1. Announcements. Ann Die, chair, welcomed all members.

2. Review Roster, Future Meeting Schedule, 2001-04 Management Council/Presidents Council/Executive Committee Meeting Schedule, Committee/Subcommittee Assignments and the Division III Newsletter. The Presidents Council reviewed all documents. No action was necessary.

3. Previous Minutes. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the following meetings: April 27, 2000, Presidents Council meeting; April 9-10, 2000, Management Council meeting; and May 10 and 19, June 13 and July 6, 2000, Administrative Committee meetings.

It was voted that the minutes of the April 27, 2000, Presidents Council meeting and May 10 and 19, June 13 and July 6, 2000, Administrative Committee meetings be approved as distributed.

4. Report of the April 28, 2000, NCAA Executive Committee Meeting. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the April 28, 2000, Executive Committee meeting, noting the status of the South Carolina Confederate flag issue. The Council recognized the many concerns and viewpoints surrounding the issue and urged the Executive Committee to engage in continued examination and gathering of information and to resolve the issue during its October meeting.

5. Report of the July 24-25, 2000, Division III Management Council Meeting.

a. Division III Strategic Planning. The Presidents Council:

(1) Approved the updated values, goals and priorities chart.

(2) Approved Sections II -- Vision, III -- Mission and IV -- Timeline.

(3) Approved Section V -- Planning Priorities

(4) Approved Section VI -- Accomplishments.

(5) Approved Section VII -- Strategic Planning Scorecards.

b. Initiatives Task Force. The Presidents Council:

(1) Endorsed the task force timeline with the addition of membership feedback and dialogue at 2001 Convention.

(2) Approved the three-year compilation of initiatives, noting that the plan is based on a decision to focus resources on key strategic planning areas of diversity, membership education and student-athlete welfare.

The Council also recommended that the September membership communication should include a two- to three-page document articulating vision, strategic plan, initiatives and three-year outcomes, including staff and administrative implications.

c. Committee Reports.

(1) Association-Wide Committees.

(a) Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. The Presidents Council endorsed the recommendation that the committee consider identifying "professional medical services" (for example, EMTs) as an alternate means of health and safety coverage for member institutions in the revised "Athletic Training and Its Impact" document relative to the charge of the Executive Committee. The Council also noted that feedback should be provided to staff before the Executive Committee's formal consideration at its October meeting. The Council also noted that the August 3, 2000, memorandum identifying committee response to NATA guidelines was helpful.

(b) Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(c) National Youth Sports Program Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council action to sponsor noncontroversial legislation, effective immediately, to delete Bylaw 21.1.6 (NYSP Committee) to eliminate the NCAA's Association-wide committee. The Council also recommended that the Executive Committee approve additional actions presented by the NCAA general counsel.

(d) Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(e) Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(f) Walter Byers Scholarship Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(g) Committee on Women's Athletics. The Presidents Council approved the recommendation to address the issue of homophobia in intercollegiate athletics as it affects coaches, administrators and student-athletes and forwarded it to the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues.

(2) Management Council Subcommittees.

(a) Administrative Review Subcommittee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(b) Convention Planning Subcommittee. The Presidents Council approved the Convention schedule and recommended communication with all Division III CEOs to encourage involvement in structure and attendance at 2001 Convention, noting key topics: Initiatives Task Force; legislation, financial aid and awards, nontraditional segment; and shortened schedule. The Council also recommended considering the establishment of a "phone tree" for personal contact on specific key issues.

(3) Division III Committees.

(a) Budget Committee. The Presidents Council approved the 2000-01 budget as amended.

(b) Championships Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions. The Council also:

(i) Approved the automatic-qualification (AQ) timeline. The Council noted that funding for significant enhancements or revisions to the AQ principles may not be available until 2003-04 because of funding commitments related to the Division III Initiatives Task Force.

(ii) Approved the proposed legislation to address commencement ceremonies and NCAA Division III championships (Bylaw 31.1.4.1) as amended:

* The legislation applies to team sports only.

* The governing sports committee in consultation with participating institutions would reschedule the game on the nearest possible date if a participating school has a conflict.

* Institutions should give prior notice of commencement dates during which student-athletes would not be eligible for championships participation on the certification of eligibility to participate form.

* The policy does not apply to predetermined finals sites.

