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.
Presidents Council, Aug. 4 Championships per diem. The council gave final approval to a recommendation to increase the championships per diem. This action increases the per diem provided to those participating in the NCAA Division III championships to $150 for the traveling team and $60 for the host for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.
2025-26 strategic plan implementation. The council approved the implementation strategy for year two of the division’s strategic plan that aligns with year two of the budget biennium. It also noted that 2025-26 will be a budget planning year to create the next budget biennium (2026-28).
Future priorities. The council received an update from the council’s Futures Subcommittee and discussed the following identified strategic priorities.
Future financial reviews and stability: The council discussed the recent House injunction, and any potential impacts on Division III. It also highlighted the steps taken by the division over the past two years to monitor its finances and potential risks.
Congressional engagement: Understanding the House injunction doesn’t address student-athlete employment and legal threats; the council recommends Congressional engagement remain a focus for the division.
Division III membership stability: The council discussed the division’s diverse membership. It noted existing pressures on institutions to meet NCAA minimum standards as well as recent conference realignments that are fulfilling conference needs but simultaneously growing conference footprints and straining institutional budgets.
Branding and marketing: Branding continues to be a priority for the membership. While there are resources for the membership to highlight the division’s priorities, the division also found success in live streaming all team championships this past year.
NCAA Purchasing Cooperative: Currently, there is low use of the NCAA purchasing cooperative that provides discounts for athletic training supplies (e.g., tape, braces), fitness center equipment and field construction. It was noted that there are efforts to expand the cooperative to include other items (e.g., balls and uniforms). The council expressed its support for these items to be included in the current cooperative.
Chair and vice chair. The council elected Marc Camille, Albertus Magnus, the council’s current vice-chair, to chair, and elected Suzanne Davis, Greenville as vice-chair. They will assume their council leadership positions with the close of the 2026 NCAA Convention.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
Championships Committee, August 19. Championship bench size. The committee will review the current championships bench limits and consider recommendations from sport committees for potential implementation effective for the 2025-26 championships.
Sport committee reports. The committee will receive several sport committee reports including a request to expand brackets, due to sponsorship growth, for women’s ice hockey and men’s volleyball.
Membership Committee, August 21 Waiver requests. The committee will consider three minimum sports sponsorship and two Regional Rules Seminar attendance requirement waiver requests.
Membership requirements. The committee will continue a discussion on the bylaws and policies related to Division III membership requirements.
Reminders.
Division III Governance and Sport Committees Vacancies. Listed in this document are immediate and January 2026 vacancies. The deadline to complete a nomination is Monday, Aug. 18. The nomination site can be found here.
NCAA Fan Database. Sign up to receive emails about ticket offers, live streaming, and much more for all NCAA Championships by entering your information in the NCAA Championship Preference Center. Please also share the link with institutional colleagues, student-athletes, parents, and fans. All Division III championship live streams are promoted through the Fan Database.
Annual List of Required Forms. Click here for a chart that details the Division III annual required forms and actions for institutions and click here for a resource for conference offices that details the 2024-25 annual list of required forms.
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 Presidents Council, Management Council, commissioners, directors of athletics and the NADIIIAA executive board based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
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