DRAFT MINUTES OF
THE
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
DIVISION III PRESIDENTS COUNCIL
Participants:
David L. Beckley,
Richard Flynn,
John Fry,
Dale Knobel,
James Moseley,
Ivory Nelson,
Miriam R. Pride,
Deborah Stanley, State
Phillip Stone,
Richard Torgenson,
Richard Wells,
Peggy R. Williams,
Matt Banker, NCAA
Bridget Belgiovine, NCAA, recording secretary
Jack Copeland, NCAA
Daniel T. Dutcher, NCAA
Jennifer Kearns, NCAA
Debbie Kresge, NCAA
Leah Nilsson, NCAA
Susan Peal, NCAA
Joseph Bascuas, president,
[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.]
The meeting was called to order
at
1. Announcements. Stone welcomed the Council members
including observer Joseph
Bascuas, whose term begins following the Convention, and staff.
2. Review Roster, Future Meeting Schedule, and the Division III Newsletter. The Council reviewed the documents, noting no action.
3. Previous Minutes. The Council reviewed the minutes of the October 28 Presidents Council meeting; the October 28 Executive Committee meeting; and the October 27, November 23, November 30 and December 16, Administrative Committee actions.
It was VOTED
“That the minutes of the October 27 Presidents Council meeting and the October 27 and November 28, Administrative Committee actions, be approved as distributed.”
4. October 27 NCAA Executive Committee Meeting. The Council reviewed the minutes of the October 27 Executive Committee meeting.
5. Report of the January 6 Division III Management Council Meeting.
a. Association-Wide Committees. The Council:
· Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. Approved the Management Council recommendation to support in principle $400,000 in the 2006-08 biennial budget to establish a voluntary year-round Drug Testing Two-Year Pilot Program in Division III.
b. Division III Joint Presidents Council/Management Council Subcommittees. The Council:
(1) Strategic Initiatives Grant Program. Reviewed updated Strategic Initiatives Grant Program noting:
· Program represents a new process and way of doing business for Division III.
· Expectation that conferences and independents will need to engage in broad-based collaboration to develop processes to implement grant program.
· Formal division-wide memorandum in early February.
(2) Future of Division III – Phase II.
(a) Conference/Independent Meetings Update. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.
(b) Virtual Focus Groups (VFG). Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.
(c) Best Practices Update and Sunday Forum PowerPoint. Reviewed plans for Sunday Forum noting expectations of Council members. The Council noted the goal of the session is to provide objective communication of the legislative proposals and implications and opportunity for the membership to seek clarification.
(d) President/Chancellor Advisory Group. Approved the establishment of the Advisory Group, effective immediately:
· Goals and Objectives.
o To enhance the level of understanding by chancellors/presidents in the NCAA governance process related to key issues facing Division III.
o To enhance the leadership of chancellors/presidents in the governance of intercollegiate athletics at the national, conference/independent and institutional levels. Special emphasis will be placed on key legislative proposals and policies and strategic direction.
o To enhance the integration of athletics programs within the educational mission of Division III schools and conferences. Special emphasis will be placed on strategic initiatives implemented through the new Division III Conference Grant Program.
o To better recognize and accommodate the differing models of conference governance and expectations of leadership by chancellors/presidents within Division III.
· Composition.
o One chancellor/president from each Division III voting conference not currently represented on the Presidents Council or by a chancellor/president on the Management Council.
o Two representatives from the Association of Division III Independents.
o Appropriate efforts shall be made to ensure the diversity of the group.
o Group membership should include at least one person who is an ethnic minority and at least two persons of each gender; a single member shall not be considered to meet both minimums.
· Appointment. Each commissioner of conferences not currently represented by a chancellor/president on the Presidents or Management Councils will be asked to identify a chancellor/president to serve on Advisory Group.
· Duties.
o Advise and provide input to the fifteen members of the Division III Presidents Council.
o Facilitate communication from the Council to chancellor/president colleagues in their respective conferences/group of independents.
· Term of Office.
o Minimum of two years, and a maximum of three years.
o Each Division III conference and the Association of Independents would be authorized to determine the exact term of office of their respective member.
o After completing a term of office, members of the Advisory Group may not serve again for two years.
o Term of office shall be annually reported to the Presidents Council and published in the NCAA Division III Newsletter and The NCAA News.
o Alternates or designees would be invited to attend the meeting, if necessary.
