SUPPLEMENT NO. 14

REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

1. ACTION ITEMS.

a. Provisional Member Annual Reports – Active Membership.

(1) Recommendation. Grant active membership status:

(a) East Texas Baptist University.

(b) Lesley University.

(2) Rationale. On its review of the aforementioned institutions' annual reports, the committee agreed that each institution had conducted its athletics program in full compliance with NCAA regulations and should be granted active membership.

b. Provisional Member Annual Reports – Final Year of Provisional Membership.

(1) Recommendation. Move the following institutions into their final year of provisional membership:

(a) Bay Path College.

(b) Becker College.

(d) Husson College.

(e) LeTourneau University.

(f) Medaille College.

(g) Mount Ida College.

(h) Peace College.

(i) Pennsylvania State University, Altoona.

(j) Philadelphia Biblical University.

(k) University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg.

(l) University of Texas at Dallas.

(m) Schreiner University [Note: Schreiner is in the "old" three-year provisional cycle. The institution is eligible for active membership beginning with the 2002-03 academic year.].

(n) State University of New York at Farmingdale.

(2) Rationale. On its review of the aforementioned institutions' annual reports, the committee agreed that each institution should be moved forward into its final year of provisional membership.

c. Provisional Member Annual Reports – Third Year of Provisional Membership.

(1) Recommendation. Move the following institutions into their third year of provisional membership:

(a) Huntingdon College.

(b) LaGrange College.

(d) Newbury College.

(e) New York City Technical College.

(f) Northland College.

(g) Piedmont College.

(h) Thomas College.

(2) Rationale. Based on its review of the aforementioned institutions' annual reports, the committee agreed that each institution should be moved forward into their third year of provisional membership.

d. Provisional Member Annual Reports – Second Year of Provisional Membership.

(1) Recommendation. Move the following institutions into their second year of provisional membership:

(a) Alverno College.

(b) Transylvania University.

(2) Rationale. On its review of the aforementioned institutions' annual reports, the committee agreed that each institution should be moved into their second year of provisional membership.

e. Baptist Bible College.

(1) Recommendation. That Baptist Bible College repeat year three of the provisional membership process.

(2) Rationale. Baptist Bible College was not in compliance with all Division III legislation during the 2000-01 academic year. Full compliance is required by the provisional membership process, inasmuch as the institution is in its third year of provisional membership. The institution exceeded the permissible number of contests in the sport of men’s soccer. The institution participated in the National Christian College Athletic Association regional and national soccer championships. The regional championship contests were played prior to the end of the institution’s regular season. Thus, such contests are not exempt from counting against the maximum number of contests. Accordingly, the institution’s men’s soccer team participated in 22 contests, two above the maximum number.

f. D’Youville College.

(1) Recommendation. Require D’Youville College repeat year three of the provisional membership process.

(2) Rationale. D’Youville College was not in compliance with all Division III legislation as is required by the provisional membership process. The institution permitted an ineligible student-athlete to compete in intercollegiate competition. Specifically, the institution permitted a transfer student-athlete, who had received her undergraduate degree at her previous institution, to represent D’Youville in the sport of softball.

g. Waiver Request – LaGrange College.

(1) Recommendation. Deny LaGrange College’s request for a waiver of year three of the provisional membership process.

(2) Rationale. The committee agreed that no evidence exists to grant this waiver request. The institution repeated year two of the provisional membership process for failure to submit a completed annual report. The committee also expressed concern over precedent that may be established in granting this waiver.

h. Waiver Request – Piedmont College.

(1) Recommendation. Deny Piedmont College’s request for a waiver of year three of the provisional membership process.

(2) Rationale. The committee agreed that no precedent exists to grant this waiver request. The institution repeated year one of the provisional membership process for failure to submit a completed annual report. The committee also expressed concern over precedent that may be established in granting this waiver.

i. Waiver Request – New York City Technical College.

(1) Recommendation. Deny New York City Technical College's request for a waiver of year three of the provisional membership process.

(2) Rationale. New York City Technical repeated its first year of provisional membership due to the submission of a 1999 incomplete annual report. The institution requested a waiver to move ahead one year. The same request was made last year at which time the committee recommended denial. The committee noted that no precedent exists to grant this request.

j. Waiver Request – Schreiner University.

(1) Recommendation. Deny Schreiner University’s request for a waiver of their final year of the provisional membership process.

(2) Rationale. Schreiner began the Division III provisional membership process in 1998-99 (under the three-year process) after completing two years in the Division II process. The institution repeated one year due to a submission of an incomplete annual report during the Division III process. The institution requested a waiver to move directly into active membership effective September 1, 2001, as opposed to September 1, 2002. The committee noted the institution's progress but agreed that no evidence exists to grant this request. The committee agreed that despite its lengthy service as a provisional member, the institution would be best served completing the 2001-02 academic year as a provisional member.

k. Division III Rules Test.

(1) Recommendation. Send the Division III rules test to all Division III active institutions and member conferences this summer.

(2) Rationale. The committee finalized the test during its June in-person meeting. The committee hopes that this test will be a beneficial tool for the entire Division III membership. The committee intends to update the test following each NCAA Convention, with future versions placed on the Division III Web site for all schools to access.

l. Provisional Membership Timeline.

