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.
Management Council, April 13-14 Name, Image and Likeness. The council is recommending the Presidents Council approve an approach to review NIL activities in Division III, as required with the adoption of Proposal 2026-3 at the 2026 NCAA Convention. The proposed framework provides the goals, structure, and time-line for completing a review. The recommended structure does not preclude the review from adding new goals or presenting deliverables on an accelerated timeline. The Presidents Council will act during its April 29 meeting.
Pilot eligibility waiver program. The council approved a recommendation from the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief to extend the program that permits Division III student-athletes to continue to represent their institution in intercollegiate competition while enrolled at another institution with a formal academic agreement with the Division III institution that does not sponsor varsity athletics. To date, the committee has processed five waivers under the pilot. Extending the program allows for additional data collection to better understand the types of academic relationships that exist and the number of student-athletes that could benefit from the pilot.
Division III analysis. The council received an update on the Division III analysis. This included an update from the first meeting of the 19-member working group charged with analyzing tension points identified by the membership to ensure Division III continues to operate efficiently and effectively to meet the evolving needs of student-athletes and member schools and conferences. The council also held a closed session with representatives from Deloitte, the consultants retained by the Presidents Council to support the working group.
Championships ticket review. The council received an update and provided feedback on proposed changes to Division III championships ticket prices for preliminary rounds in select team sports. The Division III Championships Committee indicated, and the council concurred, that there is support for a model that would standardize ticket prices. The Championships Committee will review the council's feedback and look to act at an early summer meeting to implement changes for 2026-27.
Nominating Committee. The council approved the following changes to the Nominating Committee’s policies:
Remove the restriction on individuals serving on only one committee at a time.
Begin soliciting feedback on nominees from conference commissioners.
Remove preference for regional advisory committee experience for sport committees that no longer have RACs.
The council also discussed a concept that would remove the current legislative restriction (Bylaw 21.9.1.3) that precludes a conference from being immediately eligible to serve on a committee. As part of its discussion, the council received feedback from the Championships Committee on this concept.
Noncontroversial legislation. The council approved, in concept, three noncontroversial proposals.
Amend the preseason practice start date and first date of competition for men’s water polo.
Increase the size of the manufacturer's logo on uniforms to four square inches.
Allow individuals who take over a departing member’s term on a committee who are from the same conference to be eligible for reappointment if they have served for less than two years.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, April 14 Division III analysis. The committee received an update on the status of the Division III Analysis and met with the consultants supporting the working group in a closed session.
NCAA Board of Governors – Division III graduated student-athlete representative. The committee reviewed and voted to advance a recommendation to the Presidents Council to be the Division III Graduated Student‑Athlete Representative to the NCAA Board of Governors. The new representative will start their term in August if approved by Presidents Council during its April 29 meeting.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
Division III Analysis Working Group, April 20 Stakeholder insights and high-level data analysis. The consultants will align the working group on the meeting goals; present synthesized stakeholder interview insights and data research aligned to the six core tensions. They also will elicit group insights on the current state of the six core tensions to build shared understanding.
Small group discussions. The working group will engage in small group discussions to analyze one to two core tensions and identify impacted segments, degree of impact, and root causes through a guided impact analysis exercise.
Next steps and strategies. The working group will develop action steps as it continues its analysis of the identified core tensions.
Presidents Council, April 29 BOG student-athlete graduated representative. The council will act on the recommendation from national SAAC regarding the Division III graduated student-athlete representative to the Board of Governors. The new representative will begin their two-year term in Aug. 2026.
Division III analysis. The council will receive an update on the working group’s analysis and engage with the consultants assisting with the work.
Campus senior leadership initiative. The council will consider implementing a new initiative to increase engagement and education with campus senior leaders (i.e., presidents, chancellors, and athletics direct reports).
With every communication, we also anticipate additional questions. Please send all questions to DIIIGovernance@ncaa.org.
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.
