MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

DIVISION III MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

NCAA National Office April 19-20, 2004

Indianapolis, Indiana

Participants:

Stephen P. Argo, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Jennifer Braaten, Ferrum College

Valerie Cushman, Randolph-Macon Woman's College

Suzanne Coffey, Bates College

Jone Dowd, Catholic University

Travis Feezell, Whitman College

Sarah Forbus, student-athlete, Denison University

Greg Harshaw, University of California, Santa Cruz

Douglas Hastad, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse

Karen L. Johnson, Alfred University

Leon Lunder, Carleton College

Dave Masilunas, student-athlete, Pennsylvania State University, Erie, the Behrend 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

Leah Nilsson, NCAA

Susan Peal, NCAA

Leeland Zeller, NCAA

Bernard Franklin, NCAA senior vice-president for governance and membership; Eric Hartung, assistant director of research; and Kevin Lennon, vice-president for membership services, attended portions of the meeting. Ali Connolly, Middlebury College, attended the meeting for John McCardell, chair of the Division III Presidents Council. Also, NCAA Fellows Amanda Braun, Megan Drucker, Charles Guthrie Jr., Robert O'Neal, Jill Redmond and Julie Sandoval attended portions of the meeting.

John C. Harper, Bridgewater State College, was unable to attend the meeting. Steve Argo was unable to attend Tuesday, April 20.

[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, April 19

The meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m. by the chair, Ms. Coffey. All members were present as noted above.

1. Welcome, Roster, Future Meeting Schedule and Division III Newsletter. Coffey asked attendees to introduce themselves. She welcomed Ali Connolly, Middlebury College, and NCAA Fellows in attendance.

2. Previous Minutes. The Council reviewed the minutes of its January 9 and 12, 2004, meetings; the January 10, 2004, Presidents Council meeting; the January 12, 2004, Executive Committee meeting; and December 17, 2003; January 28, 2004; February 4, 13, 18 and 19, 2004; and March 4, 2004, Administrative Committee actions.

It was VOTED

“That the minutes of the Management Council’s January 9 and 12, 2004, meetings, and the December 17, 2003; January 28, 2004; February 4, 13, 18 and 19, 2004; and March 4, 2004, Administrative Committee actions be approved.”

3. Committee/Subcommittee Reports.

a. Association-Wide Committees.

(1) Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS). The Council recommended that the Presidents Council:

a. Drug Test Sanctions. Sponsor legislation for the 2005 Convention to amend NCAA Bylaw 18.4.1.5.1 (duration of ineligibility) to allow the Drug-Education and Drug-Testing Subcommittee of the CSMAS to reduce a drug-testing penalty during a drug-test appeal from one year to the next 50 percent of a season of competition in all sports, effective August 1, 2005.

b. Acceptance of National or International Drug-Testing Suspensions. Sponsor legislation for the 2005 Convention to amend Bylaw 31.2.3.1.2 (positive drug test – non-NCAA athletics organization) to state that a student-athlete under a drug-testing suspension from a national or international sports governing body that has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency code shall not participate in NCAA intercollegiate competitions, effective August 1, 2005. The Council requested information on the impact of the issue in Division III and whether specific student-athlete data are available.

(2) Honors Committee. The Council received an oral report of the work of the committee.

(3) Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC). The Council noted items of information submitted by the committee.

(4) Olympic Sports Liaison Committee. The Council received an oral report of the work of the committee.

(5) Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. The Council noted items of information submitted by the committee.

(6) Research Committee. The Council noted items of information submitted by the committee.

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

(8) Walter Byers Scholarship Committee. The Council received an oral report of the work of the committee.

(9) Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA). The Council received an oral report of the work of the committee.

(10) Joint MOIC/CWA Meeting. The Council noted items of information submitted by the committees.

b. Division III Joint Presidents Council/Management Council subcommittees.

(1) Convention-Planning Subcommittee. The Council recommended that the Presidents Council:

(a) Draft 2005 NCAA Convention Schedule. Approve the 2005 Convention schedule. It noted a possible Division III commissioners meeting from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, January 8.

l Saturday, January 8 – Opening Business session and keynote address should immediately precede the Delegates Reception (4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Saturday). A high profile keynote speaker would add considerable value and increased attendance.

l Saturday January 8 – Association-wide and divisional educational sessions (9 to 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 to 3 p.m.) including an extended Division III National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators (NADIIIAA) session (1 to 4 p.m.).

l Saturday January 8 – Endorse the joint Division III Management Council/Presidents Council/Student-Athlete Advisory Committee luncheon (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) prior to Division III Presidents Council meeting (1 to 4 p.m.).

l Sunday, January 9 – Extend conference meetings from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

l Sunday, January 9 – Endorse the CEO luncheon and programming.

l Sunday, January 9 – Eliminate delegates' boxed lunch immediately following the Division III Issues Forum to save money ($20,000) and encourage conference luncheons.

l Seek an alternate time (Sunday, January 9, afternoon) for provisional member CEO and athletics administrator sessions.

l Monday January 10 – Start the Division III Business Session earlier (8 a.m.).

l Recommend a Division III Faculty Athletics Representatives Association preconference session Friday evening, January 7, or Saturday morning, January 8.

