The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- July 5, 1999

Presidents Council minutes

Following are the minutes of the April 20, 1999, meeting of the Division II Presidents Council at the Washington Monarch Hotel in Washington, D.C. All actions taken by the Presidents Council are included. Highlights of the meeting were reported in the May 10, 1999, issue of The NCAA News.

1. Minutes. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of its January 10, 1999, meeting.

It was voted that the minutes be approved with one revision to indicate that Jerry E. McGee of Wingate University arrived late, as opposed to not being in attendance.

2. Report of the Executive Committee. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the January 12, 1999, Executive Committee meeting without taking any formal action.

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

a. Consent Package. It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the consent package of noncontroversial legislative proposals; editorial revisions; modifications of wording to conform to the intent; and NCAA Bylaws 30, 31 and 32 amendments, as recommended by the Management Council.

b. Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. The Presidents Council considered a committee recommendation that the NCAA support antidrug messages by allocating appropriate time for such messages in its rotation of public service announcements.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the committee's recommendation.

c. Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee. The Presidents Council considered a Management Council recommendation for the approval of the following Association-wide budget requests presented by the committee:

(1) $100,000 for the enhancement of ethnic-minority male and female participation in nontraditional sports.

(2) $10,000 for the enhancement of opportunities for ethnic-minority women in athletics administration.

(3) $20,000 for career development video and workshop materials.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the Association-wide budget requests as suggested by the committee and as modified by the Management Council.

d. Other Association-Wide Budget Requests. The Presidents Council considered recommendations that have Association-wide budget implications from other Association-wide committees. The Presidents Council reviewed the budget recommendations as prioritized by the Management Council. The Management Council priorities were:

(1) Divisions II and III sports-wagering videotape -- $25,000.

(2) MOIC videotape -- $20,000.

(3) MOIC YES program -- $100,000.

(4) MOIC minority women enhancement initiatives -- $10,000.

(5) Code of conduct poster -- $8,000.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the other Association-wide budget initiatives as recommended by Association-wide committees and as prioritized by the Management Council.

e. Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse Committee. The Presidents Council reviewed the various alternatives for reducing costs associated with operating the Clearinghouse. The Presidents Council considered the alternatives supported by the Management Council.

It was voted that the Presidents Council refer its positions of moderate support and support for Alternative Nos. 1, 3 and 7 to the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse Committee for further review and consideration.

f. Academic Requirements Committee. The Presidents Council considered a recommendation from the committee and supported by the Management Council that the NCAA research staff provide the committee with data related to two-year college transfers.

It was voted that the Presidents Council endorse the Management Council's request for the research staff to provide the necessary data related to the two-year college transfers.

g. Championships Committee. The Presidents Council considered committee recommendations that were supported by the Management Council to (1) increase the per diem allowance for Division II championship participants from $60 to $65; (2) increase officiating fees in the sports of baseball, cross country, field hockey, softball, swim-
ming, indoor track, outdoor track, women's volleyball and wrestling; and (3) modify the ground transportation requirement for Division II championships by increasing from 400 to 500 miles the distance that institutions must travel to be eligible to use air transportation.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve these Division II championships expenses and policy changes as recommended by the Management Council.

h. Legislation Committee.

(1) Deregulation. The Presidents Council considered several proposals recommended by the Division II Legislation Committee and the Management Council for the Presidents Council to sponsor to deregulate NCAA Bylaws 11 and 13.

It was voted that the Presidents Council sponsor for the 2000 NCAA Convention all of the proposals recommended by the committee, except for Proposal Nos. 4 and 5.

[Note: The Presidents Council noted concerns about the potential impact of both of these proposals on student-athlete welfare and agreed to defer action until after the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has had a chance to review these proposals.]

(2) Division I Proposals Affecting Division II. The Presidents Council considered a number of proposals to be sponsored for the 2000 Convention as recommended by the Division II Legislation Committee and Management Council. It was noted that these proposals were adopted by Division I through its legislative process, and were identified by the Division II Legislation Committee as relevant to Division II.

It was voted that the Presidents Council sponsor for the 2000 Convention all of the proposals recommended by the committee, except for Proposal No. 3 (financial aid -- foreign student-athletes -- withholding tax) and Proposal No. 14 (Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports -- composition).

