MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

DIVISION III PRESIDENTS COUNCIL

NCAA National Office April 24, 2003

Indianapolis, Indiana

Participants:

Richard Berman, Manhattanville College

David Carter, Eastern Connecticut State University

R. Kevin LaGree, Simpson College

John M. McCardell Jr., Middlebury College

Ivory Nelson, Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)

Jane Margaret O'Brien, St. Mary's College of Maryland

John A. Roush, Centre College

Deborah Stanley, State University of New York at Oswego

Phillip Stone, Bridgewater College (Virginia)

Jeanie Watson, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Bridget Belgiovine, NCAA, recording secretary

Daniel T. Dutcher, NCAA

Leah Nilsson, NCAA

Katie Willett, NCAA

Susan Bassett, Division III Management Council chair, and Suzanne Coffey, Division III Management Council vice-chair, also were in attendance. Myles Brand, NCAA president, attended a portion of the meeting.

Daniel DiBiasio, Wilmington College; Carlos Hernandez, New Jersey City University; Muriel Howard; State University College at Buffalo; and Richard Wells, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, were unable to attend.

[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 Council'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 meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by the chair, President McCardell. All members were present as noted above.

1. Announcements. President McCardell welcomed the Council members and staff and announced that NCAA President Myles Brand would attend a portion of the meeting. Leah Nilsson was introduced as the new Division III governance liaison from NCAA membership services.

2. Review Roster, Future Meeting Schedule, the Division III Newsletter. The Council reviewed all documents. No action was necessary. It was announced the President Esther Barazzaone resigned from the Council.

3. Previous Minutes. The Council reviewed the minutes of the January 12 Presidents Council meeting; the January 10 and 14 Management Council meetings; and the February 13 and 20 Administrative Committee meetings.

It was VOTED

“That the minutes of the January 12 Presidents Council meeting and the February 13 and 20 Administrative Committee meetings be approved as distributed.”

4. January 14, 2003, NCAA Executive Committee meeting. The Council reviewed the minutes of the January 14, 2003, Executive Committee meeting.

5. Report of the April 14-15 Division III Management Council Meeting.

a. Division III Strategic Planning.

n Initiatives Task Force. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

b. Committee Reports.

(1) Association-Wide Committees.

(a) Committee on Women’s Athletics. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(b) Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(2) Division III Special Committees.

(a) Joint Subcommittee on the Future of Division III. The Council:

i. January Membership Update. Reviewed the January communication document.

ii. Survey Results. Reviewed the survey results, noting:

(i) A strong participation rate (79 percent) with 335 out of 425 active and provisional member schools responding.

(ii) Members had strong agreement in philosophies in each area addressed.

(iii) The importance of continued chief executive officer (CEO) involvement and participation, particularly through spring/summer/ fall discussions and 2004 Convention attendance.

(iv) The importance of continued dialogue with a focus on the institutional impact of issues being addressed during summer/fall conference meetings of athletics administrators and student-athletes.

The Council also:

(i) Endorsed the Management Council recommendations and instructed the appropriate subgroups to delve deeper into specific issues and to recommend appropriate legislative proposals for the 2004 Convention for consideration at the summer 2003 Management Council and Presidents Council meetings.

(ii) Indicated that it expects the membership to forward related legislation for consideration at the 2004 Convention.

(iii) Recommended that the full report of data and the executive summary of the survey results should be sent as soon as possible to CEOs, with a copy of the communication sent to athletics administrators, faculty athletics representatives, commissioners and student-athlete advisory committee representatives.

(iv) Recommended continued discussion about the broader strategies for governing the division in light of its growing size and diversity, including during the following meetings:

n CEO luncheon in conjunction with the 2004 Convention.

n Upcoming Presidents Council meetings.

(v) Stated its commitment to ensuring that all voices in the division are heard and valued.

(vi) Noted the inherent value of the NCAA as an organization large enough to retain all current members in Division III.

iii. Future of Division III Timetable. Reviewed the timetable, noting the importance of the CEO communication regarding survey results and legislative deadlines for governance- and membership-sponsored legislation.

