The reorganized Division I governance structure will start its work August 6 with the first meeting of the Leadership Council. The group is expected to review its purpose, define its goals and begin preliminary discussions on some of the issues already assigned to it.

The Leadership Council, formed as an advisory body to the Division I Board of Directors, is expected to identify issues important to the future of the division and offer its expertise in defining appropriate action items. The group will spend the bulk of its first meeting delineating processes and operating procedures for its future meetings. The Council will also discuss its interaction with other bodies in the reorganized governance structure.

Among the topics the group is expected to consider are diversity in the governance structure, membership standards and amateurism issues. While no significant movement is expected on any of these issues at the group’s initial meeting, the topics will be a significant portion of the Council’s work moving forward.

For more about the intended purpose of the Leadership Council and the thoughts of its chair, Georgia Athletics Director Damon Evans, click here.