The NCAA News - News and Features

June 29, 1998

Championships initiatives among III budget committee plan

The Division III Budget Committee has approved an operating budget based on an anticipated allocation of $8,617,000, an increase of about three percent over last year.

The Budget Committee will forward all of its recommendations, including its approval of the operating budget, to the Division III Management Council, which will consider them at its July 27-29 meeting in Philadelphia. The recommendations also will be forwarded to the Division III Presidents Council for consideration during its August 11 meeting in Chicago.

Championships initiatives

The committee, which met June 14 in Marco Island, Florida, also recommended that several new initiatives be funded for the 1998-99 budget.

The committee approved a request from the Division III Championships Committee for an estimated $14,000 to fund an increase in the official travel party for the men's and women's swimming and diving championships.

The initiative is designed to add one additional non-athlete per team when the team qualifies one or more divers. Historically, a diving coach either had to attend at the institution's expense or not attend at all.

Also approved was a request from the Division III Championships Committee (that originated with the Division III Football Committee) for $23,000 for new pairings rotations for the semifinal round of football. The current system pairs the North and West regional winners in one semifinal and the East and South regional winners in the other semifinal.

The new system would ensure that every possible combination of regional matchups and host sites would occur during a six-year period. The cost is due to an estimated increase in travel expenses since it would be unlikely that under the new scenario the teams would be within driving distance as they had been in the past.

The Budget Committee also approved a request from the Division III Championships Committee (that originated with the Division III Women's Basketball Committee) for $15,000 to fund a predetermined site for the championship semifinals and finals.

The intent of a predetermined site is to reduce the likelihood of a home-court advantage. While a home-court situation could still occur with a predetermined site, the host would have more time to create as neutral an atmosphere as possible. The Division III Women's Basketball Committee also had noted that fan interest and following was now sufficient to make a predetermined site viable.

Other new initiatives

The Budget Committee approved a request from the Division III Membership Committee for $10,000 to fund an education program for provisional members. (The committee noted that the dues paid by new provisional members are a new revenue stream that each division will be able to keep in addition to its anticipated allocation amount. It is anticipated that this new revenue stream will fund the program.)

The provisional member education program will include an initial one-day session at the beginning of the academic year and a follow-up session at the NCAA Convention. The requirements of the program are expected to evolve with each year of provisional membership.

Also approved was a request from the Division III Financial Aid and Awards Committee for $3,000 to fund the production of a financial aid guide that would specifically address Division III issues and regulations.

A request from the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for $11,000 to fund the production of one 30-second public-service announcement also was approved. The announcement would air December 12, 1998, during the Division III Football Championship. This announcement would focus on what Division III student-athletes are doing academically, athletically and in the community. Its intent is to enhance the Division III student-athlete image, which is a goal outlined in the Division III Strategic Plan, and to enhance understanding of the Division III philosophy.

The Budget Committee also discussed future potential expenditures, which may include championships initiatives as well as membership education initiatives.