(b) Possible Educational Topics – 2005 Convention. Endorse the prioritized Division III topics and forward to NADIIIAA.

l Managing the Search Process – Strategies for Recruitment and Retention of Division III Coaches.

l Successful Campus and Conference Compliance Programs (include roundtable discussions).

l Dealing with Booster Clubs.

The Council also recommended that the Presidents Council endorse the Association-wide sessions with suggested presenters and forward to NCAA Convention management staff, noting a preference for morning and afternoon offerings to avoid conflicting with the Division III sessions.

Morning Sessions.

l Sportsmanship issues – specific game and event management policies and strategies (Chuck Mitrano, commissioner, Empire 8 conference, and Sandra Slabik, Neumann College).

l Violence in Sports.

Afternoon Sessions.

l Educational workshops (e.g., how to implement successful fundraising and marketing initiatives).

l Title IX/gender equity workshop.

l Legal issues.

(2) Strategic-Planning Subcommittee. The Council recommended that the Presidents Council approve the Division III priorities, objectives and initiatives, noting the additions:

l Objective 1.4 – “Increase integration of athletics staff as educators into the campus community.”

l Objective 2.3 – Division III initiative: NCAA Convention educational sessions.

l Objective 5.1 – Responsible units: Branding/Communications and SAAC and “pursue federated staff concept to enhance identity of Division III.”

The Council also noted that the Division III and Association-wide committee structure should review and provide input for its July meeting.

(3) Future of Division III – Phase II. The Council recommended that the Presidents Council:

(a) Oversight Group. Approve the Future of Division III – Phase II Oversight Group charge and its two-year delineation of responsibilities.

(b) Timetable. Review and approve the timetable, noting that the oversight group's first in-person meeting will be April 28.

(c) Communications Plan and Virtual Focus Groups and Conference Meetings. Review and update the communications plan to increase input and feedback among the Management and Presidents Councils and the membership. The Council requested that the staff draft an introductory “upcoming focus group communication” document for distribution to focus group participants. The document should outline the process, role and expectations of the Council and focus group participants.

The Council also:

(d) 2004 Convention Voting Analysis. Reviewed the voting analysis, noting that each area targeted for reform (financial aid; eligibility and recruiting; playing and practice seasons; membership) resulted in significant legislative change. The Council also noted that responses of “support” to survey concepts were anticipated to be higher than actual voting results.

(e) College Sports Project Update (CSP). Received an update on the CSP initiatives and its April 1 meeting, noting the importance of continued involvement of NCAA staff and governance leadership.

c. Management Council Subcommittees.

(1) 2004 Proposal No. 59 Subcommittee. The Council approved the modification of wording to amend Bylaw 13.1.1.2.1 (2004 Convention Proposal No. 59) to require that institutions in receipt of a student-athlete's permission to contact self-release form shall not contact the student-athlete's current institution until the 30-day effective period of the self-release expires, unless the student-athlete grants the institution permission to make that contact. Further, if the student-athlete intends to pursue the transfer after the 30-day permission to contact period, to require that the receiving institution notify the student-athlete's current institution within one week of the expiration date of the form that a self-release has been issued.

(2) Academic Issues Subcommittee. The Council approved the recommendation to accept 2.3 credits as the comparable minimum academic load for practice and competition for Knox College (per Bylaw 14.1.8.2.2.1.1, nontraditional academic calendars) based on its unique academic calendar and official designation as the minimum full-time program of studies for the college.

(3) Administrative Review Subcommittee. The Council withdrew the April 8, 2002, official interpretation regarding the timing of the 10-day practice period in preparation for a foreign tour (Bylaw 30.7.6) and referred this issue to the Interpretations and Legislation Committee and Administrative Review Subcommittee for further review.

(4) Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee. The Council agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation to amend Bylaw 17.11.2.3-(a) to permit administrative activities of any type to occur prior to the start of the five-day acclimatization period in football.

d. Division III General Committees.

(1) Budget Committee. The Council:

(a) 2003-04 Year-To-Date Actual Expenses. Reviewed the second quarter 2003-04 year-to-date actual of $14,391,500 in revenue and $5,420,736 in expenses. Expenses are roughly the same as in the second quarter of the previous year. Revenue increased approximately $660,000 from the previous year.

(b) 2004-05 Proposed Budget. Recommended that the Presidents Council approve the 2004-05 proposed budget with projected expenses of $15,923,299 and revenue of $15,445,000. The excess of expenses over revenue will be covered by the Division III reserve balance. The 2004-05 budget includes new championships initiatives of $201,586, and the nonchampionships strategic initiatives budget projects a decrease of $225,980.

(c) 2005-06 Proposed Budget. Recommended that the Presidents Council approve the 2005-06 proposed budget with projected expenses of $17,732,922 and revenue of $16,571,000. The excess of expenses over revenue will be covered by the Division III Reserve balance. The 2005-06 budget includes new championship initiatives of $1,528,000 including automatic qualification enhancements to all team sports and a further decrease of nonchampionships strategic initiatives by $181,220.

(d) Division III Reserve. Recommended that the Presidents Council approve the revised operating reserve policy. The Council noted the committee should:

l Consider an incremental increase to the reserve based on inflation.

l Engage in an educational session regarding its responsibility pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.