The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- January 4, 1999

Division II Presidents Council minutes

Following are the minutes of the October 27, 1998, meeting of the Division II Presidents Council at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel in Atlanta. All actions taken by the Presidents Council are included. Highlights of the meeting were reported in the November 9, 1998, issue of The NCAA News.

1. Minutes. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of its August 11, 1998, meeting.

It was voted that the minutes be approved as distributed.

2. Report of the Executive Committee. The Presidents Council reviewed the issues discussed during the August 12 Executive Committee meeting and the August 11 Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity without taking any formal action.

3. Report of the Management Council. The Presidents Council considered a number of recommendations from the Division II Management Council.

a. Consent Package.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the consent package of noncontroversial legislation; modifications of legislation to conform to the intent; and Bylaws 30, 31 and 32 revisions as presented by the Management Council.

b. Division II Nominating Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council ratify the Management Council recommendations to appoint Don Amiot, director of athletics, University of Minnesota, Mankato, to the Division II Championships Committee, and Geraldine Knortz, director of athletics, Saint Michael's College, to the Division II Nominating Committee.

c. Division II Legislation Committee. The Presidents Council considered a committee recommendation to eliminate the numerical gaps and the textual references to Divisions I and III legislation in the Division II Manual without hindering the Division II membership's ability to reference Divisions I and III legislation.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the committee's recommendation to (1) eliminate the Manual gaps; (2) delete the textual references to Divisions I and III legislation in the Division II Manual; and (3) create a separate chart that would identify bylaw cites in Divisions I and III to correspond to bylaw cites of similar legislation in the Division II Manual.

d. Divisions II Championships Committee.

(1) The Presidents Council considered a recommendation to change the Division II awards program by eliminating the watches provided to the second-place teams in the Division II Men's and Women's Basketball Championships. The Management Council noted that this change will provide consistency in the awards program for all Division II championships.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the change to the Division II awards program as recommended by the Management Council.

(2) The Presidents Council considered a recommendation from the Management Council that the Championships Committee be permitted to conduct meetings with the chairs of the team governing sports committees and the chairs of the individual-team governing sports committees in alternate years. The Presidents Council agreed with the Management Council that this is an important annual meeting for the operation of the division's championship programs, and agreed to support this request.

e. Division II Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council sponsor for the 2000 NCAA Convention a de minimis legislative proposal regarding designation of degree programs as recommended by the Management Council and the Division II Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee.

f. Subcommittee Appointment. The Presidents Council considered a Management Council recommendation to appoint Kenneth Borden, faculty athletics representative at the University of Indianapolis, as the Management Council representative to the Division II Management Council Subcommittee.

It was voted that the President Council ratify Mr. Borden's appointment.

g. Management Council Reelections and Elections.

It was voted that the Presidents Council ratify the following two Management Council reelections, effective January 1999:

(1) Peach Belt Conference -- Clint Bryant, director of athletics, August State University; and

(2) South Atlantic Conference -- Doug Echols, commissioner, South Atlantic Conference.

It was voted that the Presidents Council ratify the following seven Management Council elections:

(1) Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (immediate vacancy) -- Dianthia Ford, senior woman administrator, Shaw University;

(2) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (January 1999 vacancy) -- Dave Coffey, director of athletics, Northwood University;

(3) Gulf South Conference (January 1999 vacancy) -- Lisa Colvin, senior woman administrator, Southern Arkansas University;

(4) Lone Star Conference (January 1999 vacancy) -- Ed Harris, director of athletics, West Texas A&M University;

(5) North Central Conference (January 1999 vacancy) -- Michael Marcil, commissioner, North Central Conference;

(6) Pacific West Conference (immediate vacancy) -- Gail Fults, faculty athletics representative, Humboldt State University; and

(7) Independent Institutions (immediate vacancy) -- Bruce Harger, director of athletics, Drury College.

h. Joint Management and Presidents Councils' Meeting. The Presidents Council discussed the joint Management and Presidents Councils' meeting, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 9, in conjunction with the 1999 Convention.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the suggested list of topics for the joint meeting which includes strategic planning, diversity issues, the role of the senior woman administrator in Division II, the restricted-earnings coaches lawsuit, a review of the projected number of provisional members that will become active Division II members within the next few years and the potential impact this has on the Division II budget. In addition, the Presidents Council agreed to include discussions regarding the Division II Enhancement Fund and Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee issues in the agenda for the joint meeting.

