DIVISION II

Inaugural summit attracts 140 chief executive officers to Florida

The first Division II Chancellors and Presidents Summit attracted 140 chief executive officers to Orlando, Florida, June 24-26 for discussion of ways to achieve Division II goals during the next several years -- including establishing a clearer identity for the division.

The CEOs discussed research from Competition Policy Associates about Division II finances, and also received advice from a media researcher and executives from ESPN-U and CSTV.

The presentation of the research, the centerpiece of the summit, provided previously unavailable data for institutions that may be considering reclassification to Division I.

The research showed that Division II revenues and expenses are substantially lower than those found in Division I. An average Division II program with football has annual revenue of about $2.6 million and expenses of $2.7 million. Division I-AA averages $7.2 million in revenue and $7.5 million in expenses.

However, the study also showed that Division II institutions have much smaller operating losses and lower levels of institutional support. Not counting institutional support, state support or student activity fees, average football-playing institutions in Division II have net revenue of minus $2.1 million, compared to minus $5.2 million for Division I-AA institutions. In addition, the study revealed that the percentage of total institutional spending devoted to athletics at Division II schools (2.6 percent) is lower than in Division I-AA (3.6 percent)

As for the financial returns of switching divisions, the study's authors found no economic benefits. On average, institutions that switch divisions experienced an increase of $3.7 million in spending against a $2.5 million jump in revenue. The largest changes in spending came from grants-in-aid, coaches' salaries and team travel; the largest revenue changes involved cash contributions, ticket sales and NCAA/conference distributions.

MASCOTS

Panel sends recommendations for Executive Committee review

The NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Commitee (MOIC) has forwarded recommendations to address the issue of institutions using American Indian mascots, nicknames, logos and imagery.

The committee, meeting June 21-22 in Boston, shaped a broad range of recommendations that will be forwarded to the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues for review during that group's August 3 meeting. Recommendations from that group will be sent to the Executive Committee for a final decision August 4.

The MOIC declined to release specifics about the recommendations before the subcommittee meets. However, committee Chair Robert C. Vowels said the group takes the issue seriously and added, "We're being prudent and strategic. We're expecting things to change and to change quickly."

For more information, see page 6.

Staff contact: Ron Stratten -- rstratten@ncaa.org

SPORTSMANSHIP

Commitee agrees on response to unsportsmanlike actions

The NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct established a plan to respond more quickly to instances of unsportsmanlike behavior and misconduct during its July 6-7 meeting in Indianapolis.

The committee identified criteria under which it would initiate correspondence with an institution's president.

The committee also voted to draft a legislative proposal outlining for institutions requirements for compliance with the principles of sportsmanship and ethical conduct.

Staff contact: Ron Stratten -- rstratten@ncaa.org

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