DIVISION III PRESIDENTS QUARTERLY UPDATE - NOVEMBER 2023
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR, CHANCELLOR JIM SCHMIDT
I am Jim Schmidt, the chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and chair of the Division III Presidents Council. I hope this quarterly update finds you and your campus well as the fall semester comes to a close. This newsletter contains updates from the NCAA Division III Presidents Council’s late October meeting. Our goal is to provide you with useful information as you plan for the NCAA Convention in January and engage with campus and conference colleagues.
THIRD PARTY REVIEW OF FINANCES
The council approved the hiring of an outside vendor to conduct a financial analysis of the division. The scope will include finding ways to strengthen overall financial performance, improving revenue growth, identifying financial priorities and threats, and providing recommendations. The Financial and Risk Management Working Group, which was created by the Presidents Council in January 2023, requested the review. A progress update will be provided at the NCAA Convention, and the working group anticipates a final report by Summer 2024. The council also noted a previously approved outside review of the division’s Enrichment Fund (i.e., non-championships) resources, initiatives, and programs.
CONVENTION – PROPOSALS AND SCHEDULE
The council welcomed the Presidents Advisory Group to the Oct. in-person meeting and collectively reviewed the 2024 Convention proposals. For a chart detailing the 2024 legislative proposals, including the proposal numbers and titles, intent, and rationale statements, click here.
After the conclusion of the council meetings, staff received two properly sponsored amendments to the Philosophy Statement proposal. The first amendment proposes adding “Primarily focus on intercollegiate athletics as a four-year undergraduate experience” to the proposal. The second amendment proposes adding “assure that financial aid is not awarded to any student on the basis of athletics leadership, ability, participation or performance.” During the Division III Business Session, the convention delegates will vote on each amendment and then vote on the Philosophy Statement either as originally proposed or amended.
In September, the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) showed support for removing cannabis from the Association’s banned drug list and testing protocols. The NCAA Board of Governors agreed with CSMAS that the divisional governance bodies should take the necessary legislative action to eliminate the cannabinoid class from the NCAA banned drug list, while simultaneously providing educational resources. The council discussed the topic and will continue to provide guidance to the Management Council that will act on this recommendation during its January meeting. Click here to learn more.
CHAMPIONSHIPS PER DIEM INCREASE
The council ratified the action taken by the Administrative Committee to increase championship per diem to $125 (with a $55 host per diem), effective immediately.
HARDSHIP WAIVER AND STUDENT-ATHLETE MENTAL HEALTH
The council noted the Management Council’s approval of a two-year blanket waiver (2023-24 and 2024-25) that will create greater flexibility with the documentation required for a student-athlete to receive a hardship waiver based on a mental health condition. Click here for more information.
ATHLETIC TRAINERS WORKING GROUP
The council received details on a recent survey sent to athletics directors and head athletic trainers to gather information to better assess the athletic training issues facing the division. The Athletic Training Working Group will be reviewing the survey results in the coming months as well as use the results as the foundation for a session at the Division III Issues Forum during the 2024 NCAA Convention.
BOARD OF GOVERNORS REPRESENTATITVE AND NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS
The council approved extending the term of President Mary-Beth Cooper, Springfield College, as Division III’s representative to the NCAA Board of Governors until January 2025. The council also approved the following four-year appointments to the Presidents Council, subject to ratification by the division’s presidents and chancellors, which will begin after the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Convention: Suzanne Davis, Greenville; Marisa Kelly, Suffolk; Carolyn Lepre, Salisbury; and Adam Weinberg, Denison.
CONCLUSION
It is my intent that the quarterly update provides the necessary and critical information to assist you in the oversight of Division III athletics on your campus. You can find a full recap of the October Presidents Council meeting here and the Summary of Actions, which highlights all recent council actions. As always, I welcome any comments or questions.
This email was sent to NCAA Division III presidents and chancellors;conference commissioners and athletics direct reports based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
