Following are the minutes of the April 27 meeting of the Division III 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 May 8 issue of The NCAA News.

1. Announcements. Ann Die, chair, welcomed the new members of the Council, Robert H. Chambers and Peter W. Stanley.

2. Review Roster, Future Meeting Schedule and the Division III Newsletter. The Presidents Council reviewed the roster, future meeting schedule and newsletter.

3. Previous Minutes. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the following meetings: January 8, 2000, joint Management Council/Presidents Council meeting; January 9, 2000, Presidents Council meeting; January 7-8 and January 11, 2000, Management Council meetings; and February 16, 2000, Administrative Committee meeting.

It was voted that the minutes of the January 8, 2000, joint Management Council/Presidents Council meeting; January 9, 2000, Presidents Council meeting; and February 16, 2000, Administrative Committee meeting be approved as distributed.

4. Report of the January 11, 2000, NCAA Executive Committee Meeting. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the January 11, 2000, Executive Committee meeting, noting the following key areas:

a. Role of the NCAA president and staff.

b. Distribution from CBS bonus payment ($40 million) of $1.272 million (3.18 percent) to Division III.

c. Implementation of strategies for federal legislation on gambling.

5. Report of the April 10-11, 2000, Division III Management Council Meeting. Walter Johnson, chair, Division III Management Council, noted key areas for discussion and action: Division III Initiatives Task Force and financial aid

a. Review of Division III Strategic Plan. The Presidents Council received an update on the work of the Division III Task Force and:

(1) Reviewed and enhanced the criteria for evaluation of initiatives:

(i) Reflect Division III strategic plan.

(ii) Promote educational philosophy of Division III.

(iii) Direct impact to Division III campus leadership, student-athletes, coaches and administrators.

(iv) Quantifiable and measurable.

(v) Sustainable over time.

(vi) Ease of administration.

(2) Approved the initial draft of a three-year plan to implement new initiatives that will allocate more than $4 million of Division III resources. The Council recommended:

(i) The addition of gambling education in the student-athlete welfare area.

(ii) The development of annual evaluation and oversight to ensure viability and sustainability.

(iii) A review of available staffing to accomplish the plan.

(iv) Enhancement of technology is critical.

b. Committee Reports.

(1) Association-Wide Committees.

(a) Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions with the exception of drug-testing expansion into Division III football. The Council took no action on the Management Council recommendation and recommended receipt and review of all available data and research related to the significance of problem at its August meeting. The Council also noted the following concerns:

* Significant funds required for drug-testing program in only one sport.

* Targeting one sport is inappropriate.

* Data gathered from a voluntary testing program would be random and insufficiently represent the scope of the problem.

(b) Honors Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

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

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

(e) Committee on Women's Athletics. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions and also endorsed the Management Council's and Championships Committee's actions to advance opportunities for women.

(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 Management Council's proposed 2001 NCAA Convention schedule.

(c) Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee. The Presidents Council reviewed the Management Council's recommendations on the nontraditional segment and determined that the best course of action at this time is to continue to encourage the membership to sponsor relevant legislative proposals. The Council intends to review proposals and perhaps consider additional proposals at its August meeting.

The Council noted:

(i) Broad approach to address the issue should be pursued.

(ii) Importance of presidential leadership, involvement and input.

(iii) Some support for the Management Council's missed class time proposal, but it may not go far enough.

(iv) The Management Council's proposed prohibition against overnight travel too regulatory and creates equity and safety concerns for some institutions.

(3) Division III Committees.

(a) Amateurism Task Force. The Presidents Council:

(i) Endorsed the core values for the Division III amateurism rules:

* Clarify, common sense and consistency of rules.

* Prospective student-athlete welfare.

* Competitive fairness.

* Consistency with Division III philosophy.

(ii) Endorsed the Management Council's recommendation regarding areas for amateurism review.

(b) Budget Committee. The Presidents Council:

(i) Approved the Management Council's recommendation that the balance of cash on hand represent no more than 35 percent of the annual Division III allocation.

(ii) Approved the 2000-01 preliminary operating budget ($9,857,000) and recommended new initiatives ($565,700).

(iii) Approved the Association-wide budget as recommended by the Executive Committee budget subcommittee. However, the Council encouraged the Executive Committee to consider allocation of additional funds to support diversity and student-athlete welfare initiatives.

