Following are the minutes of the August 10 meeting of the Division II Presidents Council at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis. All actions taken by the Presidents Council are included. Highlights of the meeting were reported in the August 28 issue of The NCAA News.

1. Minutes. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of its April 27, 2000, meeting.

It was voted that the April 27 minutes be approved as distributed.

2. Report of the Executive Committee. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the Executive Committee's April 28, 2000, meeting without taking any formal action.

3. Division II Strategic Plan. The Presidents Council reviewed the Division II strategic plan tracking chart used to monitor Division II strategic initiatives. No formal action was taken.

4. Report of the Division II Management Council.

a. Consent Package.

(1) It was voted that the Presidents Council remove from the consent package the noncontroversial legislative amendment regarding "accreditation" and refer the issue to the Division II Membership Committee for further review.

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

b. NCAA Convention and Legislation.

(1) Legislative Form-2001 Convention Proposals.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the legislative form of the 2001 Convention proposals as recommended by the Management Council.

[The Presidents Council discussed the concerns raised by the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee regarding Proposal No. 1 (Telephone Calls). It was agreed that the Presidents Council would approve the legislative form of the proposal; however, the Presidents Council will not move the proposal on the Convention floor and, instead, it would have to be moved by an institution or conference.]

(2) Legislative Concepts.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve in concept the legislative proposals for the 2001 NCAA Convention as recommended by the Management Council.

(The Division II Administrative Committee approved the legislative form of these proposals during its August 10 teleconference.)

(3) Deregulation.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the legislative form of the 13 deregulation proposals as recommended by the Management Council.

(4) Membership-Sponsored Proposals. It was voted that the Presidents Council refer the six membership sponsored proposals for the 2001 Convention to Division II committees for review and comment by October 7 as recommended by the Management Council.

c. Association-Wide Committee Recommendations.

(1) Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the recommendation to mandate some form of eye protection in women's lacrosse as soon as practicable.

(The Management Council and Presidents Council referred the issue to the Division II Women's Lacrosse Committee to develop a timetable and plan for implementation. Both groups also agreed to ask the Lacrosse Committee to consider whether to implement a headgear requirement for the sport.)

(2) NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee.

(a) Redistribution of Awards.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the recommendation that the current scholarship selection process be revised to allow for a seasonal approach in which all sports would be grouped together based upon the season in which the NCAA championship occurs.

(b) Time Frame to Use Scholarship Money.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the recommendation that the current five-year period allowed for scholarship awardees to begin their postgraduate work be changed to a three-year time frame for the original recipient, with an additional three-year window for an alternate, if necessary.

(3) Committee on Women's Athletics.

It was voted that the Presidents Council refer the committee recommendation to study the issue of homophobia in intercollegiate athletics to the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues.

d. Division II Committees.

(1) Championships Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the Management Council recommendation to establish a guideline for determining Division II bracket sizes so that it is based on the actual number of institutions that sponsor a sport (no less than a 1:8 ratio) instead of the current percentage of sponsorship for the sport in the division.

(2) Legislation Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve a Management Council recommendation to not incorporate a December 17, 1999, interpretation (Related to 2000 Convention Proposal No. 18 -- Board allowance -- Equivalencies) into the Division II Manual. (It will be retained as an interpretation.)

(3) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council ratify the following conference student-athlete appointments to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee:

* Brianna Williams, Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference.

* Bridget Tobin, New York Collegiate Athletic Conference.

* Jennifer Bahl, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

(4) Management Council Elections.

(1) Vice-Chair Election.

It was voted that the Presidents Council ratify Lisa Colvin, senior woman administrator, Southern Arkansas University, as the new Management Council vice-chair, effective September 1.

(2) Management Council Elections.

It was voted that the Presidents Council ratify the following individuals as representatives on the Management Council:

* Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Michael Kovalchik, athletics director, Hillsdale College.

* Heartland Conference: Bruce Harger, athletics director, Drury University.

* Independents: Tony Capon, faculty athletics representative, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

5. Division II Strategic Plan. The Presidents Council reviewed the Division II strategic plan tracking chart used to monitor Division II strategic initiatives. No formal action was taken.

6. Reports from Committees/Project Teams that Report to Both the Management Council and Presidents Council.

a. Division II Administrative Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the minutes from the May 3, 2000, and June 5, 2000, Administrative Committee telephone conferences.

b. Budget and Finance Committee.

(1) 2000-01 Division II Proposed Budget.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the Division II 2000-01 proposed budget as recommended.

(2) Budget Guidelines and Principles.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the changes to the Division II Budget Guidelines and Principles document as recommended.

(3) Division II Long-Range Budget Plan to be Presented to the Executive Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the Division II long-range budget plan as modified by the Management Council.

c. Amateurism Project Team.

