Following are the minutes of the January 7 meeting of the Division II Presidents Council in Orlando, Florida. All actions taken by the Presidents Council are included. Highlights of the meeting were reported in the January 15 issue of The NCAA News.

1. Minutes of the Presidents Council's November 1, 2000, Meeting.

It was voted that the November 1 minutes be approved as distributed.

2. Minutes of the Executive Committee's November 2, 2000, Meeting. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the Executive Committee's November 2 meeting. No formal action was taken.

a. Consent Package.

(1) 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.

(2) 2001 NCAA Convention and Legislation.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the recommendation to include in the 2001-02 NCAA Division II Manual the noncontroversial legislative proposals, administrative bylaws and modification of wording to conform to the intent proposals as set forth in Attachments A-C of the Management Council's report.

(b) 2002 NCAA Convention.

(i) 2002 NCAA Convention Legislation.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the recommendation to sponsor legislation at the 2002 NCAA Convention to create an exception to the residency requirements for four-year transfers when the student's current institution loses accreditation.

(ii) Bylaw 17 Deregulation Proposals.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the concepts set forth in Attachment F of the Management Council's report to deregulate Bylaw 17 (Playing and Practice Seasons) of the Division II Manual, with the understanding that it will review these concepts in legislative form in April to determine whether to sponsor the proposals at the 2002 NCAA Convention.

b. Association-Wide, Common and Division II Committees.

(1) Olympic Sports Liaison Committee.

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the committee's recommendation to conduct an additional in-person meeting (total of two) during the 2000-01 academic year and to approve a waiver request per NCAA Executive Regulation 31.7.2.1.5-(b) of the requirement that committees that meet more than once per year must conduct at least one-half of the meetings in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

It was voted that the Presidents Council ratify the appointments of Brad Bigler, Southwest State University, as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference representative, and Adam Fairman, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, as the independent representative to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

c. Division II Management Council Committee/Project Team Assignments.

It was voted that the Presidents Council ratify the following Management Council committee and project team assignments:

* Management Council Subcommittee (replacing chairs; Jerry Hughes, Kaye Crook and Doug Echols)

Replacements: Gail Fults, Richard Gropper, Pam Gill-Fisher

Chairs: Satisfactory-Progress: Bruce Harger; Infractions Appeals: Katy Wilson

* Membership Committee (replacing Jim Watson)

Replacement: Joan McDermott

* Student-Athlete Involvement Project Team (replacing Jim Watson)

Replacement: Kevin Hickey

* Budget and Finance Committee (replacing Jerry Hughes)

Replacement: Mike Marcil

* Olympic Sports Liaison Committee (replacing Jim Watson)

Replacement: Katy Wilson

* Postgraduate Scholarship Committee (replacing Tom Shirley)

Replacement: George Klebez

* Convention Planning Project Team (replacing Tom Shirley, Kaye Crook)

Replacements: Phil Roach; Mike Kovalchik

* Project Team to Review Issues Related to Diversity (replacing Doug Echols)

Replacement: Mike Kovalchik

* Honors Committee (replacing Doug Echols)

Replacement: Clyde Doughty

* Membership Review Project Team

Addition: Clyde Doughty

d. Foundation Leadership Conference. The Presidents Council was asked for volunteers to participate in the 2001 NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference, which will be held Mary 28-June 1 in Orlando, Florida. No formal action was taken.

4. Division II Strategic Plan. The Presidents Council reviewed the Division II strategic plan without taking any formal action.

5. Report from the NCAA Division II Chief of Staff. The Presidents Council received a report from Mike Racy, chief of staff for Division II, regarding an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education describing how the lack of resources has hampered graduation rates in Division II. The Presidents Council also reviewed the final copy of the division's long-range financial plan and a document developed by the Division II commissioners outlining a model Division II conference office. No formal action was taken.

6. Division II Convention Activities and Speaker Assignments. The Presidents Council reviewed the 2001 NCAA Convention schedule and speaker assignments. No formal action was taken.