(3) Management Council Subcommittees.

(a) Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee. The Council:

i. Preseason Football/Acclimatization. Approved the Management Council’s action to adopt noncontroversial legislation effective immediately to establish a Division III football preseason practice model. Amended the model to establish 25 practice opportunities prior to the first contest. The model:

(i) Mandates five-day acclimatization period.

(ii) Mandates single sessions in the first week of sessions.

(iii) Mandates alternating double-single (2-1-2-1) practice sessions.

(iv) Includes Sundays prior to the first day of class.

(v) Provides the most consistent number of practice opportunities prior to first contest regardless of institutional academic calendars, while protecting the health and safety requirements of the acclimatization and recovery periods.

ii. Elimination of the “Safety Exception” in Division III Sports. Approved the action of the Management Council to sponsor legislation to remove the safety exceptions for the sports of fencing, gymnastics, rifle, rowing, skiing and swimming and diving that currently appear in NCAA Bylaw 17.

(b) Convention-Planning Subcommittee. The Council:

i. Draft of 2004 NCAA Convention Schedule. Approved the 2004 Convention schedule in principle, noting the desire for more CEO-oriented content.

ii. Possible Topics – 2004 Convention. Endorsed the Management Council’s recommendations.

(c) Administrative Review Subcommittee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(4) Division III Committees.

(a) Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(b) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(c) Nominating Committee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(d) Membership Committee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(e) Interpretations and Legislation Committee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(f) Committee on Infractions. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(g) Championships Committee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

(h) Budget Committee. The Council endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

6. Proposed Legislation for the 2004 Convention. The Council:

a. Noncontroversial legislation adopted by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.3.1.1.1. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

b. Intent-based revisions approved by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.4.1.1.1. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

c. Editorial revisions approved by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.4.1.1.1. Endorsed the actions of the Management Council.

7. 2003-04 Committee Meeting Frequency Requests. The Council approved and forwarded to the Executive Committee the request for waivers to allow three in-person meetings for 2003-04 for the Committee on Women's Athletics, the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and the Postgraduate Scholarship Committee.

8. Association-Wide Updates and Issues. The Council:

a. NCAA Ad Hoc Review Report. Endorsed the report and forwarded to the Executive Committee the Division III recommendations on the prioritized list of Association-wide issues.

Approved as amended and forwarded to the Executive Committee the Division III actions on divisional issues.

b. Association-wide Strategic Planning. Reviewed the Division III Strategic Planning Advisory Group emerging themes and the Association-wide planning process.

c. American Indian Mascot Update. Endorsed the Division III Management Council action to support the NCAA member institution and conference office recommendations. The Council particularly noted its support of institutional and conference self-analysis. Regarding the Association recommendations, the Council noted the Membership Committee should consider broadening the scope for all member institutions to evaluate institutional practices related to intercollegiate

athletics to ensure that all activities are conducted in an atmosphere that is safe and hospitable for all student-athlete participants, coaches, administrators and fans. The Council also noted that the NCAA should proceed with caution on social issues; however, the American Indian mascot issue has a significant historical basis in our culture and should be addressed. The Division III Championships Committee reviewed the report and voted to forward written correspondence to the seven Division III institutions currently using American Indian mascots. The Division III SAAC voted to forward written correspondence to the seven Division III institutions currently using American Indian mascots. The Council forwarded the Division III responses to the Executive Committee.

d. Wrestling Penalty Table. Endorsed the Management Council’s action.

e. NCAA Baseball Rules Committee – Secretary-Rules Editor. Ratfied the appointment of Jim Paronto, former athletics director at Mesa State University, as secretary-rules editor for the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee.

9. Governmental Affairs Report. The Council reviewed the governmental affairs report.

10. Litigation update. Elsa Cola, NCAA general counsel, provided an update on current litigation.

11. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 2 p.m.

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