(1) Pre-enrollment Amateurism Proposals.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the sponsorship of the amateurism legislative proposals for the 2001 NCAA Convention as recommended by the Amateurism Project Team and the Management Council.

(2) Educational Expenses for Prospective Student-Athletes (Bylaw 13.16).

It was voted that the Presidents Council agree to sponsor legislation to permit prospective student-athletes to accept educational expenses from any individual or entity provided such expenses are disbursed directly through the recipient's educational institution.

(3) Operation Gold Grants.

It was voted that the Presidents Council adopt noncontroversial legislation to permit prospective and enrolled Division II student-athletes to accept Operation Gold money at any time, including non-Olympic years.

d. Compliance Review Project Team.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the new "Compliance Blueprint Program" for Division II as recommended by the Management Council.

e. Convention Planning Project Team.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the 2001 Convention schedule, agendas and programs as presented.

f. Division II Membership Growth Project Team. The Presidents Council received an update from Mr. Dunn regarding the work of the project team. No formal action was taken.

(On August 30, the Administrative Committee changed the name of the project to the Division II Membership Review Project Team in order to more accurately reflect the mission of the group.)

7. Presidents Council Chair Election. The Presidents Council elected Patricia P. Cormier, Longwood College, as the new Presidents Council chair, effective at the conclusion of the 2001 NCAA Convention.

8. Management Council/Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Summit. The Presidents Council received a report from Patricia P. Cormier regarding the 2000 Management Council/Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Summit held July 22-23 in Boston. No formal action was taken.

9. Report on the Division II Committee Chairs/Staff Liaisons Meeting.

a. Division II Structure.

(1) Budget Process.

It was voted that the Presidents Council adopt noncontroversial legislation to reference Constitution Article 4.10 (Budget and Finance Committee) in Bylaw 21.7, so that the Budget and Finance Committee is included in the legislation that describes other Division II general committees.

(2) Convention Ratification (Constitution Article 4.6.3.1.2).

It was voted that the Presidents Council adopt noncontroversial legislation to delete the legislative requirement (Constitution Article 4.6.3.1.2) that individuals selected to fill Management Council vacancies must be ratified by the Division II membership at the next annual NCAA Convention.

(A ceremonial event at the Convention will continue to introduce new Management Council representatives to the membership.)

(3) Constitution 5.3.5.2 (Sponsorship -- Amendment-to-Amendment).

It was voted that the Presidents Council agreed to sponsor legislation to modify the sponsorship requirements for Division II amendments-to-amendments (Constitution Article 5.3.5.2) whereby eight member schools or one Division II conference would be permitted to sponsor such a legislative change.

(The current amendment-to-amendment sponsorship requirement is 15 schools or two Division II conferences. A similar modification to the current sponsorship requirement for Division II legislative proposals is not supported. The 1996 change that requires 15 schools or two Division II conferences to sponsor a legislative proposal has been a positive modification to the legislative process and it should continue. The suggested modification only changes amendment-to-amendment requirements.)

(4) Constitution 5.3.6.3.1.2 (Amendments Sponsored by Presidents Council).

It was voted that the Presidents Council sponsor legislation that would allow the Presidents Council legislative authority to waive its legislation sponsorship deadline of September 1 if three-fourths of the Presidents Council members agree that a legislative change should be considered by the membership at the January Convention.

(5) Bylaw 21.7.6.2.2 (Division II Championships Committee -- Duties).

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve an editorial revision to identify in the Championships Committee's list of duties and responsibilities that the committee has oversight responsibility regarding the administration of the Division II enhancement fund distribution formula.

(6) Bylaw 21.7.6.1.2 (Division II Academic Requirements Committee -- Duties).

It was voted that the Management Council and Presidents Council approve an editorial revision to specify that the Division II Academic Requirements Committee is responsible for working with other NCAA membership divisions to maintain consistent application of NCAA academic issues.

10. Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity. The Presidents Council reviewed the subcommittee's report regarding the Confederate battle flag. The Presidents Council agreed to endorse the subcommittee's recommendation to the Executive Committee to study the impact of the current issue on student-athletes and to mandate that the NCAA take a firm stand against all forms of discrimination and racism.

11. Update from the NCAA President. The Presidents Council received an update from NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey regarding the upcoming meeting of the Knight Commission and the president's position on the Confederate flag issue. No formal action was taken.

12. Legal Update. The Presidents Council received a legal update from NCAA General Counsel Elsa Cole. No formal action was taken.

13. Report from the NCAA Division II Chief of Staff. The Presidents Council received a report from Mike L. Racy. chief of staff for Division II, regarding the 2000 accomplishments of Division II, the importance of chief operating officer involvement in Division II conference affairs, and the Association-wide initiatives proposed budget timetable. No formal action was taken.