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.

Championships Committee, April 15
Regional Advisory Committees. The committee discussed the role of regional advisory committees in relation to NPI and the regional rankings process. The committee agreed that, for now, RACs should continue, as they provide a valuable communication conduit and serve as an informative feedback resource for sport committees.

Championships participation. The committee reviewed a historical summary of the Division III membership’s participation in championships for the last two years (Sept. 2022 to June 2024). The data indicates that approximately 80% of Division III institutions have sent a team or individual student-athlete(s) to compete in NCAA Division III championships annually, which resembles the percentage recorded during the past decade.

2026 women’s lacrosse championship. The committee approved Rochester Institute of Technology as the host site for the joint 2026 Division II and Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship.

Management Council, April 16-17
Host live stream stipend for football championship. The council provided initial approval of a request from SPFC to increase the live stream stipend for preliminary round hosts of Division III football championship to $2,000 beginning next fall. Presidents Council will consider the request at its April 23 meeting.

Eligibility pilot program. The council approved a recommendation from the Membership Committee to create a pilot program that will permit, pursuant to specific criteria, a Division III student-athlete to continue to participate while not enrolled at the Division III institution. Subject to final Presidents Council approval, the pilot program will be effective starting with the 2025-26 academic year. After the conclusion of the Presidents Council meeting on April 23, the pilot program details, including the process for submitting requests for student-athletes, will be emailed directly to key campus constituents with a copy to conference offices.

Coaches Connect Program. The council approved a recommendation from the Championship Committee to begin a Coaches Connect Program in 2025-26 with one sport per season. At the end of the year, the program will be evaluated to determine if additional sports should be added in 2026-27. The program’s objective is to foster improved communication with coaches.

Legislative recommendations. The council approved the following legislative recommendations:

Non-controversial proposals, adopted in concept.

Modernize Bylaw 16 and reduce the burden on member campuses.
- Align current bylaws and clarify that a student-athlete may receive expenses to attend and receive an award from a local civic organization.
- Consolidate the areas of permissible programming expenses.
- Allow for meals for all student-athletes during a vacation period or missed practice (as opposed to just those on a meal plan).
- Occasional meals would only be subject to institutional policy.
- Issuance of non-athletics apparel would only be subject to institutional policy.
- Retention of athletics apparel and equipment would only be subject to institutional policy.
Permit institutions and conferences to pursue partnerships/sponsorships with professional sports organizations.
Major Junior ice hockey participation is subject to the same standard as all other pre-enrollment participation.
Deregulate the prohibition on betting on professional sports.

2026 Convention legislation.

Permit institutions to provide expenses for practice sessions at any location, provided the student-athlete is eligible and does not miss class.
Add women’s flag football as an emerging sport.

Playing rules. The council approved a process to implement the legislation adopted by the membership at the 2025 convention that permits the council to exempt Division III from a newly adopted playing rule.

Diversity grant. The council ratified an action by the Administrative Committee to rename the Division III Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant to the Pathway for Excellence Grant. During its review of the division’s Enrichment Fund in the spring of 2024, Lewis Rice recommended a name change to better reflect the grant’s purpose. The Division III Grant Selection Committee recommended the name change.

Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.

Presidents Council, April 23
Host stipend for football championship. The council will act on a request from SPFC to approve an increase of the host live stream stipend for Division III football championship preliminary rounds. [See Management Council update]

Eligibility pilot program. The council will consider a recommendation from the Management Council to create a pilot program. [See Management Council update]

Strategic priorities. The council will discuss the division’s strategic priorities and potential actions within the current higher education and athletics landscape. The council also will provide feedback on a new membership resource that provides a summary of how the membership defines the student-athlete experience (collegiate and athletic) and the strategies and initiatives that directly target Division III student-athletes.

NCAA Purchasing Cooperative Program. The council will receive an update on the NCAA collective purchasing partnership with E&I to better understand potential savings for participating institutions. Over 95% of NCAA institutions are enrolled with E&I for free, with no contract commitment required. Learn more about the program:

Connect with your institution’s procurement office to explore athletics contracts and use E&I’s online resources via EdPro Hub for insights and collaboration. You also can contact Melek Ucar for spending analyses on athletic training supplies or fitness equipment, or click here to learn more information.

Resources.

Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy Update. The participation policy for transgender student-athletes adopted by the Board of Governors and effective February 6, 2025, prohibits individuals assigned male at birth from competing on women's teams.

Additional guidance pertaining to noncompliance was recently added to the policy page.
Any previous policies that permitted mixed team competition against a women’s team are now void.

If you have additional questions, please submit your questions via RSRO.

Mental Health First Aid Program. Division III is excited to engage National Council for Mental Wellbeing to fund Division III athletic trainers and head coaches to receive adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to support the mental well-being of student-athletes throughout the division. Institutions will be eligible to receive one fully funded training during the program, which is in effect until Aug. 1, 2027.

To learn more about the program, click here and to schedule a fully funded Adult MHFA training for your NCAA Division III institution, athletics directors or athletic trainers should visit https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ncaa/ to complete an inquiry form.

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.