Two Division II conferences are sponsoring a similar proposal that would set the cross country scholarships limit at five for both men and women. The Presidents Council believes that its proposal would achieve the goals of the membership proposal while furthering the principle of gender equity.

Multidivision issues

Both Divisions II and III separately will consider various proposals originating from NCAA committees.

They include:

The Division III Administrative Committee recently declined to sponsor other proposed revisions of Bylaw 10.3 that were intended to clarify that legislation. That group and the Division II Presidents Council have suggested that the proposed revisions are based on recent legislative interpretations and can be incorporated without sponsorship of a Convention proposal.

However, the Divisions II and III Administrative Committees both recently determined that member institutions must approve legislation in order to make conference staff members subject to the provisions of Bylaw 10.3.

Division III proposals

Two other proposals sponsored by the Division III Presidents Council deal with criteria for Division III membership and with providing expenses to student-athletes for participation in Olympic exhibitions.

The membership-criteria proposal would require an institution wishing to reclassify its athletics program into Division III to comply with division membership requirements for a three-year period before reclassification.

The proposal would not require those institutions to meet division financial aid requirements during the first year of the three-year period, but would prohibit an institution from awarding athletically related financial aid to freshmen and transfer students. It also would require the institution to complete the Division III Institutional Self-Study Guide during the first year of the three-year period.

The Olympic-exhibition expenses proposal would permit student-athletes to receive actual and necessary expenses to participate in Olympic tours or exhibitions involving Olympic and national-team members, even if those activities include no formal competition. Current legislation permits individuals to receive such expenses only to participate in actual competition.

Amendments-to-amendments

The Second Publication of Proposed Legislation was mailed to chief executive officers, faculty athletics representatives, directors of athletics, senior woman administrators and compliance coordinators at Divisions II and III institutions. Conference commissioners also receive copies.

From now until November 1, the Divisions II and III Presidents Council can submit amendments to a proposal for the 1998 Convention.

Amendments also can be submitted by 15 active Division II member institutions (or two active conferences on behalf of 15 or more conference members) or eight active Division III member institutions (or one active conference on behalf of eight or more conference members).

Amendments-to-amendments at this stage of the legislative calendar must adhere to the traditional Association limitation -- they are not permitted to increase the change in legislation put forth in the circularized proposal.

Amendments-to-amendments must be received in the national office by 5 p.m. (Central time) November 1. No amendments-to-amendments may be submitted after that date, except that the Presidents Councils have the authority to submit amendments-to-amendments at the Convention if deemed necessary.

Forms for submitting amendments-to-amendments will be mailed with the Second Publication of Proposed Legislation to chief executive officers.

The Official Notice of the Convention, which will include all proposed legislation and properly submitted amendments-to-amendments, will be mailed to the Divisions II and III membership November 15.