MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

DIVISION III MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach July 21-22, 2003

Huntington Beach, California

Participants:

Stephen P. Argo, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Susan Bassett, William Smith College, chair

Chris Bledsoe, New York University

Jennifer Braaten, Ferrum College

Suzanne Coffey, Bates College

Kary Couchman, Albion College, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

William Eng, Bernard M. Baruch College

Joshua Espinosa, Buena Vista University, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

John C. Harper, Bridgewater State College (Massachusetts)

Greg Harshaw, University of California, Santa Cruz

Douglas N. Hastad, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse

Karen L. Johnson, Alfred University

Leon Lunder, Carleton College

Michael Miranda, Plattsburgh State University of New York

Sandra Slabik, Neumann College

Richard Strockbine, University of Dallas

Joyce Wong, Eastern Connecticut State University

Chad Yowell, Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Connee Zotos, Drew University

Bridget Belgiovine, NCAA, recording secretary

Jack Copeland, NCAA

Daniel T. Dutcher, NCAA

Kay Hawes, NCAA

Leah Nilsson, NCAA

Elsa Cole, NCAA general counsel, attended a portion of the meeting. Joshua Espinosa was unable to attend July 22.

[Note: These minutes contain only actions taken (formal votes or stated "sense of the meeting") in accordance with NCAA policy regarding minutes of all Association entities. While certain items on the Council's 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.]

Monday, July 21

The meeting was called to order at 7:32 a.m. by the chair, Ms. Bassett. All members were present as noted above.

1. Roster, Management Council/Presidents Council Committee/Subcommittee Assignments, Future Meeting Schedule and Division III Newsletter. The Council reviewed the roster, committee assignments, future meeting schedule and newsletter. Greg Harshaw, who filled the vacancy created by Robert Malekoff’s resignation, was introduced. Also, Jack Copeland was introduced as Division III’s liaison with The NCAA News.

2. Previous Minutes. The Council reviewed the minutes of its April 14-15 meeting; the April 24 Presidents Council meeting; the April 25 Executive Committee meeting; and the June 18 and 26 Administrative Committee actions.

It was VOTED

“That the minutes of the Management Council’s April 14-15 meeting and the June 18 and 26 Administrative Committee actions be approved.”

3. Division III Strategic Planning.

a. Initiatives Task Force. The Council:

(1) Division III 2002-03 Executive Summary. Reviewed the 2002-03 executive summary, noting that the division is completing the third year of the four-year plan. The Initiatives Task Force will meet September 16 to review and assess all initiatives in preparation for the 2004-05/2005-06 budgets. The Council noted that the September 16 meeting of the Initiatives Task Force would be its last. The Division III Strategic-Planning Subcommittee will assume task force responsibilities.

(2) Division III 2002-03 Overview of Grant Recipients. Reviewed the 2002-03 overview of grant recipients.

b. 2003-2004 Division III Strategic Plan. The Council recommended that the Presidents Council review and approve the 2003-04 plan, noting that:

(1) 2003-04 Plan.

(a) Division III – Values, Goals, and Priorities remain unchanged.

(b) Section I – Preface; Section II – Vision; and Section III – Mission remain unchanged.

(c) Section IV – Timeline has been amended to incorporate the Association-wide strategic-planning process into the biennial budget process for 2004-06.

(d) Section V – Planning priorities have been amended to include priorities for action in 2003-04 based on input from the Association-wide and Division III committees, as well as the Presidents Council/Management Council Joint Subcommittee on the Future of Division III.

(e) Section VI – Accomplishments have been amended to include initiatives completed during 2002-03.

(2) Strategic-Planning Process. Reviewed the Association-wide planning process and specific objectives and noted that the Association-wide strategic-planning information is on the NCAA Web site.

(4) Association-Wide Budget Timeline. Reviewed the Association-wide biennial budget process for 2004-05, noting that it has been amended to incorporate the strategic planning process.

4. Committee/Subcommittee Reports.

a. Association-Wide Committees.

(1) Committee on Women’s Athletics. The Council noted the recent U.S. Department of Education announcement of support for the continuance of the current law, as well as President Brand’s July 11 statement.

(2) Walter Byers Scholarship Committee. The Council accepted information that the following student-athletes were selected as the 2003 Walter Byers scholars:

(a) Natalie Halbach, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Gymnastics; and

(b) McLain Schneider, University of North Dakota, Football.

