REPORT OF THE
DIVISION
III STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1. ACTION
ITEMS.
a. Financial
Aid Committee Composition.
(1)
Recommendation.
Amend Bylaw 21.8.6.6.1 to eliminate the requirement that a
student-athlete representative serve as a member of the Financial Aid
Committee.
(2)
Rationale.
The committee is in agreement that the Financial Aid Committee does not
require input of student-athletes on a regular basis. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
(SAAC) encourages the Financial Aid Committee to continue to use the Division
III SAAC as a
resource as needed.
(3)
Budget Impact.
None.
b.
SAAC Selection Process.
(1)
Recommendation.
Support the Nominating Committee’s recommendation to amend Bylaw
21.8.6.10 to indicate that student-athlete representatives shall be selected by
the SAAC from a slate of nominees, subject to review by the Division III
Nominating Committee and ratification by the Division III Management Council.
(2)
Rationale.
Due to the unique composition of SAAC, the committee believes it can
better determine its current compositional needs. Through SAAC’s interaction with
partner conferences and participation at regional leadership conferences,
committee members will have access to solicit nominations and personal contact
with potential nominees. This
selection process will be consistent with Divisions I and II.
(3)
Budget Impact.
None.
c.
SAAC Selection Process
Best Practices.
(1)
Recommendation.
Approve the following best practices to solicit more SAAC
nominations:
·
Include
the SAAC nomination process in the SAAC handbook;
·
Review
the SAAC nomination process at the Regional Leadership Conference;
·
Post
the SAAC nomination process on the SAAC Web site along with a link to the
nomination web page.
·
Include
the SAAC nomination process in the Commissioners Monthly Update; and
·
Include
the SAAC Nomination Process in the 2006 version of the Getting in the Game
CD-Rom.
(2) Rationale. The committee believes the best
practices will enhance the SAAC nomination process and increase the number of
SAAC nominees in the future.
(3) Budget
Impact. None.
d. Interpretation
of Camps and Clinics Comprised Solely of Competition Activities.
(1)
Recommendation.
Oppose the Interpretations and Legislation Committee’s (ILC)
recommendation to permit an institution’s camp or clinic to be solely
comprised of competition activities.
(2)
Rationale.
The committee reviewed ILC’s interpretation of Bylaw 13.13.1.1.1
and believes the purpose of a camp or clinic is to teach fundamental skills in
a sport. The committee noted that
competition-only camps will allow coaches to operate leagues, team camps and
evaluation/tryout camps which will compromise the fundamental principle of the
Division III tryout regulations.
(3) Budget
Impact. None.
e. Interpretation
of Use of a Season of Participation for Male Practice Players on Female Teams.
(1)
Recommendation.
Oppose the Interpretations and Legislation Committee’s (ILC)
recommendation to charge a male student-athlete with a season of participation
in a particular sport for practicing beyond his first opportunity to compete
with that team.
(2)
Rationale. The
committee noted that a male student-athlete does not have an opportunity to
compete with a female team, unless the team is
considered a mixed
team. Therefore, a male
student-athlete should not be charged with a season of participation.
(3)
Budget Impact.
None.
f.
NCAA Bylaw 31.1.4.1
– Institutional Policy – Religious Reasons.
(1)
Recommendation.
Oppose the Championships Committee’s recommendation to eliminate
Bylaw 31.1.4.1 that requires championship schedules to be adjusted to
accommodate institutions with written policies against competition on a
particular day for religious reasons.
(2)
Rationale.
The committee believes the NCAA should respect an institution’s
policy that would prohibit intercollegiate activities on a particular day for
religious observations. The
committee understands the Championships Committee’s concern for missed
class time due to mid-week preliminary-round contests; however, the committee
believes religious observations take precedence over missed class time.
(3) Budget
Impact. None.
2. INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
a.
College Sports Project.
The committee met with Bob Malekoff to discuss the
College Sports Project (CSP). Mr.
Malekoff reviewed the history, current status and future of CSP and provided
the committee with time for open dialogue.
The committee will continue its communication with CSP in representing
the student-athlete voice. Additionally,
the committee will write a letter to CSP
with its specific request for greater student-athlete involvement. The committee will encourage
student-athletes of institutions that are CSP members to communicate with key
constituents on their campus to make sure their voice is heard within the CSP
structure.
b.