* The committee shall make a good-faith effort to accommodate participating institutions in non-predetermined preliminary-round contests with multiple teams participating at the same site.

The Presidents Council also noted the importance of commencement at Division III institutions and encouraged greater flexibility by governing sports committees and the Championships Committee in future competitive conflicts.

(iii) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 NCAA Convention to establish an NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee consistent with Division I Proposal No. 2000-25 (five Division I, two Division II and two Division III), noting that Division II also agreed to sponsor the legislation.

(iv) Endorsed revisions to Bylaw 31.1.4.1 (Institutional Policy -- Religious Reasons).

(c) Financial Aid and Awards Committee. The Presidents Council:

(i) Approved sponsorship of legislation for the 2001 NCAA Convention to simplify Bylaw 15, effective August 2001, and recommended that the committee survey conferences for input and feedback regarding compliance models for implementation by August 2002.

(ii) Approved the timeline for the current awards review process.

(d) Committee on Infractions. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(e) Interpretations and Legislation Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions. The Council also:

(i) Approved sponsorship of legislation for the 2001 NCAA Convention to amend Bylaw 17.5.5.2 (Annual Exemptions) to exempt contests played in a conference season-ending tournament in the sport of basketball.

(ii) Approved sponsorship of legislation for the 2001 NCAA Convention to amend Bylaws 17.4.5.1 (Baseball -- Maximum Limitations) and 17.19.5.1 (Softball -- Maximum Limitations) to modify the maximum number of contests in the sports of baseball and softball from 36 contests in the traditional segment and nine in the nontraditional segment to 40 contests in the traditional and five contests in the nontraditional segments and to eliminate the tournament date exemptions in Bylaws 17.4.5.1.1 and 17.19.5.1.2.

(iii) Approved sponsorship of the following 16 employment deregulation proposals:

No. 1 -- Conduct and Employment of Personnel -- General Principle.

No. 2 -- Personnel -- Definitions.

No. 3 -- Personnel -- Compensation Limits.

No. 4 -- Promotional Activities -- Privately Owned Summer Camp.

No. 5 -- Media Activities.

No. 6 -- Recruiting -- Talent Scout.

No. 7 -- Employment Conditions of High School/
College/Preparatory/Two-Year College Coaches.

No. 8 -- Employment -- High-School/Preparatory School and Two-Year College Coach.

No. 9 -- Publicity -- Announcer for High-School Broadcast.

No. 10 -- Tryouts -- Competition in Conjunction with a High School, Preparatory School or Two-Year College.

No. 11 -- Camps and Clinics -- Employment and Compensation.

No. 12 -- High-School All-Star Games -- Previous Contractual Agreement.

No. 13 -- Published Recruiting Services.

No. 14 -- Postseason Football -- Division III.

No. 15 -- Football Television Plans and Regulations -- Division III.

No. 16 -- Financial Administration of Postseason Football.

(f) Membership Committee. The Presidents Council:

(i) Approved sponsorship of legislation for the 2001 Convention to standardize the penalties associated with failure to meet the four-sport/three-season requirement (Bylaw 20.3.5).

(ii) Moved the following institutions into their second year of provisional membership, noting that the Management Council inadvertently omitted this action item: Huntingdon College, Louisiana College, Newbury College, New York City Technical College, Northland College, Piedmont College and Thomas College.

(g) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(h) Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions. The Council also:

(i) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 Convention to make violations of Bylaw 13.16.1.2 (Fund-Raising for High-School Athletics Program) de minimis, which would not affect a student-athlete's eligibility but would still be classified as an institutional violation.

(ii) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 Convention to make violations of Bylaw 13.16.1.5.1 (Athletics Equipment) de minimis.

(iii) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 Convention to make violations of Bylaw 13.13.2.1.2-(b) (Employment in own Institution's Camp or Clinic -- Sports Other Than Division I Football) de minimis.

(iv) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 Convention to make violations of Bylaw 15.2.8.1.2-(d) (Summer Financial Aid Prior to Initial, Full-Time Collegiate Enrollment) de minimis.

(v) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 Convention to amend Bylaw 16 cites that permit restitution to increase the limit to $50 for which an institution does not have to declare an individual (prospect or enrolled student-athlete) ineligible and seek reinstatement when the individual receives an improper benefit, provided the individual repays the value of the benefit to a charity of his or her choice.

