Delegates to the 2000 Convention in San Diego will get several opportunities to discuss important matters that will affect the division over the next decade.

Division II chief executive officers will talk about three vital issues at their chief executive officer luncheon, which will begin at noon January 9. The luncheon, which is open to all Division II CEOs, will focus on the following topics:

The financial affairs of Division II, including an update on the implementation of the new enhancement-fund distribution formula and a report on the projected costs of eliminating the geographic-proximity policy. The presentation will be made by Arend D. Lubbers, president of Grand Valley State University, vice-chair of the Division II Presidents Council and chair of the Division II Budget and Finance Committee.

An update on Division II diversity and amateurism issues. The update will be provided by Allen Lee Sessoms, a member of the Division II Project Team to Review Issues Related to Diversity and chair of the Division II Amateurism Project Team.

A review of the Division II strategic plan, which was mailed to the membership in December. The discussion, to be led by Lubbers, will focus on the future of Division II and defining the division's role in intercollegiate athletics.

The CEO luncheon will be followed by the Division II issues forum, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. The issues forum will be open to all Division II delegates.

The forum will focus on two topics: the health and safety of Division II student-athletes and amateurism issues in Division II.

A major part of the health and safety discussion will involve the question of athletic training support at Division II institutions. Administrators at a number of Division II schools have expressed concern about how their institutions will be affected by changes in the process for certifying athletic trainers.

Currently, individuals desiring to be athletic trainers may stand for a certification test through one of two routes -- an internship or completion of a bona fide athletic training curriculum. The internship option will be eliminated in 2004, however, leaving some administrators at institutions without athletic training curriculums concerned about how they will replace the interns who have been serving as student athletic trainers.

The discussion will be led by Division II Management Council member James W. Watson, athletics director of West Liberty State College. He will be joined by Elsa Kircher Cole, NCAA general counsel, and representatives from the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

The Division II Amateurism Project Team will lead the second part of the issues forum, which will focus on amateurism issues in Division II. The project team will present possible changes to Division II amateurism legislation based on its detailed examination of the matter. Delegates in attendance will be asked to participate in a round-table discussion of the issue.

On January 10, those attending the Division II business session will have an opportunity to participate in a discussion of championship issues. That session will begin at 1:30 p.m.

In addition, the Division II Management Council and Presidents Council also will meet in conjunction with the Convention. The Management Council will meet January 7-8 and 11 while the Presidents Council will convene January 9. The groups also will conduct a joint meeting the afternoon of January 8.