4. Order and Grouping of Legislative Proposals. The Presidents Council reviewed the suggested order and grouping of proposals for the 1999 Convention.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the grouping and sequence of the legislative proposals for the 1999 Division II business session as follows:

Presidents Council Grouping

Proposal No. 2-1*

Eligibility for Membership -- Division II

Proposal No. 2-5*

Eligibility -- Additional Season-of-Competition Waivers

Proposal No. 2-9*

Two-Year College Transfers -- Partial Qualifier or Nonqualifier -- Division II

Proposal No. 2-19*

NCAA Championships -- Minimum-Sponsorship Criteria -- Division II Lacrosse Championships

Proposal No. 2-20*

Division II Championship -- Women's Golf

Proposal No. 2-21*

Division II Championship -- Men's Ice Hockey

Proposal No. 2-23*

Championship Site Criteria -- Division II

*Resolution regarding Diversity in Division II

Recruiting

Proposal No. 2-2

Recruiting -- Telephone Calls -- Division II Football

Proposal No. 2-3

Telephone Calls -- Division II Men's and Women's Basketball

Proposal No. 2-4

Unofficial Visit -- National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Proposal No. 2-22

Recruiting -- Recruiting Calendar -- Division II Football

Eligibility

Proposal No. 2-6

Foreign Tours -- Seasons of Competition

Proposal No. 2-7

Hardship Waiver -- Division II

Proposal No. 2-8

Initial Eligibility -- GED Test/Equivalency Diploma -- Division II

Proposal No. 2-10

Eligibility -- One-Time Transfer Exception -- Division II

Financial Aid

Proposal No. 2-11

Financial Aid -- Outside Sources

Proposal No. 2-12

De Minimis Violations -- Improper Financial Aid -- Division II

Proposal No. 2-13

Financial Aid -- Professional Sports Organization

Awards, Benefits and Expenses

Proposal No. 2-14

Restitution for Receipt of Improper Benefits -- Division II

Proposal No. 2-15

Permissible Expenses -- Meals

Proposal No. 2-16

Awards Banquets -- Complimentary Admissions

Proposal No. 2-17

Refreshments at Educational Events

Playing and Practice Seasons

Proposal No. 2-18

Playing and Practice Seasons -- Division II Basketball -- Annual Exemptions

[Note: * = roll call vote.]

5. Membership-Sponsored Proposals. The Presidents Council considered a series of recommendations from the Division II Management Council related to membership-sponsored legislation for the 1999 Convention.

It was voted that the Presidents Council take the following positions on the legislative proposals:

Proposal No. 2-1 -- The Presidents Council agreed (1) to oppose the proposal; (2) that the proposal is "out of order;" and (3) to ask the Executive Committee to review the issue of membership for institutions outside the United States from an Association-wide perspective. [Note: The Presidents Council considered a legal opinion from NCAA general counsel regarding the legal implications of this proposal.]

Proposal No. 2-5 -- The Presidents Council took no position on the proposal.

Proposal No. 2-9 -- The Presidents Council agreed to oppose the proposal.

Proposal No. 2-10 -- The Presidents Council agreed to oppose the proposal.

Proposal No. 2-18 -- The Presidents Council took no position on the proposal.

Proposal No. 2-19 -- The Presidents Council agreed to oppose the proposal.

Proposal No. 2-22 -- The Presidents Council agreed to support the proposal.

Proposal No. 2-23 -- The Presidents Council agreed to ask the Championships Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee to complete their work on the geographic proximity issue by January so that the Presidents Council can consider taking final action on this issue by amending NCAA Bylaw 31 during its pre-Convention meeting.

6. Presidents Council Sponsored Proposals. The Presidents Council considered a recommendation from the Management Council that the Presidents Council withdraw Proposal No. 2-20, inasmuch as it appears that legislation is not necessary to create a Division II Women's Golf Championship. The Management Council noted that Bylaw 18.2.6 indicates that if a National Collegiate Championship and two division championships exist in the same sport, the National Collegiate Championship automatically shall become a division championship for the remaining division that does not sponsor a division championship in that sport (provided the institutional sponsorship requirements are met).

It was voted that the Presidents Council not withdraw this proposal at this time and, instead, wait to see the outcome of the vote on similar legislation during the Division III business session.