[Note: The Presidents Council noted concerns about the application of the payment of the tax dollars and agreed to delay final action on sponsorship of Proposal No. 3 until the Legislation Committee has had an opportunity to review this issue again during its summer meeting. In addition, it was learned that Proposal No. 14 can be handled through the adoption of noncontroversial legislation.]

i. Nominating Committee.

(1) Association-Wide Committees. The Presidents Council considered committee recommendations supported by the Management Council to fill the Division II vacancies on the Committee on Women's Athletics, Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and the Research Committee.

It was voted that Kathleen McNally, director of athletics, Gannon University, be appointed to the Committee on Women's Athletics; Terence C. Tyler, basketball coach, Eastern New Mexico University, be appointed to the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee; and Lawrence Christensen, faculty athletics representative, University of Missouri, Rolla, be appointed to the Research Committee.

[Note: Following the adjournment of the Presidents Council meeting, it was learned that Ms. McNally has resigned from Gannon University; accordingly, the Division II Administrative Committee took action to appoint Sally Beard, senior woman administrator, Missouri Western State College, to the Committee on Women's Athletics.]

(2) Reappointments. The Presidents Council considered committee recommendations that were supported by the Management Council for reappointments to various Association-wide and Division II committees.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve and ratify the reappointments as recommended by the Management Council.

[Note: The Management Council suggested that Hindman Wall, director of athletics at the University of Tampa, not be reappointed to the Division II Championships Committee inasmuch as Mr. Wall announced his retirement effective summer 1999.]

j. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

(1) Committee Reappointments. The Presidents Council considered committee recommendations that were supported by the Management Council to reappoint four individuals to the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the reappointments of Kimberly Brummer, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Greg Clark, Kennesaw State University; Dallas Curtis, Northeastern State University; and Danielle Fisher, Northern State University.

(2) Committee Vacancies. The Presidents Council considered committee recommendations that were supported by the Management Council to fill four vacancies on the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council select Teagen Bosard to represent the Pacific West Conference; Stephanie Harris to represent the Sunshine State Conference; Brandon Harris to be the at-large representative; and Christian Kaesebier as the independent representative.

k. Legislative Issues.

(1) Legislative Proposals Considered in January. The Presidents Council reviewed, in legislative form, four proposals that it had agreed, during a previous meeting, to sponsor for the 2000 Convention.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the legislative form of these four proposals.

(2) New Legislative Proposals. The Presidents Council reviewed a number of legislative proposals that the Management Council recommended that the Presidents Council sponsor for the 2000 Convention.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve in concept the sponsorship of these proposals and direct the NCAA membership services staff to prepare these proposals in legislative form for consideration by the Presidents Council during its summer meeting.

l. Baseball Bats. The Presidents Council discussed the reporting line for the new baseball bat research panel.

It was voted that the Presidents Council recommend that the panel's report be filtered through each division's governance structure for consideration and recommendation after it has been sent to the Executive Committee for initial review.

m. Travel Issues. The Presidents Council considered a Management Council recommendation that an exploratory group be established to study issues related to first-class travel and other cost-saving initiatives. It was the sense of the meeting that the Presidents Council endorse the creation of this exploratory group.

4. 1999 Convention. The Presidents Council reviewed the 1999 Convention survey comments and survey results without taking any formal action.

5. Division II Initial-Eligibility Standards. The Presidents Council reviewed a summary of the Division II Academics Requirements Committee's discussion related to the Cureton decision and its potential impact on Division II. The Presidents Council also reviewed NCAA counsel's legal opinion regarding the Cureton decision and a Division II initial-eligibility status report from the research staff, as well as a report from the Management Council on its discussions related to this issue.

It was voted that the Presidents Council support the Management Council's recommendation that the Division II Academic Requirements Committee be asked to provide a report on the status of its review of this issue for the Management Council's and Presidents Council's review during their summer meetings.

[Note: The Presidents Council also agreed to appoint Bernard W. Franklin of St. Augustine's College and Jessica S. Kozloff of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania to join the Division II Academics Requirements Committee in its review of this issue, and that the Division II Academics Requirements Committee be asked to appoint a representative to meet with the Initial-Eligibility Subcommittee of the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet as it reviews the initial-eligibility issue.]

