MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

NCAA National Office June 26-27, 2003

Indianapolis, Indiana

Participants:

Christopher Bledsoe, New York University, chair

Timothy Downes, California Institute of Technology

Donna M. Ledwin, Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference

Del Malloy, Salve Regina University

Bill Mandel, Western New England College

Mark Molesworth, University of Wisconsin, Platteville

Anne Steele, Muskingum College

Kay Whitley, Sul Ross State University

Dan Dutcher, NCAA

Ellen Ferris, NCAA

Rich McGlynn, NCAA, recording secretary

Leah Nilsson, NCAA

Carolyn Hunter, Christopher Newport University, was in attendance for portions of the meeting.

[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 26

The meeting was called to order at 3:55 p.m. by the chair, Mr. Bledsoe. All members were present as noted above.

1. Review of Minutes. The NCAA Division III Membership Committee reviewed minutes from its May 27 telephone conference. The committee amended the minutes (1) to state that the committee “recommended,” instead of “determined,” that it is not necessary for it to be an NCAA member conference to use the conference championship exemptions to maximum contest limitations and (2) to clarify that professional development was removed from the operations plan because it may fall under the purview of other committees.

It was VOTED

“That the minutes of the May 27 telephone conference be approved as amended.”

2. Exploratory Membership Issues.

a. Provisional Membership Lottery. The committee conducted a lottery to slot exploratory institutions into the provisional process. The institutions were slotted to begin the provisional process in the following years.

(1) 2003-04:

(a) Palm Beach Atlantic University.

(b) University of Texas at Tyler.

(d) University of Maine at Presque Isle.

(e) Finlandia University; and

(f) Mount Mary College.

(2) 2004-05:

(a) Mount Aloysius College.

(b) Crown College.

(d) Tri-State University.

(e) Presentation College; and

(f) Mitchell College.

(3) 2005-06:

(a) LaSierra University.

(b) Northwestern College.

(d) Bethany Lutheran College.

(e) North Central University; and

(f) Purchase College.

(4) 2006-07:

● Johnson & Wales University Denver.

b. Recommendation to Become Corresponding Members. The committee will recommend becoming corresponding members of the NCAA to those institutions not slotted to begin the provisional process in 2003-04. As corresponding members, the institutions will receive NCAA publications.

c. Review of 2003-04 Exploratory Applications. To date, two institutions have submitted applications to begin the exploratory process in 2003-04. The deadline to apply is September 1.

d. Provisional Member Education Plan. The committee reviewed the education plan for provisional members. The committee suggested that, at the meeting in September or October, NCAA Bylaw 14, financial aid, playing and practice seasons, championships and annual reports should be reviewed with the athletics directors. For the chief executive officers, the committee suggested a mentoring program and a panel discussion to include presidents from institutions that recently have completed the provisional process. In addition, the staff should review with the chief executive officers:

(1) the roles of the president in the legislative process;

(2) the relationship between financial aid, registrar’s office and admissions office with the athletics department;

(3) the Division III philosophy and the link between the philosophy and membership in the organization;

(4) how to interact with the NCAA staff; and

(5) the services offered by the NCAA.

3. Membership Education Issues.

a. Regional Compliance Seminars. The committee recommended altering the current schedule of Division III regional compliance seminars. During the 2003-04 academic year, a Division III mini-rules seminar will be presented at the conclusion of the 2004 NCAA Convention, and there will not be any Division III sessions offered at the May 2004 regional compliance seminar in Anaheim, California. The Division III regional compliance seminars will continue to be offered at the May and June 2004 sites in Indianapolis, Indiana, and New York City, New York, respectively.

b. Rules Test. The committee reviewed the updated rules test and approved its distribution. The memorandum sent to all Division III athletics directors and conference commissioners also should be revised to include language strongly encouraging the use of the test as an educational tool. In the future, the committee may consider proposing legislation to require administration of the test to all coaches and athletics department staff.

4. New Offers of Financial Aid for Multidivisional Institutions. The committee recommended that the Division III Management Council not approve Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ request for a waiver of Bylaw 20.7.1.2.1. Hobart and William Smith elevated the sport of men’s lacrosse to Division I in 1995, with full knowledge of the restriction on offering athletics aid. The committee believed there were no extenuating circumstances to warrant relief from the bylaw. The committee also noted that the institution could submit proposed legislation to allow a Division III institution conducting a sport at the Division I level to offer athletics aid to student-athletes competing in the Division I sport.

5. Division III Membership Data Profile. The committee reviewed the membership profile created by Richard A. Rasmussen and William A. Rasmussen.

6. Update on the Future of Division III. The committee received an update on the discussions regarding the future of Division III and discussed the legislative concepts under active consideration. In its discussions, the committee noted its concern about increasing the minimum sports sponsorship requirements when so many institutions are facing difficult economic conditions. In addition, the committee stated its concern that multidivision membership was contrary to the Division III philosophy. Finally, the committee believed that limiting the numbers of permissible coaches would not be beneficial, and the number of coaches hired should be left to the discretion of each institution.

7. Strategic Planning Priorities. The committee reviewed the strategic planning priorities relating to the membership committee. They agreed that educational programs should be run through conferences and that the educational session conducted for provisional members could be expanded.

[Note: The meeting recessed at 8:45 p.m.]

Friday, June 27

The meeting was called to order at 8:15 a.m. All members were present as noted above.

8. Review of Provisional Member Annual Reports.

a. Provisional Member Annual Reports – Active Membership. The committee recommended the following institutions be granted active membership status. On its review of the provisional institutions’ annual reports, the Membership Committee agreed that each institution had conducted its athletics program in full compliance with NCAA regulations and should be granted active membership.

(1) Baptist Bible College (Pennsylvania).

(2) Becker College.

(3) D’Youville College.

(4) La Grange College.

(5) Louisiana College.

(6) New York City Technical College.

(7) Newbury College.

(8) Northland College.

(9) Piedmont College.

(10) Thomas College; and

(11) Ursinus College (field hockey).

b. Huntingdon College. The committee recommended that Huntingdon College repeat year four of the provisional membership process. In addition, the committee recommended the institution receive a waiver of Bylaw 3.6.1.2.1, which requires the third and fourth years of provisional membership be completed consecutively. The waiver would allow the institution to repeat only year four of the provisional membership process. Huntingdon College was not in compliance with all Division III legislation during the 2002-03 academic year. Full compliance is required by the provisional membership process, inasmuch as the institution is in its fourth year of provisional membership. Based on information provided by the institution in its annual report, the institution did not meet the minimum sports sponsorship of five men’s sports. The committee noted that, while the annual report declared men’s tennis as a sponsored sport, the institution did not compete in any matches during the academic year; thus, the institution did not meet the minimum required contests with the minimum number of participants in the required five men’s sports. In addition, the institution exceeded the permissible number of contests in the sports of men’s basketball and women’s volleyball. Finally, the institution did not respond to all the questions listed on the annual report confirmation sheet, as the institution did not confirm that the sports sponsorship summary was completed accurately and completely.

c. Provisional Member Annual Reports – Final Year of Provisional Membership. The committee recommended that the following institutions be moved forward into their final year of provisional membership.

(1) Alverno College; and

(2) Transylvania University.