Campus Integration. The committee reviewed the results of
the campus integration survey conducted at the NCAA Leadership Conference. The committee will continue its campus
integration research through the committee’s interaction with conference
and partner conference SAACs.
c.
Future of Division III
Oversight Group Recommendations. The committee reviewed
the Future of Division III Oversight Group recommendations which included
possible proposed legislation, best practices and topics for further
review.
The committee expressed
its concern regarding an increase in the minimum sports sponsorship
requirements. It was noted that
implications of not meeting the minimum standards of sports sponsorship could
impact the student-athletes attending those institutions. Additionally, the committee is concerned
about the impact on current sports when adding sports and the impact on the
quality of the student-athlete experience if institutions were forced to add
more sports.
The committee identified
the following best practices for SAAC involvement:
·
Utilization
of academic standards such as graduation rate and college grade-point average
to assess the college academic performance of student-athletes;
·
Chief
executive officer (CEO) active involvement in the oversight of intercollegiate
athletics;
·
Hiring
of coaches consistent with other institutional units;
·
Evaluation
and annual compensation policies for coaches that go beyond wins and losses and
are consistent with other institutional educational priorities;
·
Educational
efforts and desirable campus programs to assist the integration of
student-athletes into the campus culture; and
·
Maintain
and enhance NCAA sportsmanship programming to include the following
constituents: student-athletes;
coaches; officials; athletics staff; and spectators.
d. Conference
SAAC Grants. The committee reviewed
the conference SAAC grant recipients for 2004-05. Committee members should encourage their
conference and partner conference to apply for the SAAC grant.
e. Conference
SAAC Survey. Conference SAAC surveys
were distributed at the January meeting for committee members to complete
regarding conference SAAC operations.
The intent for gathering the information was to assist in developing
best practices. The committee will
continue to gather Conference SAAC information and will report the results at
the November SAAC meeting.
f.
Division III Strategic
Planning Priorities and Implementation 2004-2006. The committee reviewed the SAAC initiatives and
implementation progress as noted in the Division III strategic plan.
g.
Impact of 2004 and 2005
NCAA Legislation. The committee discussed how the 2004 and
2005 legislation has impacted student-athletes. The committee expressed positive
feedback regarding Bylaw 13.1.1.2.1 (self-release) and Bylaw 17.11.6.1
(football exception); however, the committee noted varied reactions regarding
Bylaw 14.2.4.1 (minimum amount of participation), Bylaw 17.1.4 (Sports subject
to segment limitations) and Bylaw 17.1.9.4 (nontraditional segment length).
h.
SAAC Handbook. The committee reviewed a draft SAAC handbook that will serve as an
operational manual for campus and conference SAACs. The committee recommended the NCAA staff
send the SAAC handbook to all Division III director of athletics and senior
woman administrators in addition to posting the SAAC handbook on the National
SAAC Web site and distributing at the Regional Leadership Conferences.
i.
Certification of
Insurance. The committee noted the legislative requirement to certify insurance
coverage for student-athletes will begin
j.
Title IX. The committee noted the
k. Division
III Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conferences. The committee
discussed the updated agenda and SAAC presentations in preparation for the Division III
Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conferences to be held September 30 -
l. SAAC
Chair and Executive Subcommittee Representative. The committee appointed Sammer Kahn,
m. SAAC
Representatives on Division III and Association-wide Committees. The committee appointed the following members to
serve on Division III and Association-wide committees:
·
Alexis
Fink,
·
·
Marcus
Pryor,
·
Meghan
Lockard,
·
Mike
Unwin,
n.
2006 NCAA Convention Legislation. The committee reviewed
the Presidents Council and Membership-Sponsored proposals for the 2006
Convention.
o.
Sport Committee Update.
Meghan Lockard will work with the
women's tennis committee and Mr. Khan will work with the women's golf committee
to gain feedback with regards to the automatic qualifier and the possible
change to a fall season.
p. Professional
Development. The committee
participated in a professional development session on media interviewing
skills.
q. Joint Divisions
I, II and III SAAC Meeting. See
attached joint meeting summary.
[Attachment A]
Sarah Dufresne, Assistant Director of
Education Outreach
Susan Peal, Assistant Director of
Membership Services