MINUTES OF THE

 

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

 

DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

 

 

Telephone Conference                                                                                           November 17, 2005

 

 

Participants:

 

Christyn Chambers, Swarthmore College

Kristen Hall, Bard College

Susan Hoffman, State University College at Brockport

Del Malloy, Salve Regina University, chair

Bill Mandel, Western New England College

Chris Martin, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Dick Strockbine, University of Dallas

Leah Nilsson, NCAA, recording secretary

 

Caitlin Collier, Menlo College and Ann Steele, Muskingum College, were unable to participate.

 

 

[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.]

 

 

The NCAA Division III Membership Committee teleconference was called to order at 10:02 a.m. Eastern time by the chair, Mr. Malloy.  All were present as noted above.

 

 

1.       Welcome and Announcements.  Ms. Nilsson welcomed Ms. Chambers to her first teleconference as she fills the vacancy left by Mr. Joseph.  Also, Mr. Cotton, director of athletics at DePauw University, will join the committee in January.

 

 

2.       Review Minutes from October 24 Telephone Conference.  The committee reviewed the minutes from its October telephone conference.

 

It was VOTED

 

"That the October 24 telephone conference minutes be approved."

 


3.       Review Formation of NCAA Executive Committee Working Group on Membership Growth.  The committee received a report regarding the establishment of a working group to study membership growth stemming from the North Coast Athletic Conference's (NCAC) proposal to limit the size of Division III.  In light of association-wide concerns that the impact of the NCAC's proposal would extend beyond Division III, the NCAA Executive Committee recommended the establishment of a working group to focus on ways through which Divisions II and III can exercise divisional autonomy to reach short- and long-term membership goals.  The working group would preserve the fundamental relationship that currently exists between the Association's three divisions.  The committee expressed concern that the composition of this working group was to include only representatives from the three presidential bodies as the committee sees great value in including membership committee representation from each of the divisions.  The committee would like to see the working group include membership committee members (especially the incoming chancellor or president) as these individuals study membership issues on a regular basis.  The committee also asks that the executive committee consider hosting a summit to include many or all members of each division's membership committee.  Also, the committee expressed concern that early plans for the working group propose that Divisions II and III work separately for the early stages of the process.  The committee recommends that dialogue between Divisions II and III occur early and often in this study.

 

 

4.              Application Fee for Provisional Members – NCAA Constitution 3.7.3.1.  The committee noted that Constitution 3.7.3.1 (application fee - provisional members) does not explain that a corresponding membership fee of $225 is charged to institutions waiting to begin provisional membership and that submission of that fee is what keeps the institution in the queue to begin the provisional membership program. Further, it does not state that the exploratory fee and any corresponding fees paid to maintain position in the queue shall be deducted from the amount due at the start of year one. Finally, Constitution 3.7.3.1 has a common voting line, meaning that all divisions are required to have the same regulation and that changes must be approved by all divisions to become effective.

 

It was VOTED

 

"To amend Constitution 3.7.3.1 to eliminate the common voting line, to specify the impact of the corresponding membership fee during the institution's time in the provisional queue and to specify that the institution shall be invoiced for membership fees after its provisional application has been approved."

 


5.       Provisional/Reclassifying Member – 2006 NCAA Convention Session.  The committee reviewed the agenda for the Convention session noting that Ms. Levine and Mr. Williams of the NCAA staff will be in attendance to facilitate discussion.  All committee members are encouraged to attend this session at Convention.

 

 

6.       Other Business.  The committee noted that, due to management council appointments, Messrs. Malloy and Strockbine will be leaving the committee.  These changes in committee membership require the election of a new chair.  Committee members should e-mail chair nominations to staff by November 23.

 

 

7.       Future Meeting Schedule.

 

a.       December 15, 10 a.m. Eastern time, teleconference.

 

b.       January 26-27, 2006, Phoenix, Arizona.

 

 

8.       Adjournment.  The teleconference adjourned at 10:50 a.m. Eastern time.

 

 

 

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