REPORT OF THE
NCAA
DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
1. ACTION ITEM.
a.
(1) Recommendation. Approve the request from
(2) Rationale. In its review of Lesley's request to waive the five-sport/three-season requirement for its newly admitted male student body, the NCAA Division III Membership Committee noted the institution submitted an adequate plan to implement the requisite programs for males within the three-year period allowed by this waiver. Lesley will be expected to be in full compliance with the five-sport/three-season requirement in the 2008-09 academic year. Further, the institution should note that for the 2008-09 academic year, it is required to sponsor five sports for men, not that the institution must have the same number of men's and women's sports.
b.
(1) Recommendation. Approve the request from
(2) Rationale. In its review of Finlandia's
request to accelerate the four-year provisional membership process, the
committee noted the institution satisfied the criteria as outlined by the
committee with compelling evidence.
At the time of the committee's review, results of the institution's
financial aid report were not available.
The committee will receive the outcome of Finlandia's financial aid
report on the NCAA Division III Financial Aid Committee's review.
c.
(1) Recommendation. Deny the request from
(2) Rationale. In its review of
d. Reclassification – Educational
Fee.
(1) Recommendation. Adopt
noncontroversial legislation to amend
NCAA Bylaw 20.6.2.1 to require the reclassifying nonrefundable educational fee
of $12,000 to be sent to the NCAA national office in two installments, one-half
of the educational fee must accompany the application and the remainder shall
be paid at the start of year three.
In addition, reclassifying members must also pay the appropriate amount
for annual dues each year.
(2) Rationale. The establishment of the educational fee
payment schedule will be consistent with the provisional member process in
Constitution 3.7.3.1.
e. Reclassification
– Financial Aid Reporting Process.
(1) Recommendation. Adopt noncontroversial legislation to
amend Bylaw 20.6.2.2.2 to require reclassifying institutions during the second
year of reclassification (and each subsequent year) to complete the NCAA Division
III Financial Aid Annual Electronic Reporting Process in accordance with Bylaw
15.4.1.1.
(2) Rationale. A reclassifying member shall not
award athletically related financial aid to incoming students (e.g., freshman,
transfer) beginning with the first year of the reclassification process and
thereafter. The provision to complete the financial aid annual electronic
report is stated for provisional members in Constitution 3.6.1.2.1.2 but not
for reclassifying members.
f. Repeat of
Reclassification Membership.
(1) Recommendation. Adopt noncontroversial legislation to
specify that a reclassifying member may only repeat years of the program only
once during the four-year reclassification membership period.
(2) Rationale. The legislation would be consistent with
the provisional process inasmuch as a provisional member may repeat only once
during the four-year provisional membership period.
2. INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS.
a.
b.
c. Review Constitution 6.3.1.1 and Expectations for Reclassifying Institutions. The committee discussed the timing of the ISSG as it relates to reclassifying institutions on becoming active members. The committee agreed to amend Constitution 6.3.1.1 to add reclassifying institutions to the legislative language.
d. 2006
NCAA Convention Membership-Sponsored Proposals.
(1) Membership Requirements – Division III Philosophy Statement – Elimination of In-Region Competition Emphasis. The committee noted its support for the elimination of the in-region competition emphasis in the philosophy statement and championships selection principles. The committee supported institutional autonomy in scheduling athletics contests.
(2) Division III Membership – Maximum Capacity. The committee took no position in establishing a maximum size of the Division III membership. The committee noted the importance of the full membership deciding the outcome of this significant legislative proposal.
(3) Division
III Membership – Sports Sponsorship Requirements. The committee noted its opposition for
the sports sponsorship requirement based on institutional enrollment,
preferring instead sports sponsorship proposal sponsored by the Presidents
Council.
e. Use of Consultants to Complete the Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG). The committee discussed the use of outside consultants to complete the ISSG. The committee agreed that institutional personnel should be expected to be engaged in the self-study. The committee determined that the ISSG instructions should be updated to include a policy statement describing the appropriate use of consultants in the self-study process. Consultants may be used for data collection, but should not be substantively involved in the actual self-study, as it remains the responsibility of the institution to examine its own program. Division II is also considering this concept; staff will work with the NCAA Division II Membership Committee liaisons to draft consistent language, if appropriate.
f. Review Use of Term "Provisional" by Exploratory Members. It was noted that institutions should not use the term "provisional" until the institution begins year one of the provisional membership process. Staff will highlight this point in the exploratory meeting curriculum. To address those institutions that have already attended the exploratory meeting, staff will send a memorandum to address proper use of the term "provisional member." Further, staff will work with the NCAA database manager to consider adding the category of provisional applicant to describe those institutions whose applications for provisional membership have been accepted but not yet started provisional year one.
g. 2006 Convention – Provisional
Education Session. Staff
reviewed the Convention schedule with the committee noting the additional
programming resulting from the NCAA Centennial. Based on this schedule, the committee
discussed having one combined session for athletics directors and chancellors
and presidents and to replace the traditional educational programming with a
networking opportunity. The committee
determined the provisional education session should occur from
h.
provisional/reclassifying mentor program. The committee determined that the program
should include expectations for both the mentee and the mentor. In this way, both the committee member
and provisional/reclassifying institution are expected to
be proactive in communicating with each other. The committee determined it would be appropriate for the institution to seek advice from the mentor regarding completion of the annual report. This advice should be distinguished from a review of the annual report as the mentor cannot speak for the entire committee. The remainder of the proposed guidelines were approved as presented.
i. Attendance at Year-One Orientation for Institutions that Repeated Year One of Provisional Membership. The committee determined this event should be optional but encouraged especially for any new staff members. Staff will contact the affected institutions to notify personnel of the option.
j. Reporting
Violations for Late Submission of ISSGs. The committee determined that
institutions should not be required to file a secondary violation for late
submissions of ISSGs if that ISSG was due prior to
Susan Peal, Membership Services