(3) Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct. The Council received an oral report of the work of the committee.

(4) Research Committee. The Council received an oral report of the work of the committee.

(5) Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. The Council received an oral report of the work of the committee.

(6) Olympic Sports Liaison Committee. The Council:

l Statement of Support for NCAA Representation on the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors. Endorsed the issuance of a statement from the NCAA to the USOC Board of Directors expressing support for the USOC’s efforts to reform its governance structure. The Council noted that the Association should pay particular attention to its position and support of all sports, particularly Olympic sports, as well as relevant legislation.

(7) Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC). The Council:

(a) NCAA Woman of the Year – Committee Composition. Agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation to modify the composition requirements of the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee to include a member of the MOIC and a staff member from Historical Black Colleges and Universities.

(b) NCAA Diversity Initiatives – Boys’ Sports Initiatives. Denied the recommendation to eliminate the NCAA boys’ sports initiative effective 2004-05 and reallocate funds to enhance more successful diversity initiatives. The Council requested a recommendation for the reallocation of the funds at its October meeting prior to supporting the program’s elimination.

(c) Review of NCAA Race Demographics Data. Approved the recommendation for biannual presentations of the NCAA Race Demographics of NCAA Member Institutions Athletics Personnel Report to the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Presidents Councils and Management Councils of all three division, as well as national office staff.

(8) Honors Committee. The Council:

l Inspiration Award Criteria. Approved the recommendation to amend criteria to eliminate the timeframe for inspirational action.

(9) Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. The Council:

(a) Eyewear in Women’s Lacrosse. Recommended that the Presidents Council approve the recommendation to mandate protective eyewear in women’s lacrosse that meets the American Society for Testing and Materials standards during the 2004 NCAA women’s lacrosse championships; mandate such eyewear during the 2003-04 regular season, contingent on NCAA authority with regard to playing rules; emphasize the thorough and direct communication of this action.

(b) Financial Assistance to Member Institutions to Provide Protective Eyewear in Women’s Lacrosse. Denied the recommendation to establish a limited one-time grant fund supported by divisional and Association resources to provide assistance to member institutions who demonstrate financial hardship in purchasing protective eyewear for student-athletes in the sport of women’s lacrosse to meet the mandated requirement for protective eyewear beginning with the 2004 NCAA championship. The Council noted the following:

l Concern regarding the precedent the Council would set.

l Financial implications for future issues related to safety initiatives.

l Distinction between student-athlete expense and institutional expense.

(c) Availability of Athletics Training at All Contests. Discussed the desire that adequate support by athletics trainers be available at all contests, consistent with the standards established in the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook. The Council:

l Recommended addressing the issue with conference commissioners.

l Recommended that member institutions consider inclusion of expectations for event support, including athletics trainers, as part of game/contest contracts established between institutions.

b. Division III Special Committees.

(1) Joint Subcommittee on the Future of Division III. The Council recommended that the Presidents Council:

(a) Annual Financial Aid Reporting Process. Sponsor legislation for the 2004 Convention to establish an annual electronic financial aid reporting process, effective August 1, 2005, to require an institution to compare financial aid packaging for freshmen and transfer student-athletes with the aid packages awarded to other freshmen and transfer students on an annual basis. The Council noted:

l The principle of no athletics aid is a fundamental tenet of the Division III philosophy.

l This legislation is responsive to the membership survey (64 percent support), and the membership ranked financial aid as its top issue of concern.

l The reporting process is critical to ensure membership compliance with Bylaw 15 regulations.

l A pre-pilot will be conducted in fall 2003 with selected institutions. The goals of the pre-pilot are to determine what demographic information to collect; the size of the nonstudent-athlete pool; the success of the electronic data transfer; and the institutional cost and the administrative burden to complete an annual report.

l The 2004 division-wide pilot will determine the appropriateness of the August 1, 2005, effective date.

l The process will affirm the consistency of financial aid awarded to the athletics and nonathletics population at each member institution.

l Communication (both electronic and hard copy) and involvement with the financial aid community (NASFAA) remains critical.

l The Division III Financial Aid and Awards Committee supports the proposal.