6. Reports From Division II Committees/Project Teams That Report to the Management Council and Presidents Council.

a. Administrative Committee Minutes. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the Administrative Committee's November 13, 1998 (Conference No. 8), and February 3, 1999 (Conference No. 1), telephone conferences.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the Administrative Committee minutes as distributed.

b. Budget and Finance Committee

(1) Preliminary Budget. The Presidents Council reviewed the Division II preliminary budget and the following new initiatives for 1999-00, as recommended by the Division II Budget and Finance Committee and the Management Council:

(a) Increase officiating fees for nine specific sports. ($6,140)

(b) Increase per diem for championships to $65 per day. ($144,000)

(c) Expand the Division II Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee by two persons. ($12,250)

(d) Matching-grant pilot program to enhance diversity within Division II. ($250,000)

It was voted that the preliminary budget and four new initiatives for 1999-00 be approved as distributed.

(2) Division II Enhancement Fund. The Presidents Council reviewed the Division II Budget and Finance Committee's recommendation that the Division II Championships Committee continue to administer the Division II Enhancement Fund and that, in conjunction with its administration of the Enhancement Fund, the Division II Championships Committee update the Division II Enhancement Fund casebook to reflect changes that will occur with the new distribution formula.

It was voted that the Presidents Council support the Management Council's and Division II Budget and Finance Committee's recommendation.

(3) Guidelines for Budget Requests Outside the Normal Budget Cycle. The Presidents Council reviewed the Division II Budget and Finance Committee's recommendation that a total of $50,000 (at no more than $10,000 per occurrence) be set aside as a contingency amount for unanticipated budget requests that may occur outside of the regular budget cycle.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the Management Council's and Division II Budget and Finance Committee's recommendation.

c. Strategic Planning Project Team. The Presidents Council reviewed the report of the Division II Strategic Planning Project Team without taking any formal action.

d. Project Team to Review Issues Related to Diversity. The Presidents Council reviewed the report of the Division II Project Team to Review Issues Related to Diversity. The Presidents Council considered the project team's and Management Council's recommendation that a three-year pilot program be initiated and that an initial commitment of $250,000 in the Division II 1999-00 budget be approved.

It was voted that the Presidents Council support the three-year pilot program with an initial expense of $250,000 in 1999-00 and an estimated $500,000 financial commitment by Division II during the next three years.

e. Amateurism Project Team. The Presidents Council reviewed the Division II Amateurism Project Team's report and received an update from President Allen Lee Sessoms of Queen's College (New York) on the project team's most recent meeting in Dallas. The Presidents Council took no formal action.

7. Ad Hoc Committee to Review Issues Related to Gender and Ethnicity. The Presidents Council received a report from Daniel Boggan Jr., NCAA senior vice-president and chief operating office, regarding the diversity audit that has been prepared by the Ad Hoc Committee to Review Issues Related to Gender and Ethnicity. The Presidents Council took no formal action.

8. Meeting Frequency. The Presidents Council reviewed the meeting schedules for Association-wide and Division II committees during the 1999-00 academic year. The Presidents Council also considered a Management Council recommendation that Bylaw 31.7.2.1.4 be amended to require committees to seek a waiver from the Management Council or the Executive Committee in the case of an Association-wide or common committee if it wishes to meet in-person more than two times (as opposed to once) per year. The Management Council noted that compelling rationale should accompany any such requests.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve legislation to modify Bylaw 31.7.2.1.4 as recommended by the Management Council.

9. Report from the Division II Chief of Staff. Nancy L. Mitchell, Division II chief of staff, provided the group with an overview of the issues that she believes are critical for Division II, including the Division II budget process, the relationship between the Management Council and the Presidents Council, and the discussions regarding the Division II identity.

10. Other Business.

a. Legal Issues. Elsa Cole, NCAA general counsel, provided an overview of various legal issues impacting the Association. The Presidents Council took no formal action.

b. Evaluation of the Governance Structure. The Presidents Council approved a plan recommended by the Management Council to schedule a meeting next fall between the officers of the Management Council and the chairs of the Division II committees (other than sports committees) to begin an evaluation of the Division II governance structure.

c. Meeting and Budget Schedule. The Presidents Council reviewed and approved the Division II governance structure's meeting schedule through the year 2002.