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.
Financial and Risk Management Working Group, Jan. 9 Third-party review. The working group discussed the process it used to select Deloitte to conduct a financial analysis of the division. It also discussed the anticipated review timeline and next steps.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Jan. 9-10 2024 legislative proposals. During the Division III Business Session, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee chair submitted SAAC’s first-ever votes during the legislative session.
SAAC subcommittee priorities. The committee discussed ways to advance its three subcommittees: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ); Mental and Physical Health; and Special Olympics.
Special Olympics activity. Division III student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes participated in a Special Olympics Unified Sports activity at the NCAA Convention. This year's activity included various sports and games, including Spikeball, Jenga and cornhole. Click here for a recap.
Management Council, Jan. 10 Men’s ice hockey. The council approved funds to expand the Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship bracket from 12 to 13 teams effective with the 2024 championship.
Cannabinoids. The council approved, in concept, as noncontroversial legislation a recommendation from the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports to remove cannabinoids from the list of NCAA banned drug classes. The council stressed the importance of the Sport Science Institute developing and distributing educational materials to the membership.
Presidents Council, Jan. 11 Division III membership dues assessment. The council approved a recommendation from the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee to pause the membership dues assessment (i.e., the amount above the annual membership dues set by the Board of Governors) for FY25 and FY26.
ESPN broadcast agreement. The council ratified the Administrative Committee’s action to approve annual spend to produce the Division III women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball semifinals and championship games to be digitally broadcasted on ESPN+ as part of the NCAA’s new broadcast agreement.
NCAA Convention, Jan. 11-13 Click here for a recap of the 2024 legislative proposal voting and here for the 2024 Convention resource webpage that includes the final voting grid and roll call vote report.
Inclusive Leaders Program.Division III held its inaugural Inclusive Leaders Facilitator training. Division III conferences and institutions can request a two-hour workshop with a trained facilitator. For information about hosting an Inclusive Leaders Program, click here.
The Division III Inclusive Leaders Program has the following objectives for program participants:
To identify strategies and best practices for institutions, and specifically head coaches and athletics department staff and administrators, to enhance their recruitment and retention of students of color.
To recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in college athletics, learn common terms, definitions, and concepts and hear the often-unheard voices of student-athletes of color.
To understand the involvement of the NCAA and Division III membership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and more specifically, build racial equity knowledge.
The Division III Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, in collaboration with Return On Inclusion, a sport-specific diversity and inclusion consultancy and credentialing program, have developed the Division III Inclusive Leaders Program.
LGBTQ of the Year. The 2023 Division III LGBTQ of the Year recipients are Anna Slominski, a swimming and diving student-athlete at Illinois Institute of Technology; Danielle O'Leary, associate director of athletics at William Peace; and Oberlin. They were honored at the NCAA Convention. Developed by the Division III LGBTQIA+ Working Group, the program recognizes, honors and celebrates the academic achievements, athletics excellence, service and leadership of LGBTQ student-athletes; the service, leadership and promotion of LGBTQ inclusion by an LGBTQ athletics administrator, coach or staff; and an athletics department or conference that has demonstrated proactive efforts to create and sustain an LGBTQ-inclusive culture. Click here for a recap.
Upcoming Meetings and Anticipated Discussions.
New Commissioner Orientation, Jan. 30. The new Division III commissioners will travel to Indianapolis for a full day of orientation training.
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 commissioners, directors of athletics and the NADIIIAA executive board based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
