MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

DIVISION III INTERPRETATIONS AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Teleconference December 4, 2002

Participants:

Suzanne Coffey, Bates College, chair

Travis Feezell, Whitman College

Timothy Gleason, Ohio Athletic Conference

Gary Karner, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Garnett Purnell, Wittenburg University

Sandra L. Slabik, Neumann College

Charlie Wilson, Olivet College

Mweni Ekpo, NCAA

Bo Kerin, NCAA, recording secretary

Julie Katz, Vassar College, was unable to participate.

[Note: While certain items in the agenda were acted on at various times throughout the meeting, all final actions within a given topic are combined in these minutes for convenience of reference. These minutes reflect only actions (formal votes or “sense of meeting”), in accordance with established policy governing minutes of all NCAA entities. The only discussion included is that ordered by the chair or a member of the group.]

The teleconference was called to order at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. All members were present as noted above.

1. Announcements. Committee members were asked to return their hotel room reservation forms for the January 30-31, 2003, in-person meeting in Key West, Florida. The committee also determined the members who would be present at the 2003 NCAA Convention.

2. Approval of Previous Minutes. The committee reviewed the minutes of its November 6 teleconference.

IT WAS VOTED

“That the November 6, 2002, teleconference minutes be approved as written.”

3. Interpretive Issue - Multi-Day Track Tournaments and Contest Limitations. In response to an inquiry from the membership, the committee was asked to discuss whether or not multi-day tournaments in the sport of track and field constitute multiple dates of competition. In discussing this matter, the committee reviewed NCAA Bylaws 17.26.5.1, 17.18.5.1, and 17.29.5.1 as well as an official interpretation dated July 17, 1997. The committee agreed that, under the current legislation, a multi-day track tournament must count as separate dates of competition. The committee agreed to refer this matter to the Division III Management Council Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee to consider whether or not to propose legislation for the 2004 NCAA Convention that would allow multi-day track tournaments to count as single dates of competition. Similar legislation currently exists for the sports of skiing and wrestling.

4. Discussion regarding 2003 NCAA Convention Proposal No. 45 (Recruiting – Definition of a Contact). In response to an inquiry from the membership regarding the application of Proposal No. 45 (Recruiting – Definition of a Contact) to institutional admissions officers and other non-athletics personnel, the committee decided to issue an official interpretation to clarify the original intent of Proposal No. 45. The interpretation is consistent with the Division III’s overall philosophy regarding the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.

IT WAS VOTED

“That the Division III Management Council approve the following interpretation:

2003 NCAA Proposal No. 45 (Recruiting – Contact) and Definition of ‘Institutional Staff Member’ (III). For purposes of 2003 NCAA Proposal No. 45 (Recruiting – Contact), the phrase “institutional staff member” refers to staff members of the institution’s athletics department.”

5. Interpretive Issue – NCAA Division III Transfer Legislation and Bylaw 14.1.8 (Graduate Student/Postbaccalaureate Participation). The committee held lengthy discussions regarding the application of Bylaw 14.1.8 (Graduate Student/Postbaccalaureate Participation) concerning the following situation. A student-athlete attended a NCAA Division I institution for one semester, then transferred to a NCAA Division III institution, where he participated in intercollegiate athletics for three years and later graduated. The student-athlete was currently enrolled in graduate school at a Division I institution. Because of his previous transfer from a four-year college, he was ineligible for graduate student participation at the Division I institution. The student-athlete wanted to return to

the Division III institution that awarded his undergraduate degree and compete while in graduate school. Specifically, the committee discussed if Bylaw 14.1.8 permitted the student-athlete to compete in graduate school at the Division III institution, or if the student-athlete would be ineligible for graduate school competition due to his failure to meet the Division III transfer exception in Bylaw 14.5.5.1.1. In reviewing this situation, the committee determined that the Division III transfer legislation would still apply, despite the provisions of Bylaw 14.1.8. Accordingly, the student-athlete was ineligible to compete in graduate school due to his failure to meet the Division III transfer legislation.

6. Review of November 9, 1994, Staff Interpretation Regarding the Provision of Gift Certificates as Awards. In reviewing a staff interpretation dated November 9, 1994, the committee determined that staff interpretation should be re-issued as an official interpretation with the intent to later incorporate the official interpretation into the Division III manual.

7. Future In-Person Meetings and Teleconferences.

a. January 30-31, 2003, Key West, Florida.

b. June 23-24, 2003, Indianapolis, Indiana.

8. Adjournment. The teleconference adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

# # # # #