7. Division II Enhancement Fund Distribution Formula.

a. The Presidents Council considered the two distribution formulas that the Management Council had recommended at the October 1998 Presidents Council meeting. After considering the two proposals and various feedback received from member institutions, the Presidents Council agreed that it had enough information to make a decision regarding the new distribution formula.

It was voted that the Presidents Council adopt a new distribution formula for the Division II Enhancement Fund, effective 2000-01, that distributes the $3 million in the following way: $1 million equally to Division II active member institutions; $1 million to conferences (based on performance in the Division II men's and women's basketball championships); and $1 million to conferences (based on the number of championships a conference sponsors).

b. The Presidents Council considered a Management Council recommendation that careful consideration be given to using unallocated funds to assist conferences that are projected to receive less money than they received under the current distribution formula. The Management Council noted that the projected distribution to conferences under the two suggested distribution models is not exact and that there are many factors that may change the future distribution amounts. The Management Council suggested that if unallocated funds are to be used, the decision to use such funds should go through the regular Division II budget cycle. The Presidents Council, after considering the Management Council's recommendations, agreed to delay a decision on the use of the unallocated funds to assist certain conferences financially until the Budget and Finance Committee has had an opportunity to consider this and other uses for the unallocated funds when it meets next year as part of the normal budget cycle.

8. Committee/Project Team Reports.

a. Division II Administrative Committee.

It was voted that the minutes of 1998 Division II Administrative Committee Telephone Conference Nos. 5 and 6 be approved as distributed.

b. Division II Strategic Planning Project Team. The Presidents Council received a report regarding a membership questionnaire that was sent to Division II institutions to seek input on the list of Division II priorities, as well as ideas, goals and objectives for the Division II strategic plan. No formal action was taken.

c. Division II Convention Planning Project Team.

(1) It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the proposed topics and format for the Chief Executive Officers Luncheon at the 1999 Convention as suggested by the project team.

(2) It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the proposed topics and format for the Division II business session, with a slight modification to the schedule related to the discussion on the new distribution formula for the Division II Enhancement Fund.

(3) It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the suggested topics and format for the Division II issues forum at the 1999 Convention.

9. Reelection of Division II Presidents Council Representatives.

It was voted that the Presidents Council reelect the following representatives:

Region 2 -- Patricia Cormier, president, Longwood College;

At large -- Bernard Franklin, president, St. Augustine's College; and

Region 3 -- Arend D. Lubbers, president, Grand Valley State University.

10. Division II Presidents Council Consultant. The Presidents Council discussed the need for a consultant to work on various projects for the Division II Presidents Council, and agreed to delay a decision on this issue until its January 1999 meeting.

11. Report from the NCAA Division II Chief of Staff. Nancy L. Mitchell, Division II chief of staff, provided the Presidents Council with an update regarding the various issues and projects that currently are being reviewed and implemented by each of the Division II committees.

12. Other Business.

a. Deregulation.

It was voted that the Presidents Council accelerate the project to deregulate and simplify the Division II Manual by asking the Division II Legislation Committee to submit its final deregulation report and recommendations by the 2001 Convention. The Presidents Council agreed to ask that the Legislation Committee forward an action plan and revised timetable to meet this goal so that the Presidents Council can review this information during its January meeting.

b. Expenditure Savings Proposals. The Presidents Council reviewed a series of expenditure savings proposals related to the cost of owning the NCAA aircraft as well as a cost/benefit analysis of committee meeting and travel policies. It was noted that these proposals are being reviewed by all three divisions' governance structures, and that final action will be taken during the January meetings.

c. Meeting Schedules for Divisions I, II and III Governance Groups. The Presidents Council reviewed a proposal to conduct three, rather than four, Management Council/presidential group meetings per year. It was noted that the consideration of such a proposal was initiated within the Division I governance structure and that all three divisions' governance structures have been asked to review and react to this concept. The Presidents Council expressed general concern about moving to three meetings per year this early in the new governance structure. It was noted that this issue will be discussed again during the January meetings.

d. Presidents Council Liaison. The Presidents Council agreed to appoint Oscar L. Prater to the Division II Legislation Committee as the Presidents Council's liaison to the committee concerning deregulation and rules simplification. [Note: President Prater replaces Jessica Kozloff in this liaison assignment.]