REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

ACTION ITEMS.

1. Legislative Action Items.

· Reclassification to Division II – written notice of intention.

(1) Recommendation. Amend NCAA Bylaw 20.6.3.1 to clarify that a member institution reclassifying to Division II shall no longer be eligible to participate in any future Division III championships once the institution forwards to the national office its official reclassification application.

(2) Effective Date. Immediate.

(3) Rationale. The current legislation states that an institution is no longer eligible to participate in any future Division III championships once the institution forwards to the national office written notice of its intention to change its membership classification to Division II. Under this criterion, it is not clear if an institution’s status in the exploratory period constitutes “intent to change its membership”. The amended language will clarify that an official reclassification application is the trigger for the institution’s intent to reclassify.

(4) Estimated Budget Impact. None.

(5) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

2. Nonlegislative Items.

a. Review of Lesley University Waiver Request.

(1) Recommendation. To deny the waiver request from Lesley University to extend its waiver of the sports sponsorship requirements.

(2) Effective Date. Immediate.

(3) Rationale. The committee reviewed the request [Attachment] from Lesley to extend the three-year period the institution had been provided to meet sport sponsorship requirements for its newly admitted male student body. The committee noted that the legislated waiver is limited to a three-year

period and that the institution should more aggressively pursue its original plan to have five men’s sports, including three team sports, in place by fall 2007.

(4) Estimated Budget Impact. None.

(5) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

b. Yeshiva University - sports sponsorship waiver.

(1) Recommendation. Grant a sports sponsorship waiver to Yeshiva University per Bylaw 20.11.3.6.2, single-gender institution transitioning to coeducational. The waiver shall apply until fall 2009.

(2) Effective Date. Immediate.

(3) Rationale. The committee approved a sports sponsorship waiver request from Yeshiva that includes an undergraduate female student body (Stern College for Women). The committee noted the institution has been sponsoring three female sports, and has submitted a satisfactory action plan to add two sports to bring them into compliance with the required five sports for women.

(4) Estimated Budget Impact. None.

(5) Student-Athlete Impact. None.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

1. Role of NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions in Failure to Meet Membership Requirements. The committee reviewed two official interpretations discussing the impact on an institution of multiple years of noncompliance with sports sponsorship requirements, noting that the more recent of these interpretations stated that the penalty for multiple years of noncompliance discovered simultaneously is probation. This interpretation also stated that the Committee on Infractions, at its discretion, may impose appropriate penalties on institutions that have not been in compliance with sports sponsorship requirements for multiple academic years. It was noted that the Committee on Infractions has not been involved with sports sponsorship issues for the past several years. The committee requested that a staff working group examine the issue of the appropriate role of the Committee on Infractions related to membership requirements and examine the meaning of “discovery” of noncompliance with sports sponsorship requirements. This working group is to present recommendations to the Membership Committee at a future meeting.

2. Review Membership-Sponsored Legislation - Proposal No. 1-1, Division membership -- maximum capacity. The committee opposed this proposal. It noted the complexity of the membership growth issue and does not believe that a simple cap is the best growth management strategy. Rather, the committee prefers the governance structure package, which requires a greater philosophical and compliance commitment by active members, while allowing those institutions that strongly subscribe to the Division III philosophy and act accordingly to join the Division III membership.

3. Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference (AWCC) - conference status update. The committee received an update on the status of the AWCC. The AWCC will disband following the 2006-07 academic year. Subsequent to the 2006-07 academic year, the status of AWCC member institutions will be as follows: Chatham College will join the Presidents Athletic Conference; Hood College will join the Capital Athletic Conference; Mary Baldwin College will join the USA South Athletic Conference; College of Notre Dame (Md.) will join the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference; Trinity University (D.C.) will remain independent until other conference affiliation has been granted; Wells College and Wilson College will join the North Eastern Athletic Conference.

4. Midwest Conference - NCAA Constitution 3.3.4.4. After reviewing the Constitution and Bylaws of the Midwest Conference, the committee determined that the Midwest Conference is in noncompliance with the conditions and obligations of membership. Specifically, institutional presidents and chancellors shall have the ultimate responsibility and final authority of the operation of the member conference and the actions of any institution that is a member of that conference. The Midwest Conference rests this authority with its faculty athletics representatives. The committee agreed to provide the Midwest Conference with a six month time period (April 16, 2007) to be in compliance with Constitution 3.3.4.4.

Committee Chair: William Mandel, Western New England College

Staff Liaison(s): Azure Davey, Membership Services

Leah Nilsson, Membership Services

Susan Peal, Membership Services