NCAA President Myles Brand addressed the Division III business session January 13. "At this Convention, I'm learning more about Division III. I'm learning about the strength of its institutions and about the diversity of its institutions. I'm also learning more about the philosophy of Division III," he said. "Intercollegiate athletics really is all about the student-athlete, and I can't think of a group of schools that takes that more seriously than Division III. I have great optimism and enthusiasm about Division III and indeed about the work of the entire Association."

The morning of the Division III business session included an update from the Division III Initiatives Task Force, including a video of the newly implemented Division III Regional Student-Athlete Leadership Conferences. The Financial Aid Audit Task Force also gave a report on its work and its ongoing development of an online reporting process based on the new NCAA Compliance Assistant software.

The January 12 Division II/Division III chief executive officers discussion session featured President Brand, who gave a brief presentation and then fielded questions from attendees. Also presenting were Abe Frank, NCAA director of government relations, and Judy Sweet, NCAA vice-president of championships and senior woman administrator, who fielded questions regarding Title IX and the Secretary's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics.

This was the first year for a Division III chief executive officers luncheon. The brief program included an update by John McCardell, president of Middlebury College and vice-chair of the Presidents Council, on the ongoing discussions about the future of Division III. It also included an update on legislation to be voted upon the next day and the proposed financial aid reporting process.

The Division III Management Council met January 10 and January 14 in conjunction with the 2003 NCAA Convention. The Division III Presidents Council met January 12 in conjunction with the Convention. Following is a summary of actions.

The Council has asked to see the feedback at its April meeting, and it also asked that the feedback include consideration of: impact on the length of the preseason; impact on the competitive schedule; and a review of the Division I and Division II preseason models.

* The Presidents Council endorsed several recommendations from the Management Council regarding the report from the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee on the use of American Indian mascots in intercollegiate athletics. The Councils referred several of the recommendations to the Division III Membership and Championships Committees for further analysis and discussion.

The Management Council forwarded to the Division III Membership Committee a recommendation from the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics that the Division III Institutional Self-Study Guide contain a stronger gender-equity component.

Both Councils heard a brief presentation from NCAA President Myles Brand and participated in question-and-answer sessions with him during their meetings.

Elsa Cole, NCAA general counsel, appeared before the Management Council to provide a review of legal issues and current lawsuits in which the Association is involved.

Both Councils noted that the Division III Infractions Committee had met in December to hear a major Division III infractions case for the first time since NCAA restructuring in 1997. The result of that hearing is expected to be made public by February.

Both Councils reviewed the 2001-02 fiscal year financial results and 2002-03 year-to-date actual expenses.

Both Councils reviewed legislation for the 2003 NCAA Convention.

Both Councils discussed the January 12 forum on the future of Division III.