The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- January 4, 1999

DIVISION II forums

Division II delegates attending the 1999 NCAA Convention in San Antonio will have a number of opportunities to participate in discussions of particular interest to them.

Some of the discussions are designed to offer direction and guidance to Division II committees and to the Presidents Council and Management Council. Those areas include strategic planning, Division II finances, ethnic and gender diversity, and Division II deregulation/rules simplification initiatives.

Other forums are designed to provide greater membership understanding of Division II policy decisions. Those include a question-and-answer session on the new distribution formula for the Division II enhancement fund. That discussion will be conducted during the Division II business session January 11.

The first membership forum will be a chief executive officers luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. January 10. That luncheon, which will take place in Room 102 of the Gonzales Convention Center, will be open only to Division II chief executive officers. Topics include the following:

* A report on the status of strategic plan for Division II.

* A report on the new distribution formula for the Division II enhancement fund.

* A report and round-table discussions on Division II diversity issues.

The next event will be the Division II Issues Forum, which will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. January 10 in the Mission Ballroom of the Gonzales Convention Center.

The following subjects will be addressed:

* Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Issues. This session will highlight issues of particular concern and/or interest to Division II student-athletes. An opportunity for round-table discussions also will be provided as part of this session.

* Faculty Athletics Representative Association Issues. This session will highlight issues identified for discussion by Division II faculty athletics representatives on how to enhance the involvement of faculty athletics representatives at the institutional and conference levels. Round-table discussions also may be conducted.

An opportunity for an open forum also will be provided as part of the Division II Issues Forum.

The Division II business session is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 5 p.m. January 11 in Grand Salon E and F of the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. Items for discussion after voting is concluded are:

* Questions and answers about the new Division II enhancement fund distribution formula (Gladys Styles Johnston; University of Nebraska at Kearney; Presidents Council vice-chair and chair of the Division II Budget and Finance Committee).

* A report and/or discussion by the Project Team to Review Issues Related to Diversity (Clint Bryant, Augusta College, incoming Division II Management Council chair and chair of the project team).

* A report from the Division II Legislation Committee on the status of Division II deregulation and rules simplification efforts (Leon Kerry, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, committee chair).

* Open forum.

DIVISION II forums/business session

Sunday, January 10