REPORT OF THE
DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE (ADDENDUM)
1. ACTION ITEMS.
a. Provisional
Member Annual Reports-Active Membership.
(1) (1)
Recommendation. Grant active
membership status effective September 1, 2002, to:
(a)
Baptist Bible College.
(b)
Bay Path College.
(c)
Dominican University.
(d)
D’Youville College.
(e)
Husson College.
(f)
LeTourneau University.
(g)
Medialle College.
(h)
Mt. Ida College.
(i)
Peace College.
(j)
Pennsylvania State University, Altoona.
(k)
Philadelphia Biblical University.
(l)
University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg.
(m)
University of Texas at Dallas.
(n)
Schreiner University. [NOTE:
Schreiner University is in the "old" three-year provisional
cycle.]
(o)
State University of New York at Farmingdale.
(2) Rationale. On
its review of the aforementioned institutions’ annual reports, the committee
agreed that each institution had conducted its athletics program in full
compliance with NCAA regulations and should be granted active membership.
(3) Budget Impact. None.
b. Provisional
Member Annual Reports – Final Year of Provisional Membership.
(1) Recommendation. That the following institutions move
into their final year of provisional membership:
(a)
LaGrange College.
(b)
Louisiana College.
(c)
Newbury College. [NOTE: contingent upon the institution resubmitting the key
components document and ISSG to reflect a more thoughtful analysis of the
institution’s athletics program]
(d)
New York City Technical College.
(e)
Northland College.
(f)
Piedmont College.
(g)
Thomas College.
(2) Rationale. On its review of the aforementioned
institutions’ annual reports, the committee agreed that each institution should
be moved forward into its final year of provisional membership.
(3) Budget
Impact.
None.
c.
Provisional
Member Annual Reports – Third Year of Provisional Membership.
Recommendation.
That the following institutions move into their third year of provisional
membership:
(1) Alverno
College.
(2) Transylvania
University.
d.
Westminster
College.
(1) Recommendation.
Move Westminster College (Pennsylvania) into its fourth year of
provisional membership, contingent on the institution explaining its
policy of tracking full-time enrollment.
[CORRECTION: At its July
meeting, the Management Council did not consider this recommendation to move
Westminster (Pennsylvania) forward one year in the three-year reclassification
process. The Presidents Council
will take action at its next meeting to grant active membership status,
effective September 1, 2002, to Westminster (Pennsylvania).]
(2) Rationale. The
committee noted a lack of broad-based campus involvement for certain athletics
procedures, including certification of eligibility. While the institution has
not committed a violation, the committee would like the institution to address
this issue.
e.
Active
Member Conference – Allegheny Mountain Conference.
(1) Recommendation.
Grant the Allegheny Mountain Conference active member conference status
effective September 1, 2002.
(2) Rationale. On
its review of the conference’s application for membership, the committee agreed
that the conference should be granted active member status.
f. Editorial
Revision – NCAA Bylaw 20.02.5 (Emerging Sports for Women).
(1) Recommendation.
Editorially revise NCAA 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.
(2) Rationale.
Bylaw 20.02.5 indicates that an institution may consider an emerging
sport for women toward meeting "revenue distribution"
requirements. However, no reference
is made to counting such sports toward meeting the sports sponsorship
requirements set forth in Bylaw 20.11.3.
The legislative history of Bylaw 20.02.5 also supports this
recommendation.
(3) Budget
Impact. None.
g. Editorial Revision
– Bylaw 20.02.5.3 (Emerging Sports for
Women – Rowing).
(1) Recommendation. Delete Bylaw 20.02.5.3 since it is
unnecessary legislation.
(2) Rationale. Bylaw 20.02.5.3 is no longer applicable
to Division III inasmuch as a Division III Women’s Rowing Championship was
established when the Division III membership adopted 2001 Convention Proposal
No. 56, effective August 1, 2001.
(3) Budget
Impact. None.
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
a. Reclassification
from Division II Provisional to Division III Provisional Member. The
committee considered a request from Spelman College to reclassify from Division
II provisional to Division III provisional member. The committee welcomed
Spelman College into the Division III provisional member process and encourages
the institution to attend an exploratory educational session available pursuant
to the new provisional member education process.
b. New Chair. The committee voted unanimously to
elect Christopher Bledsoe, New Your University, as its new chair. His term as chair will begin at the
close of the 2003 Convention.
c. 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., NACDA, 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 Eastern College Athletic
Conference (ECAC) fall convention, and supports the continued use of the
Division III rules test as modified.
d. NCAA Division III
Institutional Self-Study Guide. The committee reviewed the Institutional Self-Study
Guide 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. Donna Ledwin and Timothy Downes will prepare a draft of this
document for the January 2003 in-person meeting.
e. 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.
f. 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.
g. 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.