Future of Division III – Phase II – Oversight Group Recommendations for Further Discussion.

The Oversight group reviewed feedback from the 2005 NCAA Convention Future of Division III Sunday Forum and specific recommendations forwarded from the Championships Committee and Membership Committee. The Oversight Group discussed the importance of additional feedback and selected the items in bold to distribute to the Virtual Focus Groups. The additional recommendations will be reviewed during its April 27 in-person meeting.

Championships Committee Recommendations for Further Discussion.

• Provide option for member conferences to opt out of NCAA championships and participate in an alternative season-ending opportunity. (Attachment A)

• Determine if 64 is the ideal maximum for any championship bracket.

- Bracket expansion beyond 64 may require an increase in the number of weeks needed for championship competition.

• Adjust the current 1:6.5 team sport access ratio (Attachment B).

- Potential range of 1:6.5 – 1:7.5.

- Current assumption is that brackets may adjust as needed to reach 1:6.5 access ratio.

• Provide a limited time period for conference realignment without loss of automatic qualification.

- Consider for multi-conference and/or single-sport conferences.

- Parameters to be determined.

NOTE: Attachment C identifies the current make-up of member conferences and Independents by sport.

Membership Committee Recommendations for Further Discussion.

· Enable Division III institutions to reclassify to Division I and II.

· Adjust sports sponsorship requirements based on enrollment.

· Increase minimum contest requirements for sports sponsorship.

· Increase the minimum number of required student-athlete participants in individual sports, if the sport is used to meet the minimum sport sponsorship requirements.

· Continue to permit national dual membership affiliations.

· To what extent are CEOs involved in the oversight of intercollegiate athletics.

· Better incorporate the individual who the athletics director reports.

· Realignment without loss of automatic qualification, for a limited time period.

· Creation of a Conference Self-Study Guide.