MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

DIVISION III MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Telephone Conference September 27, 2005

Participants:

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 & Wisconsin

Dick Strockbine, University of Dallas

Susan Peal, NCAA, recording secretary

Caitlin Collier, Menlo College; Ann Steele, Muskingum College; and Leah Nilsson, NCAA, 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 9:02 a.m. Central time by Mr. Malloy. All were present as noted above.

1. Welcome and Announcements. Mr. Malloy announced the resignation of Machli Joseph, Bernard M. Baruch College.

2. Review Minutes from August 25 Telephone Conference. The committee reviewed the minutes from its August 25 telephone conference.

It was VOTED

"That the August 25 telephone conference minutes be approved."

3. Review Institutional Waivers to Accelerate.

a. Finlandia University. The committee reviewed Finlandia's request to waive the four-year provisional membership provision per NCAA Constitution 3.6.1.1.1.1. 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 once the NCAA Division III Financial Aid Committee completes its review.

It was VOTED

"That Finlandia University's waiver request be approved pending the institution's completion of a successful annual financial aid report."

b. University of Texas at Tyler. The committee reviewed the University of Texas at Tyler's request to waive the four-year provisional membership provision per NCAA Constitution 3.6.1.1.1.1. The committee noted the institution did not satisfy the criteria as outlined by the committee as it failed to satisfy the sports sponsorship requirements for two years. The committee noted that women's golf and women's cross country failed to meet the participant requirements in 2003-04 which resulted in not meeting the sport sponsorship requirements for provisional year one.

It was VOTED

"That the University of Texas at Tyler's waiver request be denied."

4. Reclassification Education Fee – NCAA Bylaw 20.6.2.1. The committee noted that the educational fee payment schedule for reclassification should be consistent with the provisional member process in Constitution 3.7.3.1.

It was VOTED

"To amend 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."

5. Financial Aid Exception – Bylaw 20.6.2.2.2. The committee noted that 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.

It was VOTED

"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."

6. Repeat of Reclassification. The committee noted the absence of legislation for reclassification when institutions are required to repeat years of the reclassification program. Accordingly, 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.

It was VOTED

"To specify that a reclassifying member may repeat years of the program only once during the four-year reclassification membership period."

7. Year Two On-Campus Visits Feedback. The committee shared their experiences related to the year two on-campus visits. Three visits have concluded with positive feedback.

8. NCAA Convention – Provisional/Reclassifying Member Education Session. Ms. Peal noted that the Convention provisional/reclassifying member education session will be 8:30 to 10 a.m. January 7, 2006.

9. Current Provisional, Exploratory and Reclassifying Members. Ms. Peal reviewed the 2005-06 roster of provisional, exploratory and reclassifying members.

10. Other Business. The committee discussed several items of other business.

a. Provisional and Reclassification Education Program – Loss of Key Personnel. The committee discussed its responsibility to educate key institutional personnel (e.g., chancellor or president, director of athletics) new to an institution during the four-

year educational process. The committee determined that it should be the institution's responsibility to educate its new personnel. The committee also noted the mentor program would benefit any new director of athletics. The institution could also be provided the opportunity for any new personnel to attend the provisional/reclassification year one orientation.

b. Conference Membership. The committee noted that a conference member has publicized an exploratory institution as a full conference member which is not permitted per Constitution 3.3.1.2. The committee directed the staff to contact the conference to educate them on the prohibition.

c. Agenda Items for January In-Person Meeting. The committee requested the following items be discussed at its January meeting:

(1) Active member tracking system for the committee's review of waivers and membership requirements.

(2) Active member comprehensive list detailing attendance at NCAA events (e.g., Convention, regional rules seminars) and grant program recipients.

11. Future Meeting Schedule.

a. 10 a.m. Eastern time, October 24.

b. 10 a.m. Eastern time, November 17.

c. 10 a.m. Eastern time, December 15; and

d. In-person meeting; January 26-27, 2006, Phoenix, Arizona.

12. Adjournment. The teleconference adjourned at 9:56 a.m. Central time.

# # # # #