(1) Recommendation. Sponsor noncontroversial legislation to amend various references in Constitution 3 to make legislation consistent with the current practice relating to Division III membership issues. The revisions would clarify that the Division III Management Council, on recommendation of the Division III Membership Committee, may act in accordance with the specific membership legislation.

(2) Rationale. The legislation contained in these bylaws is not consistent with the current practice of membership-related issues. All Division III membership-related issues are first reviewed by the Membership Committee, which makes the appropriate recommendation to the Management Council. These revisions will more clearly reflect this process.

(1) Recommendation. Sponsor noncontroversial legislation to modify Constitution 3.2.4.10.1 to indicate that for a multi-season sport to be considered a winter sport, the majority of contests must occur from December through March.

(2) Rationale. The committee noted that Constitution 3.2.4.10.1 refers to spring and fall sports but does not reference winter sports. This change is consistent with similar legislation adopted in NCAA Division II and will more clearly set forth if a multi-season sport can be considered a winter sport.

(1) Recommendation. Sponsor noncontroversial legislation to require institutions reclassifying to Division III from NCAA Divisions I or II to complete and submit an annual report by June 15 each year during the reclassification process similar to schools in the provisional membership process.

(2) Rationale. The committee noted schools reclassifying into Division III currently do not have to submit an annual report during the reclassification process. Rather, at the end of the current process, each school must document that it has

adhered to the applicable legislation during the reclassification process. This new report will provide greater oversight of the reclassification process.

(1) Recommendation. Sponsor noncontroversial legislation to require institutions reclassifying into Division III to administer the NCAA Division III Rules Test to coaching staff members by the end of year two of the reclassification process.

(2) Rationale. The committee noted that coaches of schools reclassifying into Division III may not be aware of Division III regulations. This requirement would enhance greatly the knowledge of coaches at reclassifying schools. The same requirement has been recommended for provisional members.

(1) Recommendation. Sponsor legislation to create a three-year waiver opportunity of compliance with sports-sponsorship requirements for an institution that is transitioning from single-gender to coeducational status. The waiver must be requested prior to the transition and must include a detailed action plan outlining the steps that will be taken to ensure compliance with sports sponsorship requirements at the end of the three-year period.

(2) Rationale. Current legislation requires an institution transitioning from single gender to coeducational status to meet all sport-sponsorship requirements once the institution begins accepting both male and female students, unless the institution is granted a waiver of these requirements in accordance with Constitution 3.2.4.10.5. This recommendation would provide a three-year exception, if a waiver is awarded, to the current legislation.

(1) Recommendation. Approve a waiver of the requirement for completing the Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG) for Westminster College provided the institution completes the ISSG during its second year of the reclassification process.

(2) Rationale. Westminster currently is in its second year of the three-year reclassification process from Division II. The committee noted that the institution did not complete the ISSG in its first year of the reclassification process due to miscommunication with the NCAA national office.

(1) Recommendation. Approve a waiver for Elms until August 1, 2002, in accordance with Constitution 3.2.4.10.5 of the five-sport/three-season requirement based on the low male/female enrollment ratio.

(2) Rationale. Elms recently transitioned from a single gender to coeducational collegiate institution. During the 2000-01 academic year, only 66 male students are enrolled, 35 of which participate in athletics. The committee noted the high participation rate of male student-athletes during its discussion. This waiver would give Elms until the 2002-03 academic year to meet the five-sport/three-season requirement.

(1) Recommendation. Approve a waiver until August 1, 2003 in accordance with NCAA Bylaw 20.11.3.1.1 to permit the institution to count women's sailing towards meeting the five-sport/three-season requirement.

(2) Rationale. Maine Maritime currently has four sports for women – cross-country, soccer, basketball and softball. The committee noted that 51 percent of all female students participate in intercollegiate athletics. This waiver would permit women's sailing to be counted as Maine Maritime's fifth sport for women until August 1, 2003.

(1) Recommendation. Approve a waiver until August 1, 2003 in accordance with Constitution 3.2.4.10.6 and Bylaw 20.11.3.1.1 to waive the one-sport each season requirement for each gender and permit the sport of women's sailing to be counted toward meeting the five-sport/three-season requirement.

(2) Rationale. Massachusetts Maritime currently sponsors four sports for women – cross-country, rowing, softball and volleyball- but does not sponsor a winter sport due to its unique academic calendar. During the winter months, every student must complete 180 days at sea. This sea-term begins in mid-December and ends in early March. This waiver would permit the institution to count sailing as its fifth winter sport and waive the winter sport requirement for both genders.

(1) Recommendation. Approve a waiver for 2000-01 in accordance with Bylaw 20.11.3.1.1 to permit the institution to count women's judo as a winter sport for women towards meeting the one-sport each season requirement.

(2) Rationale. Polytechnic currently sponsors three sports for women – cross-country, tennis and volleyball – but does not sponsor a winter sport for women. The committee noted that the institution had received similar waivers in previous years. The committee noted that the institution plans to be in full compliance with the upcoming five-sport/three-season requirement and that future waiver requests would not be granted.

(1) Recommendation. Approve editorial revisions to Constitutions 3.02.3.2 and 3.6.1.1.1 and Bylaw 20.2.2 to indicate that provisional membership shall not be less than four years in length.

(2) Rationale. The committee has made similar recommendations in the past. The committee believes that this will be the final recommendation related to the length of provisional membership for current provisional members and that these references in the NCAA Division III Manual were not found in previous searches.

(1) Recommendation. Approve the following series of recommendations related to provisional membership, to be effective with the termination of the current membership moratorium:

(2) Rationale. The committee agreed that these recommendations would solidify the provisional membership process. In addition, these requirements will require institutions to make a firm commitment to two founding principles of Division III active membership – sports sponsorship and financial aid requirements. The committee also agreed that these recommendations will help address issues of membership growth. [Please see Attachment A for more detail on the revised provisional membership process.]