MINUTES OF THE

 

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

 

DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

 

 

NCAA National Office June 27-28, 2002

Indianapolis, Indiana

 

 

Participants:

 

Truman Christopher Bledsoe, New York University

Timothy Downes, California Technical University

Donna M. Ledwin, New Jersey Athletic Conference, chair

Del Malloy, Salve Regina University

Mark Molesworth, University of Wisconsin, Platteville

Anne Steele, Muskingum College

Charlie Titus, University of Masschusetts, Boston

Kay F. Whitley, Sul Ross State University

Dan Dutcher, NCAA

Mweni Ekpo, NCAA

David Hill, NCAA

Leah Nilsson, NCAA, recording secretary

 

 

 

[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 committee'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.]

 

 

Thursday, June 27

 

The meeting was called to order at 8:50 a.m. Central time by the chair, Ms. Ledwin.

 

 

1.             Minutes.  The NCAA Division III Membership Committee reviewed minutes from its May 30 telephone conference.

 

It was VOTED

 

“That the minutes of the May 30 telephone conference be approved as distributed.”

 


2.             Review of Provisional Membership Annual Reports. 

 

a.              Annual Reports – Active Membership.  The committee reviewed provisional member annual reports from schools in their final year of provisional membership.

 

It was VOTED

 

        “That the following institutions be granted active member status:

 

 

(1)Bay Path College;

 

(2)Dominican University;

 

(3)Husson College;

 

(4)LeTourneau University;

 

(5)Medialle College;

 

(6)Mt. Ida College;

 

(7)Peace College;

 

(8)Pennsylvania State University, Altoona;

 

(9)Philadelphia Biblical University;

 

(10)      University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg;

 

(11)      University of Texas at Dallas;

 

(12)         Schreiner University [Note:  Schreiner is in the “old” three-year provisional cycle.  Thus, the institution will be moving into active membership beginning with the 2002-03 academic year.] and;

 

(13)      State University of New York at Farmingdale.


b.              Annual Reports – Final Year of Provisional Membership.  The committee reviewed provisional member annual reports from schools wishing to move into their final year of provisional membership.

 

It was VOTED

 

                 “That the following schools be moved into their final year of provisional membership:

 

(1)Baptist Bible College;

 

(2)D’Youville College;

 

(3)LaGrange College;

 

(4)Louisiana College;

 

(5)Newbury College [Note:  Contingent on the institution resubmitting the key components document and the NCAA Division III Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG) to reflect a more thoughtful analysis of the institution’s athletics program];

 

(6)New York City Technical College;

 

(7)Northland College;

 

(8)Piedmont College; and

 

(9)Thomas College.”

 

c.              Annual Reports – Third Year of Provisional Membership.  The committee reviewed annual reports from schools wishing to move into their third year of provisional membership.

 

It was VOTED

 

“That the following schools be moved into their third year of provisional membership:

 

(1)   Alverno College; and

 

(2)Transylvania University.”

 

d.              Annual Reports - Final Year of Reclassifying Membership.  The committee reviewed annual reports from reclassifying schools in their final year of active membership.


It was VOTED

 

“That the following institutions be granted active member status:

 

(1)Texas Lutheran University; and

 

(2)Westminster College.”

 

e.              Becker College.  In reviewing the annual report and self report of an NCAA violation submitted by Becker College, the committee noted that the institution had committed a violation of NCAA Bylaw 14.2.2 by allowing an ineligible student-athlete to participate in the 2001 golf season.

 

It was VOTED

 

“That Becker College repeat year three of the provisional membership process.”

 

f.                Huntingdon College.  The committee could not render a decision on this institution until further documentation about the self-reported violation was referred to the committee.

 

It was VOTED

 

“To defer the decision on Huntingdon College until further documentation was received from Huntingdon College.”

 

g.              Spelman College.  The committee welcomed Spelman College to join the Division III exploratory membership period beginning September 1, 2002.  The committee will not consider a waiver of any year of the provisional membership process until the institution is participating in the provisional membership process.

 

 

3.             Allegheny Mountain Conference.  The committee reviewed the conference application for the Allegheny Mountain Conference.

 

         It was VOTED

                       

         “To grant the Allegheny Mountain Conference active member status.  


4.             NCAA Division III Active Membership Education.  The committee reviewed the current NCAA regional rules seminar schedule and topics and noted disappointing attendance at the 2002 seminars.  The committee agreed to continue conducting Division III specific sessions at the 2003 seminars but will consider other options for future years, including conducting a Division III rules seminar in conjunction with other events (e.g., National Association Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Convention).  The committee agreed to retain the topics from the 2002 seminars, with the exception of amateurism and the Division III independent member session.  The committee will continue to support educational sessions at the ECAC fall convention, and supports the continued use of the Division III rules test as modified.

 

 

5.             NCAA Division III Institutional Self-Study Guide.  The committee reviewed the ISSG and requested staff to add new questions regarding attendance at Regional Rules Seminars and participation in the governance structure.  Also, several other revisions will be made to reflect changing legislation.  The creation of a conference ISSG was discussed.  Ms. Ledwin and Mr. Downes will prepare a draft of this document for the January 2003 in-person meeting.

 

 

6.             NCAA Bylaw 20.02.5.  The committee recommended an editorial revision of Bylaw 20.02.5 to remove a provision for rowing as an emerging sport and remove language that would allow emerging sports to be countable for purposes of revenue distribution.  The committee recommends that the reference to “sports-sponsorship” found in Bylaw 20.02.5 be deleted.

 

 

7.             Committee Operations Plan.  The committee reviewed the strategic operations plan and made minor changes.  Committee involvement in Regional Rules Seminars will be added as on ongoing item in the plan.

 

 

8. Provisional Membership Issues.  The committee set a September 1 deadline for registration for the exploratory period and discussed content for the educational sessions required for institutions entering the exploratory process.  Staff will set a date for the educational session to be held in Indianapolis in the fall of 2002.  The committee discussed the handling of provisional member schools with self-reported violations, and determined that the committee will accept or reject the institution’s self-imposed penalties.  These penalties should be included in the institution’s key components document.

 

 

9.      Report of the Joint Subcommittee on the Future of Division III Membership Subgroup.  The committee received an oral report and specific topics being addressed by the subgroup:  subdivision, travel limits, coaching limits, sports sponsorship, principles of self-selection and conference affiliation.  The main charge of the membership subgroup will be to address legislative implications once all subgroups present recommendations.  The future of Division III will be discussed at a variety of locations in the coming year, including the 2003 NCAA Convention, Regional Rules Seminars, NACDA and the ECAC meetings.  The subcommittee has recognized the importance of ensuring that the membership agrees with ‘hot spots’ identified by the membership.  All discussions are focusing on the Division III philosophy.

 

 

10.    New Chair.  The committee voted unanimously to elect Mr. Bledsoe, New York University, as its new chair.  His term as chair will begin at the close of the 2003 NCAA Convention.

 

 

11.    Future In-Person Meetings and Telephone Conferences.  The committee agreed to conduct telephone conferences on the following dates and times:

 

a.             9:30 a.m. Central time August 29;

 

b.            9:30 a.m. Central time September 26;

 

c.             10:30 a.m. Eastern time October 31; and

 

d.            10:30 a.m. Eastern time December 5.

 

 

12.         Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. Central time.

 

 

 

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