(1) Recommendation. Approve the following timeline relating to the provisional membership moratorium and the implementation of the revised provisional membership program:

(a) Moratorium Lifted.	August 1, 2002

(b) Deadline to start exploratory period.	September 1, 2002

(c) Application deadline.	June 1, 2003

(d) Lottery held (if more than six eligible schools apply).	June 2003*

(e) First class of provisional members – start date.	September 1, 2003

(f) Second class of provisional members – start date.	September 1, 2004

*The lottery would be held in conjunction with the June 2003 Membership Committee meeting. [See Item (m).] (See Supplement No. 19-b, Proposal No. 1.)

(2) Rationale. The committee agreed that the above time line permits ample time to implement the new system and allows the committee and staff time to prepare for the first post-moratorium class of provisional members.

m. Provisional Membership “Lottery.”

(1) Recommendation. Approve the concept of a provisional membership “lottery,” if necessary, to determine which six “eligible” institutions would be approved for provisional membership each year. (See Supplement No. 19-b, Proposal No. 1.)

(2) Rationale. The committee discussed the situation in which a large number of schools would be considered “eligible” (in compliance with sports-sponsorship requirements, awarding no new athletically related aid, and meeting other provisional membership requirements at the time of application) for provisional membership. The committee discussed several options before creating a lottery system to determine each class of provisional membership. The proposed lottery is based on the following guidelines:

(a) The first six schools drawn will make up that year’s provisional membership class. The second six schools drawn will comprise the following year’s class. This process will continue until all schools have been “slotted” to start their provisional membership. [For example, schools A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I, all eligible for provisional membership, apply by June 1, 2003. The lottery will be used to determine the first class of six. In this situation, schools A, B, C, D, E and F are selected to begin the process September 1, 2003. School G was selected next and school H was selected last. Both schools (G and H) will be slotted to begin their provisional membership September 1, 2004.]

(b) Any new eligible schools that apply subsequent to the lottery will be placed in the same class as schools G and H, unless more than four eligible schools apply. In that case, a lottery will be held to determine which schools will fill the final four slots of the same class as schools G and H (September 1, 2004). Any schools not selected to begin September 1, 2004, will be slotted to start September 1, 2005.

(c) If one of the schools selected for the class of September 1, 2003, drops out or decides against joining Division III, the first school slotted to begin September 1, 2004, (school G in the example given) will have the opportunity to move into the vacant spot.

n. Provisional Membership Education Program.

(1) Recommendation. Approve the four-year provisional membership education program (Attachment A) designed to create a more comprehensive in-person education plan. (See Supplement No. 19-b, Proposal No. 1)

(2) Rationale. The committee agreed that the above educational program provides more comprehensive education for provisional members. The program also provides more in-person educational opportunities and creates
additional opportunities in conjunction with the annual regional rules compliance seminars.

o. Provisional Membership Educational Fee.

(1) Recommendation. Approve a provisional membership educational fee of $11,000 per school in order to provide the level of service necessary to facilitate the four-year education program. One half ($5,500) would be paid at the start of year one, with the remaining one-half ($5,500) paid at the start of year three. (See Attachment B.) (See Supplement No. 19-b, Proposal No. 1.)

(2) Rationale. The committee has long agreed that provisional members should pay for the cost of the education provided. The committee spent a great deal of time formulating a comprehensive educational program. The attached cost breakdown represents the resources needed to provide such education. Provisional members also will be required to pay $900 per year in annual dues consistent with the current program. Provisional members that must repeat a year must pay the cost of education provided in that year except for schools that must repeat at the end of year four. Such schools would be required to repeat years three and four and pay the total cost of years three and four.

2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

a. Regional Rules Seminars. The committee agreed to continue conducting educational sessions at the 2002 regional rules compliance seminars. The committee asked the staff to alter the Division III schedule to conduct two or three sessions Wednesday afternoon and two or three sessions Thursday morning. With this change, Division III sessions will begin Wednesday around 1 p.m. and conclude Thursday before noon. Topics recommended for 2002 include (1) recruiting, (2) financial aid, (3) playing and practice seasons, (4) governance issues, (5) eligibility and transfers and (6) a session specifically for independent members.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
	CURRENT	PROPOSED
YEAR ONE	v Orientation meeting at central site for all members. v Convention educational sessions for CEOs and athletics administrators.	v On-campus orientation session for upper level staff v Convention educational sessions for CEOs and athletics administrators. v Regional seminar educational session.
YEAR TWO	v Convention educational sessions for CEOs and athletics administrators.	v One on-campus compliance visit. v Convention educational sessions for CEOs and athletics administrators. v National office meeting for AD, FAR and SWA.
YEAR THREE	v Convention educational sessions for CEOs and athletics administrators.	v On-campus orientation session for upper level staff v Convention educational sessions for CEOs and athletics administrators.

Committee Chair: Donna M. Ledwin, New Jersey Athletic Conference

Staff Liaisons: Chris Martin, Helen Grant

COMPARISON OF PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

YEAR

ONE