, and transfer trends. Additionally, SAAC launched new subcommittees and working groups to enhance student-athlete engagement, strengthen campus and conference SAAC resources, and support future Division III initiatives. The committee also heard updates on the DIII Analysis Working Group and got a first look at the legislative proposals for the 2027 NCAA Convention.

Joint session with Management Council. During the joint session, AMA staff presented beneficial education on Name, Image and Likeness and Commercial Logos before members engaged in a roundtable discussion about the topics.

Special Olympics. The meeting concluded with a Special Olympics activity involving local Indiana Special Olympics athletes at the NCAA Hall of Champions.

Management Council, July 20-21
FY27 and FY28 budget. The council approved the recommended FY27 and FY28 budget for the division. The Presidents Council will review and take final action on the budget at its August meeting. If approved, the new budget will begin on Sept. 1.

Interpretations and Legislation Committee. The council issued an official interpretation that clarifies how Division III will evaluate the eligibility of a student-athlete who transfers from a division or association that does not recognize the use of a season. The council also approved a modification of wording that clarifies that an individual may enter and/or be drafted by a professional league before initial full-time collegiate enrollment without jeopardizing their eligibility.

Noncontroversial legislation. The council approved, in concept, the following noncontroversial legislation. The council will review these proposals at its October meeting to adopt in final form. At that point, they will be effective.

• Amend the legislation regarding the composition of the National Collegiate Championship committees.
• Amend the amateurism legislation to permit individuals before initial, full-time enrollment in team sports to accept prize money beyond their actual and necessary expenses and to permit all individuals to accept any prize money from the sponsor of the event.
• To allow the NCAA Division III Presidents Council to create a consent agenda at its annual NCAA Convention meeting for use at the Division III Business Session, when appropriate.
• Permit conferences to be immediately eligible for representation on committees.
• Permit student-athletes to practice while a hardship waiver appeal is pending with NCAA staff.
• To increase the Division III Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement from six to 10 members.
• To eliminate the NCAA Awards Committee.

The Council did approve in final legislative form a noncontroversial proposal to allow the Division III Championships Committee to have final approval on the slate of nominees for Division III sport and playing rules committees. This proposal is now effective.

2027 Convention legislation. The council sponsored the following proposals for the 2027 convention:

• To permit individuals to enter into an agreement with an agent for the purpose of identifying or securing playing opportunities and receive benefits before their initial, full-time collegiate enrollment.
• Add women’s flag football as an NCAA national collegiate championship and establish a women’s flag football committee.

Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. The council approved the following changes to the committee’s policies: 

• Revise outdated language.
• Amend existing sports wagering guidelines that would allow penalty reductions, provided it is the student-athlete’s first violation, the violation does not involve integrity concerns, and the student-athlete engages in appropriate clinical evaluation or support.

Election of officers. The council elected Kristie Bowers, athletics director, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as the chair, and Patrick Summers, commissioner, New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference, as the vice chair. Their terms will begin after the 2027 NCAA convention. The council also elected Kristie to serve as the council’s vice chair for the remainder of 2026, effective immediately.

Commercial logos on uniforms. The council decided that allowing commercial logos on uniforms should be an issue addressed by the membership and that the governance structure will not continue to review this as a concept for future convention legislation. 

DIII Analysis. The council endorsed the recommendations from the Division III Analysis working group to refer potential options to address tensions identified by the Division III membership. The council also provided recommended changes to the timing and priority of several of the options.

Athletic Trainer Connect Program. The council supported the continued consideration and development of a connect program for Division III athletic trainers. The staff will conduct an outreach to the membership to gain feedback on the concept. The council will revisit the concept at its October meeting.

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Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions. 

Joint Legislative Steering Subcommittee, July 27
Orientation. Consistent with the approach established last year, this meeting will serve as an orientation for the subcommittee. The subcommittee will review their role (e.g., make recommendations regarding which proposals need to be reviewed and considered by the Presidents Council). The subcommittee also will have an initial review and discussion of the 2027 convention proposals. After its Oct. meeting, when it has an opportunity to review the fully sponsored membership proposals, the subcommittee will make its recommendations to Presidents Council to discuss at its late October meeting.

NIL Working Group, July 28
Exploring the landscape. The working group will hear updates from Division I and Division II to develop an understanding of what each division is discussing and potentially moving towards in the NIL space. Additionally, representatives of the Office of Legal Affairs will provide insight into what the working group should be mindful of moving forward.

Soliciting feedback. The working group will develop questions in order to survey student-athletes, coaches and administrators on the scope of NIL opportunities in Division III.

Presidents Council, Aug. 3
FY27 and FY28 budget. The council will review and be asked to approve the recommended FY27 and FY28 budget for the division.

DIII Analysis. The council will review recommendations from the Division III Analysis working group regarding the referral of potential options to address tensions identified by the Division III membership. The council also will direct the working group’s efforts over the months leading up to the 2027 NCAA Convention.

Strategic discussions. The council will discuss key issues facing the division, some captured in the DIII Analysis as well as discussed by the council’s Futures Subcommittee and provided by President Baker and strategically outline potential future discussions and actions to move the division forward.

Congressional engagement. The council will discuss recent efforts to engage federal legislators regarding the Protect College Sports Act. 

Joint presidential session. The council will receive an update (e.g., proposed agenda, needed research/data, identified higher education trends, and potential roundtable questions) on the joint presidents meeting (i.e., Presidents Council and PAG) occurring in Oct. with Division II presidential leadership. 

Election of officers. The council will elect a chair and vice chair effective with the close of the 2027 NCAA Convention.

DIII Analysis Working Group, August 5
Tension options. Pending approval by the Presidents Council, the working group will begin to share identified options with select Division III governance committees and the membership to mitigate core tensions identified by the membership. It also will continue to study several options that focus on creating financial resources (e.g., peer benchmarking), eligibility rules, broad playing season structures, membership segmentation, and governance strategic planning.

Case studies. The working group will continue to review and update case studies provided by the consultant that outline research, data, and implications with broad-based fundamental change concepts such as membership segmentation, eligibility standards and Name, Image, and Likeness.

Strategic planning. The working group will review the options and case studies to identify connections and opportunities that advance the division’s strategic vision of strengthening its core values and enhancing the student-athlete experience.

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Reminders. 

2027 convention legislative proposals – comment period. Eight of the nine membership proposals submitted by the July 1 deadline have reached the threshold to receive the benefit of the public comment period in LSDBi. During the comment period (ends September 1), institutions and conferences can publicly offer feedback on items in the legislative cycle. Each conference and institution is limited to one comment per proposal, but that comment does not have a length limit, and it can be updated/edited at any time before September 1.

2026-27 NCAA compliance forms. The 2026-27 NCAA Compliance Forms are now available in the NCAA Compliance Forms application, which is available via NCAA My Apps. PDF versions of the forms are available via the Compliance Forms and Reporting section of each divisions Legislation and Policy page at www.ncaa.org. Please note that the 2026-27 Division III Self-Release Form will be posted on August 1, when the Division III rules transition from permission to contact to notification of transfer. Questions about the Compliance Forms application may be emailed to forms@ncaa.org.