Division II Convention planners will not mess with success, but they will tweak it a little.

Surveys have shown that the Division II membership is generally pleased with its portion of the Convention, so in general, the 2003 program format will resemble what delegates saw in 2002.

The one major format change for the 2003 Convention, which will be conducted January 11-13 in Anaheim, California, will involve the Division II issues forum.

For the last several years, the issues forum's principal purpose has been to provide the membership with an opportunity to review proposed legislation. Representatives of the Legislation Committee have appeared before the Division II membership as a panel to answer questions about measures that will be considered the next day.

At recent Conventions, however, questions have been few. For that reason, the division's leadership has opted instead to provide a series of educational workshops that will be produced during much of the time that previously was allocated to the issues forum.

On January 12, Division II will conduct a three-part education workshop, as follows (the primary intended audience is in parentheses):

Noon-12:45 p.m. -- Division II conference grant application and annual report process (commissioners); graduation-rates pilot study (athletics directors, faculty athletics representatives); Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Issues (all delegates).

1-1:45 p.m. -- Division II Academic Enhancement Grant Program and Health and Safety Grant Program (commissioners); enhancing the role of the Division II faculty athletics representative (presidents, athletics directors); overview of 2003 Bylaw 14 deregulation proposals and future deregulation concepts for Bylaws 12 and 16 (all delegates).

2-2:45 p.m. -- Division II Strategic Alliance Matching Grant Program (institutions interested in applying); Division II graduation-rates pilot study (athletics directors, faculty athletics representatives); Division II championships issues (all delegates).

"We thought that the smaller workshops might provide the membership with a better use of time," said Mike Racy, Division II chief of staff. "Delegates may be more likely to ask questions in small settings. Also, if institutions have three or four people attending the Convention, they can divide up and attend all of the workshops."

If delegates have questions about prospective legislation, they should attend the 1-1:45 p.m. session on Bylaw 12 and 16 deregulation, which will feature a panel of Legislation Committee members.

A leaner version of the issues forum will be conducted from 3 to 4 p.m. January 12. This year's forum will be titled "Erosion of Sportsmanship and Civility in College Sports" and will focus not only on traditional sportsmanship issues but also on "gamesmanship," such as when basketball players who are better shooters attempt to slip to the foul line in place of worse shooters or when players attempt to have a foul assigned to them rather than a better performer who actually committed the foul.

Ron Stratten, NCAA vice-president for education services, will moderate the session. Panelists will include Tom Shirley, athletics director at Philadelphia University; Sue Willey, athletics director at the University of Indianapolis; and an individual with special knowledge in the field of sportsmanship.

At the January 13 Division II business session, delegates will note an effort to help build a stronger Division II identity. The ballroom will be decorated with banners from Division II member conferences. A large backdrop behind the head table will illustrate key attributes of intercollegiate athletics. In addition, images of Division II student-athletes and interesting facts about Division II will be presented between Convention votes and during other breaks in the program.

At the business session, Division II delegates will consider 41 proposals -- 39 proposed amendments and two amendments-to-amendments. Key among them will be: