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.
Convention Planning Subcommittee, June 26 Educational sessions. The subcommittee reviewed results and feedback from a Division III Convention Education Session membership survey and will forward education session concepts to Management Council for final approval.
Division III Congressional Advocates, June 27 Congressional engagement. The committee reviewed the feedback received from the Division III membership regarding its engagement with Congress. It also commended the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on its work in drafting and sending a letter to Congress. The Division III SAAC leadership also recently sent a template letter to all national SAAC members that outlines SAAC’s support of presidents and athletics directors’ outreach to federal legislators.
After a broad educational plan that involved sharing talking points and a feedback instrument, the NCAA is now engaging in more specific outreach to federal legislators. Even with the targeted outreach, it is important for member institutions to continue connecting with federal legislators to detail the issues facing the NCAA (e.g., NIL laws that vary state by state, classifying student-athletes as employees). If a federal bill is introduced, the NCAA will evaluate the merits of the bill and request the membership to speak to its benefits. The NCAA also is considering legislative changes to its bylaws if a federal bill fails to be introduced by the fall.
Presidents Council, June 27 Media rights update. The council received an update.
Congressional engagement. See Division III Congressional Advocates update.
Presidents Council Nominations Subcommittee, June 29 Vacancies. The subcommittee identified a president to fill an immediate vacancy in addition to identifying leadership (i.e., chair and vice-chair) for the council effective with the close of the 2024 NCAA Convention. The full Presidents Council will act on the recommendations during its early August videoconference.
Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, June 29-30 Medical hardship waiver. In response to NCAA Division III Proposal No. R-2023-3 (resolution – mental health hardship waiver), the committee continued its discussion on how a mental health hardship waiver should differ from the existing hardship waiver for a physical injury or illness. The committee believes it is important to maintain consistent legislative requirements for both waivers, including that participation cannot exceed one-third of the traditional playing season and all competition must occur prior to the conclusion of the first half of the traditional playing season. However, the committee acknowledged that documentation standards for a mental health hardship waiver should be different and recommend considering noncontemporaneous medical documentation from a licensed practitioner who is qualified to provide mental health services, that demonstrates that the onset or worsening of the student-athlete’s pre-diagnosed mental health condition occurred prior to the first half of the traditional playing season, and prevented the student-athlete from competing in more than one-third of the playing season. This recommendation will be sent to the Management Council for approval during its July meeting.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, July 15-16 Key agenda items. The committee will review the 2024 legislative proposals, continue its education of the Association’s engagement efforts with Congress, finalize its working groups for the upcoming academic year, provide feedback on the recommended mental health waiver (see Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement update), and hold a Special Olympics activity with local Special Olympic athletes and Management Council.
Management Council, July 17-18 Philosophy Statement. The councilwill review and forward a recommendation to the Presidents Council regarding the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee’s (SPFC) revised Division III Philosophy Statement. If endorsed, the Presidents Council may sponsor legislation for the 2024 NCAA Convention.
2023-24 strategic plan. The council will review and act on the SPFC’s recommended 2023-24 strategic priorities.
Mental health waiver. The council will review and act on the SAR recommendation. (see Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement update)
Association-wide committees. At the request of the NCAA Board of Governors, the council will consider sunsetting the Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct and the Olympic Sports Liaison Committee. Both committees have completed its charge and the work is now being performed by NCAA staff.
2024 legislative proposals. The council will review governance and membership sponsored proposals and assign review to additional governance committees, as needed, prior to taking a formal position on the membership proposals during its October meeting.
Athletic Trainer Working Group. The council will receive an update on the newly created working group and specifically its charge and timeline of proposed work.
Sportsmanship. In an effort to address the on-going concerns with sportsmanship and its impact on the officiating crisis, the council will engage in roundtable discussions regarding sportsmanship, and specifically the Division III Gameday the DIII Way resources.
Name, Image, and Likeness. The council will discuss elements that should be considered for any futures updates to the division’s current NIL legislation.
Sport Science Institute updates. The council will receive an update regarding that status of cannabinoids: possible elimination of testing at NCAA championships and removing it from list of banned substances, and potential changes to the NCAA Concussion Safety Protocol checklist.
Council leadership. The council will elect its leadership effective with the close of the 2024 NCAA Convention through the 2025 NCAA Convention.
Financial and Risk Management Working Group, July 19 Key agenda items. The working group will review its charge, evaluate the division’s current financial and organization standing (e.g., strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks) and evaluate the benefits of a third-party vendor review.
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.
