REPORT OF THE

DIVISION III PRESIDENTS COUNCIL CEO INVOLVEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

 

 

1.      ACTION ITEM.

 

Greater involvement and regular communication with Division III CEOs, especially related to key legislative and policy issues.

 

(1)     Recommendation:  Continue quarterly communication via e-mail distribution of Presidents Council meeting highlights.

 

(2)     Recommendation:  Establish conference/independent institution CEO contact program as a specific mechanism for more formal, direct, personal contact with Division III CEOs.

 

(a)                Action oriented program to focus on key issues leading to Convention or to gain input on critical issues during the year.

 

(b)               Work with Division III commissioners to identify conference CEO contacts and identify Presidents Council member contacts for each conference.

 

(c)                Develop independent institution contacts by region and identify Presidents Council member contacts for groups of regional independent institutions.

 

(d)               Consider 2003 Convention meeting of CEO conference/independent institution contacts to review the program and solicit feedback.

 

(3)     Recommendation:  Establish a CEO oriented page on the NCAA’s Web site.  Forward e-mail notification of updates on key Association-wide and divisional issues on a regular basis, with Web links to more detailed information.  (See Informational Item No. 2-b-(2).)

 

(4)     Recommendation:  Create a specific Division III CEO questionnaire related to issues of greater involvement and communication.

                       

 

2.      INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

 

a.            Key results from 2001 CEO Convention Survey.  The subcommittee noted the following key results:

 

(1)               Decline in responses from those who attended in 2001 and those that plan to attend in 2002.

 

(2)               Increase in the number of “undecided attendance” responses for 2002.

 

(3)               Later January date is better due to possible conflicts with Council of Independent Colleges, ACE and other presidential meetings.

 

(4)               Request for targeted divisional CEO forums and discussion sessions.

 

(5)               CEOs strongly favor shorter, three-day format.

 

(6)               Commitment to Association-wide issues and discussions remains high.

 

(7)               Consider specific area at delegates reception for Division III CEO gathering.

 

b.            Current communication initiatives.  The subcommittee reviewed current communication initiatives and noted:

 

(1)               E-mail distribution of CEO meeting highlights.  Quarterly e-mail communication is an effective format for communication of key issues related to Council meetings.   It is clear, succinct, and useful.  Providing Web site connections and contact information are key.

 

(2)               NCAA Web site – proposed CEO page.  The proposed page will be a useful tool for communicating directly to all CEOs on Association-wide and divisional issues.  The page should include a clear link to key divisional governance staffs and the chairs of each division’s presidential body.

 

(3)               Division III newsletter.  The quarterly publication is too long for CEOs but can be helpful for additional information.  The focus of this communication should be on athletics administrators, not CEOs.

 

(4)               Convention e-mail communication. Targeted, specific Convention communication is very useful and provides an opportunity for the Council to promote and reinforce positions for Convention voting.  Communications should emphasize the CEO voice as a vehicle of influence during the Division III business session.

 

 

 

Committee Chair:  Jeanie Watson, Nebraska  Wesleyan University

Staff Liaisons:  Dan Dutcher and Bridget Belgiovine