7. Region 3 Presidents Council Vacancy. The Presidents Council elected Irvin D. Reid, Wayne State University (Michigan), to replace Arend D. Lubbers, Grand Valley State University, effective May 1, 2001.

8. Division II Long-Range Budget Plan Presented to the Executive Committee. The Presidents Council reviewed the Division II long-range budget plan that will be presented to the Executive Committee during its January 9 meeting. No formal action was taken.

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

It was voted that the Presidents Council approve the minutes from the December 6, 2000, Administrative Committee teleconference as distributed.

b. Division II Amateurism Project Team.

(1) Waiver Opportunity.

It was voted that the Presidents Council direct the Administrative Review Subcommittee to approve waivers of the season of competition rule that meet the following criteria:

* Student-athlete signed a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period before the 2001 Convention; and

* Student-athlete triggered the seasons-of-competition rule, but did not violate any amateurism rules.

For those prospects who signed a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period but have also violated a current amateurism rule (for example, competed on the professional tennis circuit for two years after high-school graduation and accepted prize money for participation), the Administrative Review Subcommittee should assess whether any competitive advantage was gained.

[For those student-athletes who have not committed to a Division II institution by signing a National Letter of Intent prior to the 2001 Convention, the Presidents Council believes that it is the coach's responsibility to clearly explain the eligibility status to the prospect during recruitment and before signing the letter of intent. Then, the prospect has the ability to make an informed decision before the legislation becomes effective August 1, 2001. Institutions may process appeals for such student-athletes who lose a season of eligibility (due to the new amateurism legislation) through the Administrative Review Subcommittee, if they believe there are compelling reasons why the seasons-of-competition rule should not apply.]

It was voted that the Presidents Council adopt noncontroversial legislation to amend the seasons-of-competition rule so that a high-school student-athlete discontinuing full-time high-school enrollment to engage in organized competition will trigger the seasons-of-competition rule.

10. Presidents Council Vacancies on Committees and Project Teams. The Presidents Council agreed to fill the following vacancies on Division II committees and project teams:

* Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues (Replacing Charles Dunn, Jessica Kozloff and Skip Shannon)

Replacements: Clinton Pettus, Frank Brown and Karen Morse

* Administrative Committee (Replacing Jessica Kozloff)

Replacement: Kay Schallenkamp

* Budget and Finance Committee [Replacing Don Lubbers (effective May 2001) and Charles Dunn]

Replacements: Lawrence DeNardis (effective May 2001) and Gladys Styles Johnston

* Committee on Infractions Liaison (Replacing Jerry McGee)

Replacement: John Keating

* Convention Planning Project Team (Replacing Jerry McGee, Patti Cormier and Skip Shannon)

Replacements: Lawrence DeNardis, Karen Morse and John Keating

* Project Team to Review Issues Related to Diversity (Replacing Jessica Kozloff and Patti Cormier)

Replacements: Frank Brown and Nancy Belck

* Presidents Council Liaison at Division II Championships Meeting with chairs of Division II governing sports committees (Replacing Skip Shannon)

Replacement: Clinton Pettus

* Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Liaison and Student-Athlete Involvement Project Team (Replacing Patricia Cormier)

Replacement: Kay Schallenkamp

* Academic Requirements Committee (Replacing Karen Morse)

Replacement: Nancy Belck

11. Confederate Battle Flag Update. The Presidents Council received an update from NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey regarding possible steps the NCAA could take to address issues concerning the Confederate battle flag. The Presidents Council agreed that student-athlete welfare is preeminent in this case and, for that reason, it needed to adopt a Division II position.

It was voted that the Presidents Council adopt the following statement for consideration by the Executive Committee:

"The Division II Presidents Council strongly opposes the hosting of all NCAA championships and playoffs following the 2000-01 season in states that officially display a flag that contains an image of the Confederate flag.

Division II member institutions in South Carolina, Mississippi and Georgia that earn championships sites will be asked to comply voluntarily with this resolution, effective with the 2001-02 playing season.

The Division II Presidents Council calls on the NCAA Executive Committee to be proactive in examining the Association's role in addressing issues regarding the principles of nondiscrimination outlined in the NCAA Constitution."