As Division III looks to the future, the Presidents Council is keeping tabs on its progress, from the financial aid audit to issues such as automatic qualification and playing and practice seasons.

The Presidents Council reviewed the composition of the Joint Subcommittee on the Future of Division III and also reviewed the composition and charge of the subcommittee's five subgroups, which will focus on championships, playing and practice seasons, eligibility and recruiting, membership issues and financial aid.

The joint subcommittee will consist of an oversight group composed of eight members, including three presidents, one faculty athletics representative and four athletics administrators. The oversight group will oversee and coordinate the work of the subgroups, address all budgetary issues and make final recommendations to the Management and Presidents Councils.

The Council noted that each of the five subgroups will conduct deliberations that focus on the Division III philosophy to create "philosophical directions and principles" and identify key issues that the existing Division III committee structure should address in greater detail.

The Council noted that an outside group, led by Stephen Lewis Jr., president of Carleton College, has been encouraging an examination of the division. The Council emphasized its desire that issues progress through the Division III governance structure from the joint subcommittee rather than through a parallel entity outside of the structure.

The Council also reviewed the timeline of the joint subcommittee and noted that there will be a membership mailing in May and that the Management and Presidents Councils will receive preliminary reports from each subgroup by this summer. The subcommittee is expected to make a formal presentation at the 2003 NCAA Convention.

Members of the Council also discussed a variety of ideas aimed at engaging Division III presidents in the ongoing discussions surrounding the subcommittee and the future of Division III. Council members noted that the discussions, which may eventually include some kind of subdivision of Division III, should be of extreme interest to Division III presidents. Suggestions for involving presidents and making them aware of the discussions included presentations at the NCAA Convention, conference meetings and perhaps even in conjunction with annual meetings of relevant higher education associations.

Financial aid task force

The Council heard a report from Kevin LaGree, president of Simpson College and chair of the Division III Financial Aid Audit Task Force. LaGree reported that the task force, which had its first in-person meeting in February, had compared the recommendations and comments from the governance groups, the 2001 pilot audit program participants and the 2002 Convention discussion session. The task force reached consensus regarding the size and scope of the audit, its frequency and the status of the auditor (internal vs. external).

LaGree told the Council that the task force is looking at using technology to permit the easy comparison of data and permitting financial aid officers to use data similar to what they are required to provide to the federal government. LaGree further noted that the involvement of financial aid officers, particularly from conferences that already conduct some type of conference-wide audit, had been beneficial.

LaGree also said that the task force continues to examine the issue of determining appropriate variances between the awards received by nonathletes and student-athletes. The idea is that a particular variance would serve as a trigger for the institution and the Division III Financial Aid and Awards Committee to begin discussions regarding the reasons for the variance.

(For an in-depth look at the work of the task force, see "Financial aid audit takes one step back, two ahead" in the April 1 issue of The NCAA News.)

Championships

As part of its discussion of championships issues, the Council reviewed the championships issues survey (which has since been forwarded to the membership from the Division III Championships Committee). Council members noted that the turnaround time for the survey was brisk, particularly in light of the fact that presidents are asked to sign the survey on behalf of the institution. However, Council members also agreed that the survey provided an excellent opportunity for athletics directors and presidents to discuss automatic-qualification issues and championships priorities with each other.

The Council also discussed and reviewed the Division III championships budget recommendations for 2002-03, noting that base-budget adjustments had been made in some championships when the committee determined it was appropriate, based upon actual expenses during the last three years. The Council noted appreciation for the time commitment that NCAA staff and Championships Committee members made in their thorough analysis of championships expenses and budgeting.

Other highlights

Division III Presidents Council
April 25/Indianapolis

Received an update on the allocation of Division III Initiative Grant funds. The Council noted that there were 42 applications received for the Division III Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grants, with 19 internships awarded. There were 19 applications received for the Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grants, with 17 awarded (see the April 29 issue of The NCAA News).

Met with Baker-Parker and Associates, the search firm that is assisting the NCAA with the identification of potential candidates for president of the Association.

Reviewed and approved the 2001-02 Division III budget-to-actual expenses report.

Reviewed and approved the preliminary 2002-03 and 2003-04 Division III budget.

Reviewed the proposed schedule for the 2003 NCAA Convention, noting that the Division III forum will focus on the work of the Joint Subcommittee on the Future of Division III.

* Adopted noncontroversial legislation to remove the current membership moratorium, effective immediately.

Noted that the Division III Management Council had approved legislation to make rugby an emerging sport for women in Division III, consistent with legislation in the other two divisions.

Reviewed the work of the Division III Management Council's Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee, noting that a survey was sent to coaches associations and NCAA Division III sports committees asking for input on a proposed model that would standardize playing and practice seasons across the board.

Noted that there were now three vacancies on the Presidents Council, precipitated by the resignation of Ronald Applbaum, who has accepted a presidential post at a Division II institution; the resignation of Marlene Springer, president of the College of Staten Island, who had conflicting commitments; and the resignation of Peter Stanley, president of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, who had conflicting commitments.

Heard a report from Cedric W. Dempsey, NCAA President, on his initiative, "The Will to Act Project," which involves direct communication to presidents in all three divisions regarding key issues in intercollegiate athletics.

Noted that Chris Martin, NCAA Division III governance liaison and membership services representative, would no longer be staffing Council meetings as he is leaving the Association to become the commissioner of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.