· Frequency of meetings and conference calls.
o In-person meetings held in October and January given the legislative cycle.
o The October in-person meetings held the day before the Presidents Council meetings. The January in-person meeting shall coincide with the annual presidential luncheon at the NCAA Convention.
o Conference calls could be held before the August meeting and as required during other times of the year. Conference calls would be no longer than one hour in length.
· Method of communication.
o Predominantly through e-mail following the quarterly Management Council meetings but before the Presidents Council meetings so that information and input from the Division III Chancellor/Presidents Advisory Group can be shared with the Division III Presidents Council members.
(e) College Sports Project (CSP) Update. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.
c. Management Council Subcommittees. The Council:
· Administrative Review Subcommittee.
o
Waiver Requests of NCAA Bylaw 14.1.9
(Graduate
Student/Postbaccalaureate Participation). Directed the Administrative Review
Subcommittee to review waiver cases closely and approve them very selectively,
based on compelling and exemplary academic success beyond simply early
graduation. The Council intends to
closely monitor the results of these cases on a regular basis, including
appropriate review standards used by the subcommittee.
d. Division III Committees. The Council
(1) Budget Committee. Approved the final 2004-05 fiscal year results of $16,019,000 in revenue and $13,595,365 in expenses. Expenses were approximately $2,300,000 under budget. Championship expenses came in approximately $1,800,000 under budget as a result of base budget adjustments and stricter policies set several years ago. Non-championship
initiatives were $470,000 under budget. The Division III Financial Aid Pilot Honorarium program was budgeted in the prior fiscal year; however, the majority of the submissions were delayed and not paid until 2004-05 causing an additional $135,000 expense to the current budget. The 2004-05 fiscal year is closed and resulted in a reserve balance of $11 million.
(2) Financial Aid Committee. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.
The Council also:
· Discussed reporting process noting: justification deadline for 48 institutions is February 1, 2006; Level II review in March; and variance triggers closer analysis and possible enforcement review. Four percent variance is safe harbor.
· Discussed confidentiality issues noting: cautious approach based on widely varied institutional missions; public disclosure and its impact; goal of process continues to be membership education and Division III accountability to Bylaw 15; and seek legal counsel input on “final vs. draft” status of report to institutions related to Freedom of Information Act.
· Recommended discussion at its April meeting regarding “disclosures issues” related to NCAA Council service and receipt/distribution of materials.
(3) Committee on Infractions. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.
(4) Interpretations and Legislation Committee. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.
(5) Membership
Committee. Endorsed the actions
of the Management
Council.
(6) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.
(7) Convention-Planning Subcommittee. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.
6. 2006 NCAA Convention. The Council:
a. Legislative Proposal Question and Answer Guide. Reviewed and approved the guide.
b. Parliamentary Issues. Approved the memo regarding mootnicity and related parliamentary issues noting that it will be distributed at the Sunday Forum.
c. 2006 Proposed Legislation. Reviewed 2006 Convention proposed legislation:
· Proposal No. 2 – Retained sponsorship.
· Proposal No. 5 – Directed the Administrative Review Subcommittee to review waiver cases closely and approve them very selectively, based on compelling and exemplary academic success beyond simply early graduation. The Council intends to closely monitor the results of these cases on a regular basis, including appropriate review standards used by the subcommittee.
· Proposal No. 18 – Discussed the issue and remembered that the Management Council’s Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee consider establishment of an hour and/or contest limit during the nontraditional date of competition.
d. Speaker Assignment and Position Papers. Reviewed and assigned speakers and position papers.
· Proposal No. 2 – President Flynn.
· Proposal No. 5 – President Williams.
· Proposal No. 15 – President Torgerson.
· Proposal No. 17 – President Knobel.
· Proposal No. 24 – President Torgerson.
7. General Issues. The Council:
a. 2006 Management Council and Presidents Council Committee/Subcommittee Assignments. Reviewed and requested staff follow-up via electronic communication to solicit interest of members for service.
b. Presidents Council Attendance Policy. Reviewed member attendance record over past two years and reinforced their strict application.
9. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at
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