(b) Exempted Athletics Endowments. Sponsor legislation for the 2004 Convention to amend Bylaw 15.01.5 to eliminate the financial aid exemption for athletics funds or endowments established prior to January 1, 1979, and prohibit an institution from using in its financial aid budget, income from endowment funds specifically for student-athletes, with a delayed effective date of August 1, 2008. The Council noted:

l The delayed effective date provides reasonable notice for all institutions to address issues related to endowed funds and does not negatively impact any student-athletes currently receiving the benefits of such funds.

l Elimination of such funds, which were set up for athletics scholarships, is consistent with the Division III philosophy to “award no athletically related financial aid to any student.”

l The Division III Financial Aid and Awards Committee supports the proposal.

l Endowed funds may be used to support institutional programs; however, they may not be used as financial aid for student-athletes.

(c) Seasons of Participation (Redshirting). Sponsor legislation for the 2004 Convention to limit a student-athlete to four seasons of participation by specifying that a student-athlete will be charged with a season of participation if he or she practices or competes during or after the first contest following the student-athlete’s initial athletics participation at the institution. Existing waiver options (e.g., hardship waiver) will be maintained. Effective August 1, 2004 (for participation on or after that date). The Council noted:

l The legislation is consistent with the Division III philosophy that the highest priority is placed on the overall quality of the educational experience and successful completion of all students’ academic programs.

l The legislation will permit student-athletes to take part in limited tryouts without exhausting a season of participation.

l The retention of existing waiver options (e.g., medical hardship) supports opportunities to address unique situations.

l The legislation encourages degree completion and may eliminate pressure for some student-athletes who do not wish to redshirt.

l The legislation eliminates potential elongation of academic programs and introduces a new term, “participation.”

l Similar proposal sponsored by the Centennial Conference, the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

(d) Athletics Recruiting Policies. Sponsor legislation for the 2004 Convention to revise the philosophy statement (Bylaw 20.11), effective August 1, 2004, to establish a principle to assure that athletics recruitment complies with established institutional policies and procedures applicable to the admissions process. The Council noted:

l The principle applies to identification, evaluation and admission of prospective student-athletes.

l The Division III Institutional Self-Study Guide would be amended to reflect the principle.

l The language assumes that campus dialogue between athletes and admissions staffs should occur to assess admissions practices, consistent with the principle.

l The proposed legislation is responsive to results of the membership survey (84 percent support).

(e) Transfer Contact Rule. Sponsor legislation to revise the transfer contact rule to:

l Deregulate contact rule to grant student-athletes the authority to issue, on their own behalf, written permission (self-release) that permits other institutions to contact the student-athlete about a potential transfer. A student-athlete written “self-release” would be forwarded to the director of athletics at the schools of interest to the student-athlete. Notify student-athletes of the ability to self-release via the student-athlete statement.

l Forward to Committee on Infractions a policy directive to strengthen the enforcement of the current transfer contact regulations related to inappropriate contact with student-athletes initiated by an athletics staff member or representative from another member school.

The Council noted:

l The amendment provides student-athletes with flexibility and freedom to pursue options related to transfer and subsequent enrollment.

l Notification of the ability to self-release should be incorporated into the student-athlete statement.

l Student-athletes already can transfer to a second school without permission, provided they do not have prior contact with athletics personnel at that school.

l Strengthened enforcement by the staff and the Committee on Infractions is critical to address institutional issues related to inappropriate transfers and contact with student-athletes.

l The proposed legislation is responsive to results of the membership survey (63 percent support).

(f) Length of Overall Playing and Practice Seasons. Sponsor one proposal for the 2004 Convention as follows:

l Length of Overall Playing and Practice Season. Limit the length of an institution’s playing season segment to 18 weeks in fall sports, and 19 weeks in winter and spring sports. Traditional segment calculations are done counting back from the NCAA championships selection date in the applicable sport; and

l Contest limits – traditional and nontraditional segments. Decrease combined current traditional and nontraditional segment contest limits by 10 percent and establish combined maximums for traditional and nontraditional segments, while retaining the current caps on the maximum number of permissible contests/dates of competition in the traditional and nontraditional segment.

The Council noted:

l Delayed effective date of August 1, 2006, will facilitate implementation and accommodate for existing schedules.

l The proposal treats all sports equitably.

l The proposal is appropriate due to the related decrease of weeks and contests.

l The combined contests (traditional and nontraditional) provides for institutional autonomy and flexibility.

l The proposed legislation is responsive to the membership survey (56 percent support).

l Similar proposal related to part (a) sponsored by the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

l Centennial Conference sponsored proposal to limit nontraditional to 16 days total with one “play day.”

l The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin sponsored proposal to eliminate all competition in nontraditional, except golf and tennis.