The Division III discussion sessions and forum at the 2000 NCAA Convention will include key issues that likely will be on the horizon for the division during the next decade, including: gender and ethnic diversity, student-athlete behavior, financial aid regulations, legislative deregulation, amateurism and performance-enhancing drugs.

"Since the NCAA restructuring, the Division III Convention agenda has become more educational in nature, with a focus on student-athlete welfare" said John S. Biddiscombe, athletics director at Wesleyan University (Connecticut) and Division III Management Council chair. "The topics selected for this Convention are ones that correspond to the highest priorities contained in the Division III strategic plan and on the agendas of many Division III committees."

The Division III forum, which will precede the NCAA opening business session on Sunday, January 9, will focus on developing positive student-athlete behavior.

The forum is scheduled to run from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and it will feature a status report from Edward G. Koll, president of Alfred University, on the university's national survey on initiation rites.

Also scheduled to address delegates is Michael Josephson, author of the book "Character Counts," which takes a look at the ethical side of athletics. Josephson also is the founder and president of the Character Counts Coalition, a nonpartisan alliance that works to strengthen the character of young people.

The forum will conclude with round-table discussions focusing on increasing student-athlete involvement in addressing behavioral issues.

Several discussion sessions will follow the roll-call voting on Division III legislation during the Division III business session Monday, January 10.

First will be an update on Division III financial aid and the Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG). Included in this discussion will be information on the ISSG submission requirement, as well as presentations on the financial aid section of the ISSG. Also included will be an opportunity to discuss the future of Division III financial aid regulations, as well as a status report on the Division III Financial Aid and Awards Committee's review of institutional awards.

The next discussion session will focus on gender and ethnic diversity in Division III. Linda Moulton, director of athletics at Clark University (Massachusetts), will present a report of current gender and ethnic minority representation in the division.

Other speakers will include: Gloria Scott, president of Bennett College and a member of the Division III Presidents Council, who will address the importance of gender and diversity representation; David Caputo, president of Hunter College, who will discuss some "best practices" for increasing diversity in Division III; and Eugene Marshall, director of athletics at Ramapo College and a member of the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, who will present ideas on role modeling and mentoring to increase diversity. Cela Oceguera, a student-athlete from the University of California, San Diego, and a member of the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, will discuss the value of gender and ethnic diversity in athletics administration from a student-athlete perspective.

An update on deregulation efforts in Division III will be the topic of the next discussion session, which will review the deregulation work accomplished so far and the deregulation work yet to be done.

Next up will be a report of the Division III Amateurism Task Force. This session will include a discussion of the task force's existence and time frame for its work, presented by Tom Weingartner, the director of athletics at the University of Chicago.

The session also will include a review of Division III issues regarding amateurism, presented by JoAnn Andregg, associate director of athletics at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota), as well as a discussion of the problems identified by the task force as it reviewed Division III amateurism rules.

NCAA staff members will present Division III precedent involving amateurism violations, while Leslie Poolman, athletics director at Dickinson College, will discuss the philosophical questions surrounding amateurism.

The next discussion session, scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, following the election of Division III Management Council members, will focus on performance-enhancing drugs.

Gary Green, team physician at the University of California, Los Angeles, will present this session, which will include a discussion of the results of NCAA drug testing from 1993 to 1999, as well as a report on the 1997 NCAA Survey of Use and Abuse Habits of NCAA Student-Athletes.

Green also will discuss current trends in performance-enhancing drugs and how the Association can assist member institutions in educating student-athletes about banned substances. Also to be discussed are advancements in drug-testing technology and how those advancements might improve the detection of performance-enhancing substances in the future.

The final discussion session will include a presentation by NCAA staff on the NCAA public relations study and public relations plan.