(vi) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 Convention to create a general principle for restitution of all Bylaw 16 violations.

(vii) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 Convention to make violations of Bylaw 13.7.6 (Entertainment on Official Visit for Spouse, Parent or Legal Guardian of Prospect) restitution.

After the meeting, the Division III Administrative Committee recommended the sponsorship as a package of noncontroversial legislative proposals.

(viii) Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2001 Convention to amend Bylaws 10.3 (Gambling Activities) and 10.4 (Disciplinary Action) to establish a two-tiered process of sanctions for violations of gambling and sports wagering legislation.

6. Proposed Legislation for the 2001 Convention.

a. Review of Legislation for the 2001 Convention Proposed by the Governance Structure. The Presidents Council:

(1) Approved sponsorship of legislation to amend Bylaw 14.2.3 to permit a student-athlete who has exhausted his or her 10 semesters/15 quarters of eligibility to practice, but not compete, for 30 consecutive-calendar days provided the institution has filed a 10-semester/15-quarter extension request per NCAA Bylaw 30.6.1 with the NCAA national office.

(2) Approved sponsorship of legislation to amend Bylaw 18.2.4.1 to specify that at least 28 institutions must sponsor the sport in order to create a Division III championship in an emerging women's team sport.

(3) Approved sponsorship of legislation to amend Bylaws 18.3.1, 18.3.4 and 21.8.7 to establish an NCAA Division III Women's Rowing Championship and to establish a Division III Women's Rowing Committee.

(4) Approved sponsorship of legislation to amend Bylaws 18.3.1, 18.3.4 and 21.8.7 to establish an NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship and to create a Division III Women's Ice Hockey Committee.

b. Proposals Submitted by the Membership for the 2001 Convention. The Presidents Council:

(1) Voted to support Proposal No. 1-7 -- Eligibility -- Minimum Amount of Competition -- Bylaw 14.2.4.1.

The Presidents Council also endorsed the Management Council recommendation to:

(2) Support Proposal No. 1-8 -- Playing & Practice Seasons - Nontraditional Segment -- Field Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Baseball & Softball -- Bylaw 17.

(3) Oppose Proposal No. 1-9 -- Playing and Practice Seasons -- Practice and Competition in the Nontraditional Segment -- Bylaw 17.

(4) Support Proposal No. 1-10 -- First Permissible Practice Date -- Basketball -- Bylaw 17.5.2.1.

(5) Oppose Proposal No. 1-11 -- Three-Day Noncontact, Conditioning Practice Period -- Football -- Bylaw 17.10.2.3.

(6) Oppose Proposal No. 1-12 -- First Permissible Contest Date -- Football -- Bylaw 17.10.3.

c. Review of Noncontroversial Legislation Adopted by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.3.1.1.1 for the 2001 Convention. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

d. Review of Intent-Based Revisions Approved by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.4.1.1.1 for the 2001 Convention. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

e. Review of Editorial Revisions Approved by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.4.1.1.1 for the 2001 Convention. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

7. Litigation Update. Elsa Kircher Cole, NCAA general counsel, provided a litigation update for the Presidents Council.

8. Nominations Subcommittee. The Presidents Council:

a. Approved the appointment of Kevin LaGree, Simpson College (term expiration January 2001, eligible for reappointment to a full four-year term) to fill one of two immediate vacancies.

b. Ratified the proposed slate of nominees to fill 2001 vacancies:

(1) John McCardle, Middlebury College (term expiration 2005).

(2) John Roush, Centre College (term expiration 2005).

(3) Reelect Jeanie Watson (term expiration 2005).

c. Endorsed the process for membership notification and voting regarding the vacancies and communication to additional potential nominees.

d. Approved the appointment of Thomas Courtice as chair. President Coutice's term will begin immediately following the close of the 2001 Convention. (Term expiration January 2002.)

e. Approved the appointment of Bette Landman as vice-chair. President Landman's term will begin immediately following the close of the 2001 Convention. (Term expiration January 2003.)

9. Other Business. The Presidents Council noted that a request from the Association of Women's Colleges regarding information on the membership moratorium should be forwarded to the staff for review by the Membership Committee.