REPORT OF THE

DIVISION III STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1. ACTION ITEMS.

a. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)/Management Council Representative Term Extension (NCAA Bylaw 21.8.6.9.2.1).

(1) Recommendation.

That the term of a student-athlete serving as the NCAA Division III Management Council representative may be extended to January to permit the student-athlete to complete his or her term on the Council consistent with the Management Council term limits.

(2) Rationale.

Currently, the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee term of service commences on the first day of September, although the Management Council’s term commences in January after the adjournment of the annual Convention. Therefore, the term of the SAAC student-athlete representative serving on the Management Council should expire with his or her term on the Management Council.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

b. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee/Management Council Representative (NCAA Bylaw 21.8.6.9.3).

(1) Recommendation.

Amend Bylaw 21.8.6.9.3 to state that a student-athlete appointed as the Management Council representative may not be from the same member institution as a Management Council member.

(2) Rationale.

By amending Bylaw 21.8.6.9.3, a student-athlete representative will not be appointed to serve on the Management Council when another member from the same institution currently serves on the Management Council but could be from the same conference.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

c. Exempted Scrimmages (Bylaw 17).

(1) Recommendation.

Sponsor legislation to permit an institution in sports other than football to exempt two scrimmages or dates of competition (per Bylaw 17) during the preseason practice period in the traditional segment, provided the contest or date of competition is conducted in privacy and no class time is missed.

(2) Rationale.

This proposal creates consistency among sports relating to the number of scrimmage opportunities.  Currently basketball is the only sport that is permitted two exempted scrimmages while all other sports have none.  This legislation would allow each sport two exempted scrimmage contests or dates of competition (per Bylaw 17) that must be conducted during the traditional segment preseason practice period.  No class-time may be missed. This proposal will provide for scrimmage opportunities in all sports without taking scrimmage opportunities away from basketball. The committee recognizes that the sport of football has significant safety concerns; therefore the sport of football is not included in this proposal.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

d. Graduate Student/Postbaccalaureate Participation (Bylaw 14.1.8).

(1) Recommendation.

Refer the issue of graduate student/postbaccalaureate participation to the Presidents Council/Management Council Joint Subcommittee on the Future of Division III's Eligibility and Recruiting subgroup for consideration. The committee recommends that the subcommittee consider permitting students in graduate or postbaccalaureate programs the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics regardless of the institution he or she attended as an undergraduate.

(2) Rationale.

The proposed revision does not change the spirit of the graduate student/postbaccalaureate legislation, which is to allow the student-athlete to participate to the maximum of his or her ability by completing a full eight semester course of eligibility, even after the completion of undergraduate study.  Rather, this revision proposes to simply open up the same opportunity for post-graduate competition currently enjoyed by student-athletes attending colleges or universities with graduate programs to those student-athletes who attend schools without such programs.  Under the revised legislation, a student-athlete at an institution without graduate programs who, at the time of graduation, still has at least one season of eligibility remaining, would be able to attend graduate school at another DIII institution (within the 10 semesters/ 15 quarters of the start date of his/her eligibility) and compete in the athletic program at the graduate institution.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

e. Athletically Related Activity Time Limitations (Bylaw 17).

(1) Recommendation.

That the concept of time limits for athletically related activities be forwarded to the Division III Management Council’s Subcommittee on Playing and Practice Seasons. The committee recommends that the student-athlete’s participation in countable athletically related activities not exceed 20 hours per week with the addition of five hours a week to discuss or review game films during the traditional and nontraditional segments.

(2) Rationale

The Division III Philosophy states, “Colleges and universities in Division III place highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on the successful completion of all students’ academic programs. Colleges and universities seek to establish and maintain an environment in which a student-athlete’s athletics activities are conducted as an integral part of the student-athlete’s educational experience.” A total of 20 hours per week of countable athletically related activities with the addition of five hours a week to discuss or review game films regardless of the number of sports in which a student-athlete is involved should be the maximum amount of time that a student-athlete should be involved in athletically related activities. By limiting participation not to exceed 20 hours a week, restrictions will be in place to ensure that the educational component of the Division III philosophy would not be compromised.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

f. Division III Initiatives -- Conference SAAC Grant.

(1) Recommendation.

Reallocate $6,000 from the Division III Initiatives Task Force budget to the conference SAAC grant to support the attendance of national SAAC members at partner conference SAAC meetings.

(2) Rationale.

In 2000, SAAC established a conference partner program to enhance and increase the communication between the committee member and his or her partner conference, a conference that is not represented by a student-athlete SAAC. The committee is proposing that the reallocation of funds be used to ensure that SAAC members of every conference have an equal voice. The proposal would provide a fund with an average of approximately $250 per national SAAC member to travel to meet with a partner conference.

(3) Budget Impact. $6,000 budget reallocation.

g. SAAC Communication Initiative.

(1) Recommendation.

One member of SAAC provide an oral report during the Division III business session at the 2003 Convention regarding major issues communication and linking student-athletes in the governance structure. The issues include:

§ Impact and use of the conference SAAC grant resources.

§ Value of the SAAC conference partnership program.

§ Importance of communication and dissemination of key Division III information (e.g., Division III newsletter).

(2) Rationale.

Communication is a high priority for the SAAC. The committee has developed many communication initiatives in its strategic plan. It is important that the membership be aware of the committee's initiatives and implementation efforts to benefit the welfare of all Division III student-athletes.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

a. Division III Initiatives -- Conference SAAC Grants. The committee requested the opportunity to review the conference SAAC grant impact reports that are submitted annually as part of the Division III initiatives grant program. The purpose of the review is to ensure that conference SAACs continue to progress to meet the needs of student-athletes.

b. SAAC Executive Subcommittee. The committee appointed the following members to assume duties on the executive subcommittee at the close of the January 2003 NCAA Convention.

Jaime Fluker (9/04) - Chair

Michael Raymond (9/03) - Vice-Chair

Kary Couchman (9/03) and Josh Espinosa (9/04) - Management Council Representatives

c. SAAC Representatives on Association-wide Committees. The committee appointed the following members to serve on association-wide committees:

Martin Quinn (9/04) - Olympic Sports Liaison Committee.

Alex Gracia (9/03) - Sportsmansip and Ethical Conduct Committee.

Erika Proko (9/04) - Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport.

Committee Chair: Meg Stevens

Staff Liaisons: Mark Bedics

Tim Clark

Susan Peal