REPORT OF THE
DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP
COMMITTEE (ADDENDUM)
1. ACTION ITEMS.
a. Provisional Member
Annual Reports-Active Membership.
(1) Recommendation.
Grant active membership status effective September 1, 2002, to:
(a) Baptist
Bible College.
(b) Bay
Path College.
(c) Dominican
University.
(d) D’Youville
College.
(e) Husson
College.
(f)
LeTourneau University.
(g) Medialle
College.
(h) Mt.
Ida College.
(i)
Peace College.
(j)
Pennsylvania State University, Altoona.
(k) Philadelphia
Biblical University.
(l)
University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg.
(m) University
of Texas at Dallas.
(n) Schreiner
University. [NOTE: Schreiner University is in the
"old" three-year provisional cycle.]
(o) State
University of New York at Farmingdale.
(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.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
b. Provisional Member
Annual Reports – Final Year of Provisional Membership.
(1) Recommendation. That the following institutions move
into their final year of provisional membership:
(a) LaGrange
College.
(b) Louisiana
College.
(c) Newbury
College. [NOTE: contingent upon
the institution resubmitting the key components document and ISSG to reflect a
more thoughtful analysis of the institution’s athletics program]
(d) New
York City Technical College.
(e) Northland
College.
(f)
Piedmont College.
(g) Thomas
College.
(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.
(3) Budget
Impact.
None.
c.
Provisional Member
Annual Reports – Third Year of Provisional Membership.
Recommendation.
That the following institutions move into their third year of provisional
membership:
(1) Alverno
College.
(2) Transylvania University.
d.
Westminster College.
(1) Recommendation. Move
Westminster College (Pennsylvania)
into its fourth year of provisional membership,
contingent on the institution explaining its policy of tracking full-time enrollment. [CORRECTION: At its July meeting, the Management Council did not consider
this recommendation to move Westminster (Pennsylvania) forward one year in the
three-year reclassification process. The Presidents Council will take action at its next meeting
to grant active membership status, effective September 1, 2002, to Westminster
(Pennsylvania).]
(2) Rationale. The committee
noted a lack of broad-based campus involvement for certain athletics procedures,
including certification of eligibility. While the institution has not committed
a violation, the committee would like the institution to address this issue.
e.
Active Member
Conference – Allegheny Mountain Conference.
(1) Recommendation. Grant the
Allegheny Mountain Conference active member conference status effective
September 1, 2002.
(2) Rationale. On its review of
the conference’s application for membership, the committee agreed that the
conference should be granted active member status.
f. Editorial
Revision – NCAA Bylaw 20.02.5 (Emerging Sports for Women).
(1) Recommendation.
Editorially revise NCAA Bylaw 20.02.5 to remove a provision for rowing
as an emerging sport and remove language that would allow emerging sports to be
countable for purposes of revenue distribution. The committee recommends that the reference to “sports
sponsorship” found in Bylaw 20.02.5 be deleted.
(2) Rationale.
Bylaw 20.02.5 indicates that an institution may consider an emerging
sport for women toward meeting "revenue distribution"
requirements. However, no
reference is made to counting such sports toward meeting the sports sponsorship
requirements set forth in Bylaw 20.11.3.
The legislative history of Bylaw 20.02.5 also supports this
recommendation.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
g. Editorial Revision
– Bylaw 20.02.5.3 (Emerging Sports for
Women – Rowing).
(1) Recommendation. Delete Bylaw 20.02.5.3 since it is
unnecessary legislation.
(2) Rationale. Bylaw 20.02.5.3 is no longer applicable
to Division III inasmuch as a Division III Women’s Rowing Championship was
established when the Division III membership adopted 2001 Convention Proposal
No. 56, effective August 1, 2001.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
a. Reclassification
from Division II Provisional to Division III Provisional Member. The
committee considered a request from Spelman College to reclassify from Division
II provisional to Division III provisional member. The committee welcomed
Spelman College into the Division III provisional member process and encourages
the institution to attend an exploratory educational session available pursuant
to the new provisional member education process.
b. New Chair. The
committee voted unanimously to elect Christopher Bledsoe, New Your University,
as its new chair. His term as
chair will begin at the close of the 2003 Convention.
c. NCAA Division III
Active Membership Education. The committee reviewed the
current NCAA regional rules seminar schedule and topics and noted disappointing
attendance at the 2002 seminars.
The committee agreed to continue conducting Division III specific
sessions at the 2003 seminars but will consider other options for future years,
including conducting a Division III rules seminar in conjunction with other events
(e.g., NACDA, ECAC Convention).
The committee agreed to retain the topics from the 2002 seminars, with
the exception of amateurism and the Division III independent member
session. The committee will
continue to support educational sessions at the Eastern College Athletic
Conference (ECAC) fall convention, and supports the continued use of the
Division III rules test as modified.
d. NCAA Division III
Institutional Self-Study Guide. The committee reviewed the Institutional Self-Study
Guide and requested staff to add new questions regarding attendance at Regional
Rules Seminars and participation in the governance structure. Also, several
other revisions will be made to reflect changing legislation. The creation of a conference ISSG was
discussed. Donna Ledwin and Timothy Downes will prepare a draft of this document
for the January 2003 in-person meeting.
e. Committee Operations
Plan. The committee reviewed the strategic
operations plan and made minor changes.
Committee involvement in Regional Rules Seminars will be added as on
ongoing item in the plan.
f. Provisional
Membership Issues. The committee set a
September 1 deadline for registration for the exploratory period and discussed
content for the educational sessions required for institutions entering the exploratory
process. Staff will set a date for
the educational session to be held in Indianapolis in the fall of 2002. The committee discussed the handling of
provisional member schools with self reported violations, and determined that
the committee will accept or reject the institution’s self imposed penalties. These penalties should be included in
the institution’s key components document.
g. Report of the Joint
Subcommittee on the Future of Division III Membership Subgroup. The committee received an oral report and
specific topics being addressed by the subgroup: subdivision, travel limits,
coaching limits, sports sponsorship, principles of self-selection, and
conference affiliation. The main charge of the membership subgroup will be to address
legislative implications once all subgroups present recommendations. The future
of Division III will be discussed at a variety of locations in the coming year,
including the 2003 NCAA Convention, Regional Rules Seminars, NACDA, and the
ECAC meetings. The subcommittee has recognized the
importance of ensuring
that the membership agrees with ‘hot spots’ identified by the membership. All discussions are focusing on the
Division III philosophy.