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.

Division III Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, Sept. 18
Diversity recruiting and retention train the trainer program. The working group received an update from the consultants regarding the new two-hour facilitation program to assist institutions with recruiting and retention of students of color. The first facilitator training will be held Jan. 9-10 in Phoenix. Any full-time employee in Division III athletics (institution or conference office) who would like to facilitate a future Inclusive Leaders program on their campus should apply in Program Hub. The application is titled “Division III Inclusive Leader Facilitator Program” and is available until Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. Eastern time. Thirty (30) participants will be selected to participate in the training.

Interpretations and Legislation Committee, Sept. 18-19 and Oct. 5.
Name, image, and likeness. The committee continued its discussion regarding the impact of NIL for Division III student-athletes and campuses and discuss progress of potential NIL proposals at the Division I level.

Bylaw 16 review. The committee started its review of Bylaw 16.

2024 Convention legislation. The committee is reviewing the 2024 Convention proposals (four in total) and  developing the question-and-answer document.

Permission to contact NAIA student-athletes. The committee is recommending Management Council adopt noncontroversial legislation to change current legislation to no longer require Division III institutions to receive permission to contact an NAIA student-athlete. The committee’s recommendation is based on efforts to reduce administrative burdens and the recent changes in NAIA legislation that no longer requires the reciprocal permission to recruit NCAA student-athletes. The council will review during its October meeting.

Division III legislative process review. The committee discussed potential changes to the legislative process including a comment period, sponsorship, and amendment flexibility. It will seek further feedback and anticipates making a recommendation to the Management Council this spring.

Division III LGBTQIA+ Working Group, Oct. 2
Communications resource. The working group reviewed the recently released resource that provides LGBTQ+ inclusive communications practices and templates specific to athletics communication departments and noted its positive reception.

LGBTQ of the Year. The working group discussed ways to promote this year’s LGBTQ of the Year Award celebration occurring at the 2024 NCAA Convention on Thursday, Jan. 11, 6:45 to 8 p.m. local time

Management Council, Oct. 16-17
Mental health hardship waiver. The council will consider a recommendation from the Division III Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement to approve a two-year pilot (2023-24 and 2024-25) to permit contemporaneous or noncontemporaneous medical documentation to support the request for a hardship waiver based on a student-athlete’s mental health. Information gathered during the two-year pilot will be evaluated to determine any future legislative changes.

Cannabinoids. The council will begin to discuss a recommendation from the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport for the divisions to consider a legislative proposal to remove cannabinoids from the list of NCAA banned drug classes. Any possible action by the council is expected at a future meeting.

Committee on Women’s Athletics. The council will receive an update regarding the committee’s discussion of the status of a national collegiate championship for the sport of women’s wrestling. No recommendation will be made at this meeting.

Convention legislation. The council will review the 2024 convention legislation and will develop its position on the membership sponsored proposal.

Officiating and sportsmanship. The council will receive an update regarding the ongoing efforts to address the declining pool of officials. The council also will engage in a review and discussion of a strategic plan to help address concerns with sportsmanship.

Eligibility Center. The council will receive updates from the NCAA Eligibility Center about the amateurism certification process for international prospective student-athletes.

Membership Committee, Oct. 19
Sports sponsorship waivers. The committee will consider two sports sponsorship waiver requests.

Campus visits. Representatives from the committee and staff liaisons have conducted visits to two institutions in the New Member Process. Carlow University is in the first year of the Provisional Membership process. Penn State University – Brandywine is in the Exploratory Year.

 

With every communication, we also anticipate additional questions. Please send all questions to DIIIGovernance@ncaa.org. Thank you for your continued collaboration and leadership.