Playing rules structure. The committee recommended noncontroversial legislation to the Management Council to establish a new playing rules structure for Division III anticipating changes within Division I for the upcoming academic year.

2026 Division III men’s basketball championship. The committee supported the recommendation from the Division III Men’s Basketball Committee to ask the Division III Management Council for a waiver to permit alcohol sales at the 2026 Division III Men’s Basketball Championship game that will be conducted in conjunction with the Division I and II championship games.

Cross country. The committee approved the sport committee’s recommendation to grant a one-year exception so that the qualifying window for the 2025 Division III Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships begin nine weeks before the national championships instead of eight. Doing so allows the pre-nationals meet to count toward selection data while also allowing the sport committee to evaluate a year of selecting at-large teams to evaluate if a more permanent change to the qualifying window would be beneficial.

Joint session with Management Council. During the joint session, AMA staff presented beneficial education on the Transfer Portal before members engaged in a roundtable discussion about the topic.

Special Olympics. The meeting concluded with a Special Olympics activity involving 30 local Indiana Special Olympics athletes and members of the Management Council.

2025-26 strategic plan implementation. The council approved the recommendation from the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee to implement the 2025-26 strategic plan. The Presidents Council will take final action during its Aug. 4 videoconference.

Playing rules structure. The council approved noncontroversial legislation to establish a new playing rules committee structure for Division III, effective September 1. This new structure is needed if Division I adopts its new governance structure in August. Click here for details on the new structure.

1. Remove the exact dollar amounts and references to the value of awards from the award legislation.
2. Permit an institution to provide actual and necessary expenses for student-athletes to participate in one collegiate all-star contest or similar post-eligibility event.
3. Clarify that an institution may provide reasonable entertainment during the playing season, which can include professional sports tickets.
4. Require the use of the NCAA Transfer Portal. This proposal would not amend the current self-release process available to Division III student-athletes.
5. Create two National Collegiate Championship for the sports of Acrobatics and Tumbling and Stunt.

NOTE: With the new Division III legislative process, these proposals, as well as the membership sponsored proposals, are currently available for Division III’s first ever Comment Period. If you're interested in offering feedback, head into LSDBi between now and Sept. 1, 5 p. m. Eastern to submit your comments.

• Hover over the blue "Legislative Process" tab at the top of your screen. Then click "Comment Periods."
• Review the proposals by clicking the hyperlink for each. Once you click, you'll be able to see the title, intent and rationale for the proposal, as well as the initial sponsor (with contact info).
• To submit comments, click the blue "Add/Edit Comment" button.
  • Each institution or conference may only submit ONE comment, but that comment can be edited/adjusted as much as you like between now and September 1.
• Hit the "View Comments" to see what others in the membership are saying.

Fencing championship. The council adopted in final legislative form, non-controversial legislation that would divide the National Collegiate Fencing Championship into separate men’s and women’s championships. The women’s championship (sponsorship of 44) and men’s championship (sponsorship of 35) would be held at the same site and conducted concurrently.

2026 Division III men’s basketball championship. The council approved the request from the Championships Committee to permit alcohol sales at the 2026 Division III Men’s Basketball Championship game that will be conducted in conjunction with the Division I and II championship games.

Mental health. The council approved noncontroversial legislation incorporating the existing Mental Health Hardship Waiver pilot program criteria into Division III legislation. The council noted that mental health conditions are not treated or documented in the same manner as physical illnesses, so the criteria that were implemented during the Mental Health Pilot Program are a more appropriate standard for demonstrating a student-athlete who was unable to participate in athletics due to their mental health condition.

Chair and vice chair. The council elected Rob Larson, faculty athletics representative at Luther, as the next chair, and Crystal Gibson, director of athletics at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, as the vice chair. They will assume their council leadership positions with the close of the 2026 NCAA Convention.