Though the issues were perhaps familiar ones, the discussion was new at the Division III Presidents Council meeting August 8 in Indianapolis. It was the first meeting for five presidents of the 15-member body -- three of whom were newly appointed to fill immediate vacancies -- so much of the meeting was devoted to providing new members with important background information on issues that have held the Council's interest for the past few months, from automatic qualification and the financial aid audit to the future of Division III.

After discussion, the Council ultimately agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2003 NCAA Convention to adopt the new Model D for team sport automatic qualification. The Council also agreed to the Management Council's recommendation to move the effective date of the legislation up to 2005 and fund the bracket enhancements by dipping into the Division III reserve.

The Council noted that the new Model D, revised from when it appeared in the April 15 membership survey, provides an access ratio of 1:6.5. It also retains the commitment to the established Division III automatic-qualification principles by increasing access equitably among Pools A, B and C. (Pool A is for conference qualifiers; Pool B is for independents and nonqualifying conferences; Pool C is for at-large berths.) Model D also does not extend the length of the championships season, and it responds to membership interest as expressed in the April survey.

Because of that commitment to access and to existing AQ principles, the Council agreed that the governance structure should support Model D, which is proposed by the Division III Championships Committee. A legislative proposal sponsored by the University Athletic Association (UAA) calls for the allocation of half of all championship berths to at-large selections, and it has a 2005 effective date.

Council members noted that the UAA proposal's 2005 effective date for implementation might cause some delegates to overlook the equity provided by Model D if its implementation date remained at 2006.

Though several Council members remained concerned about delving into the reserve to fund the enhancements, they ultimately were persuaded that enough funds remained in the reserve to cover any foreseeable shortfalls during that period. The Council agreed to reduce the reserve to 15 percent of the budget in 2005-06 and to 20 percent of the budget in 2006-07, freeing up the 1.2 million needed to fund the revised Model D enhancements.

The Council also noted that sports committees would be advised to round brackets down, rather than up, if the committees found themselves with an odd number (based on the 1:6.5 ratio) and needed to adjust.

In other championships issues, the Presidents Council:

Approved a change in the definition of a region as it pertains to in-region play. The proposed definition would include the current sport regions as well as a 200-mile radius for each institution, effective with the 2003-04 academic year. The new policy is designed to alleviate situations in which institutions have to drive past schools that are geographically close to them in order to compete.

Approved a recommendation to increase the brackets in men's and women's lacrosse and women's ice hockey by one each to accommodate a minimum of two Pool C berths, effective with the 2002-03 academic year. This increase is accompanied by a $40,000 budget reallocation.

Agreed to sponsor legislation for the 2003 Convention to establish an eight-team (nine members each) National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship to begin with the 2003-04 year and also create a six-member National Collegiate Women's Bowling Committee.

Future of the division

The Council reviewed a report from the Joint Subcommittee on the Future of Division III that outlined the work of the five subgroups (championships, eligibility and recruiting, financial aid, membership, and playing and practice seasons).

Several of the new Council members asked for further input on the purpose of the Joint Subcommittee and its charge. The Council asked that the information document about the subcommittee contain more context and background to frame the issues for Division III presidents.

The Council also discussed the importance of membership input over the next few months, particularly from chief executive officers. The Council noted that the information document should be used in emphasizing the need for CEO attendance at this year's Convention, where the future of Division III will likely be a topic.

The Council also agreed to devote much of its October meeting to further discussion of the joint subcommittee's work.

Other legislative issues

The Council heard a report from Kevin LaGree, president of Simpson College, who is a member of the Council and chair of the Division III Financial Aid Audit Task Force.

LaGree provided background on the group's work and noted that the task force has recommended a delay in the submission of legislation creating a financial aid audit in Division III. LaGree explained that the task force has worked out most of the details but intends to use the NCAA Compliance Assistance software to implement the audit. Using the software increases the chances of the audit meeting the task force's goals that the audit be comprehensive, workable and helpful, LaGree said.

The Council agreed to delay submission of the legislation until the 2004 NCAA Convention. It noted that the new timeline provides for 2004 as a division-wide test and 2005 for full implementation of the audit process.

In another matter, the Council agreed to sponsor legislation to standardize the playing and practice seasons to limit the playing season to 19 weeks. (See the August 5, 2002 issue of The NCAA News for a chart detailing the specifics of the proposal.)

The Council noted that the proposal, as recommended by the Management Council's Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee, addresses inconsistencies in Bylaw 17 that have arisen over time.

A prior version of the model included an 18-week version of the playing season. The revised model, however, was modified to included a 19-week season based on feedback from coaches associations and sports committees.

The Council also noted that the Division III Administrative Committee would review specific contest limitations and exempted scrimmages consistent with the established principle of an average of 1-2 contests per week.

In another legislative matter, the Council reviewed membership-sponsored proposals for the 2003 NCAA Convention and took positions of support or opposition when appropriate. (For additional details on the membership proposals, see page 6 of this issue of The NCAA News.)

The Council joined the Management Council in opposing Proposal No. 12 (Playing and Practice Seasons -- Basketball -- First Contest Date).

The Council joined the Management Council in supporting Proposal No. 13 (Playing and Practice Seasons -- Noncollegiate Amateur Competition -- Basketball).

The Council joined the Management Council in supporting Proposal No. 14 (Playing and Practice Seasons -- Tennis -- Preseason Practice). Both Councils also recommended that the sponsors include the sport of golf in the proposed legislation.

The Council joined the Management Council in taking no position on Proposal No. 15 (Executive Regulations -- Selection of Teams and Individuals for Championships).

Other highlights

Division III Presidents Council
August 8/Indianapolis

Reviewed and approved an updated version of the Division III strategic plan for 2002-04. The Council noted that the three goals of the division (student-athlete welfare, diversity and membership education and communication) remained intact and that a fourth goal, the future of Division III, had been added.

Approved a proposed 2003 Convention schedule, highlighting activities planned for university presidents.

Reviewed and approved the biennial budget for 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Heard a presentation by NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey in which he asked for input regarding the NCAA's position and involvement in the government's new Commission on Athletics Opportunity, a blue-ribbon panel that will be reviewing Title IX. The Council expressed its desire for the Association to continue to affirm its support of the law, to identify its successes and focus on unintended consequences.

Reviewed a report of the NCAA Ad Hoc Review Committee and prioritized Association-wide issues for the NCAA Executive Committee.

Welcomed three new members: Carlos Hernandez, president of New Jersey City University; Richard Berman, president of Manhattanville College; and Richard Wells, president of the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. It was the first meeting for two other Council members, Esther Barazzone, president of Chatham College, and Jane Margaret O'Brien, president of St. Mary's College of Maryland, who had joined the Council after the 2002 NCAA Convention.