SAN DIEGO -- The Division III Management Council reviewed the division's Strategic Planning Document and dealt with issues related to the Convention during its pre-Convention meeting January 7-8.

Lynda Calkins, director of athletics at Hollins University and vice-chair of the Management Council, reminded the group that the deadline for committees to identify initiatives with budget ramifications is February 15.

"We (the Management Council) must be comfortable with the strategic plan," Calkins said. "The membership will be looking to us for leadership. Good planning will equal good results in the long run. I think Division III has been the pacesetter as far as strategic planning is concerned."

Calkins emphasized that student-athlete welfare, membership requirements, education and compliance issues, and diversity have been identified as the top three priorities in the Division III Strategic Planning Document.

Throughout the meeting, the Management Council received reports from Association-wide and Division III committees and forwarded recommendations to the Division III Presidents Council.

Other actions

In other actions, the Management Council:

Recommended that the Presidents Council approve amendments-to-amendments on Proposal 55, delaying the effective date for the prohibition of outside competition in nontraditional seasons in the sports of golf and tennis to August 1, 2001, and Proposal 87, which would permit student-athletes who were enrolled as full-time students the previous academic year and have established eligibility for the subsequent academic year to participate on a summer foreign tour.

Recommended that the Presidents Council approve Proposal 57, establishing a National Collegiate Championship in the sport of women's ice hockey, effective 2000-01, and establishing a women's ice hockey committee.

Recommended that the Presidents Council sponsor legislation at the 2001 Convention to establish a Division III championship in women's ice hockey.

Asked the Division III Championships Committee for a report at the April meeting identifying ways to solicit more bids from institutions to host Division III championships.

Agreed to support noncontroversial legislation to expand the Association-wide National Youth Sports Program Committee and to permit student-athletes with remaining eligibility to receive commemorative items incidental to participation in the Olympic Games, World University Games, Pan American Games, World Cup and world championships through the applicable national governing bodies.

Approved a change to Division III Administrative Review Subcommittee policy to specify that the director of student-athlete reinstatement shall determine whether a case includes new information.

Agreed to maintain the Administrative Review Subcommittee's policy of having the Management Council chair cast the deciding vote in case of a subcommittee tie.

Supported the Administrative Review Subcommittee's request that conferences or the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee (for independents) would be the final ruling body regarding hardship waiver cases.

Approved legislative changes that would allow the Division III Committee on Infractions to impose fines in cases involving major violations of NCAA legislation.

Asked the Division III Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee for more information regarding Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee recommendations of an October 15 starting date for winter sports practice activities and February 1 for spring sports practice activities. The Council also asked for a recommendation regarding exempted scrimmages in all sports and for more study of the concept of tournament exemptions.

Approved the Division III Nominating Committee recommendations of Leon Lunder, director of athletics at Carleton College, to the Budget Committee, and Nathan Hager, a student-athlete at Juniata College, to the Interpretations and Legislation Committee.

Reviewed proposed legislation sponsored by the Presidents Council, as well as noncontroversial legislation and intent-based legislation and editorial revisions for the 2001 NCAA Convention.