(c) Championships Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

The Council also:

(i) Agreed to sponsor legislation to amend Bylaw 18.2.4.1 with an immediate effective date to permit the establishment of a Division III championship in an emerging women's team sport if at least 28 institutions sponsor that sport.

(ii) Agreed to sponsor legislation to establish a Division III Women's Rowing Championship and sports committee to commence with the 2001-02 academic year.

(iii) Agreed to sponsor legislation to establish a Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship and sports committee to commence with the 2001-02 academic year.

(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 agreed to sponsor noncontroversial legislation to amend Bylaw 21.8.6.5.1 to increase the committee by one member to provide better gender representation.

(f) Membership Committee. The Presidents Council:

(i) Agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation to establish a membership moratorium on new members in Division III for a two-year period through September 1, 2002, effective immediately.

(ii) Approved a moratorium exception for two Division III institutions that met criteria recommended by legal counsel.

(iii) Recommended that the Executive Committee endorse the moratorium on an Association-wide basis.

(iv) Approved the Management Council's recommendation to require attendance at the NCAA Convention by Division III provisional member chief executive officers.

(v) Approved the Management Council's recommendation to conduct educational opportunities for provisional member CEOs at the Convention.

(vi) Approved the Management Council's recommendation to explore creation of a Division III Web site, noting that the Division III Initiatives Task Force also was addressing the issue with a proposed budget allocation of $85,000.

(vii) Endorsed the Management Council's action regarding review of the Division III financial aid awards expressing a strong desire for immediate action by the Financial Aid and Awards Committee.

(viii) Endorsed the Management Council's action regarding enforcement of the Division III financial aid procedures, noting its strong desire for action and resolution by the Financial Aid and Awards Committee.

(g) Nominating Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions. The Council also agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation to amend Bylaw 21.8.1.4.2 to delete the requirement that administrators (directors of athletics and senior woman administrators) who also coach in a sport may only serve as administrators on Division III sport committees in that sport.

(h) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions. The Council also endorsed the Management Council's action regarding team travel hazards, with the exception of requiring use of seat belts at all times, since many vehicles do not include seat belts.

(i) Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions. The Council also agreed to sponsor legislation with an immediate effective date to amend Bylaw 30.6.1 to permit a student-athlete who has exhausted his or her 10-semester period of eligibility to practice, but not compete, for 30 consecutive calendar days commencing on the date of the institution's letter requesting an extension) in those instances in which the institution has filed a 10-semester extension request with the NCAA national office.

6. NCAA Legislation.

a. Review of Proposed Legislation for the 2001 Convention. The Presidents Council agreed to sponsor proposed legislation to:

(1) Limit all sports that conclude with a National Collegiate Championship to a playing and practice season of 21 weeks.

(2) Eliminate summer workout session in the sports of fencing, gymnastics, rifle, women's rowing and skiing.

(3) Permit the Committee on Infractions of impose financial penalties in cases involving findings of major violations of NCAA legislation.

b. 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.

c. Review of Intent-Based and 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. Possible Moratorium on New Members. See Minute Nos. 5-b-(3)-(f)-(I), (ii) and (iii).

8. Committee Meeting Requests. The Presidents Council approved the Management Council's recommendation to approve the waiver request for a third in-person meeting for 2000-01, noting that stronger rationale and accomplishments should be included in the future for:

a. Financial Aid and Awards Committee.

b. Interpretations and Legislation Committee.

c. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The Council also recommended that the Executive Committee approve the recommendation for Association-wide committee waiver requests for Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, the Committee on Women's Athletics and National Youth Sports Program Committee.

9. NATA Update. The Presidents Council accepted the Management Council's action, noting that continued communication with CEOs and Division III membership is important.

10. Confederate Flag Issue. The Presidents Council recommended that the Executive Committee support a prohibition on NCAA championship play beginning in the 2000-01 academic year if the flag continues to fly over the South Carolina statehouse.

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

12. Presidents Council Member Demographics. The Presidents Council noted that there is one vacancy, effective June 2000, and although there are no specific requirements, the subcommittee is encouraged to focus on public institution and ethnic minority CEOs.