The Division II Championships Committee is asking the Management Council to adopt noncontroversial legislation that would make the Council’s vice chair an ex-officio, non-voting member of the committee rather than its chair.

The committee discussed the concept at its June meeting after the Management Council broached the idea in April and asked the Championships Committee for feedback. Members from both groups emphasize that the proposal emanates from a desire to increase efficiency within the Division II governance structure more than to fix something that is perceived as broken.

The Division II Championships Committee is the only Division II governing body whose chair is determined by holding a position on another committee. That policy was implemented years ago because of the importance of Division II championships.

“That has served the division well, as the chair has been able to provide direction and guidance to committees within the Division II structure, as well as serve as a voice for the various committees’ issues and discussions with the Management and Presidents Councils and the Division II membership,” said Division II Vice President Mike Racy. “As the importance of Division II championships continues to increase, however, the Management Council believes it can better support the Championships Committee by having the Council chair serve in an ex-officio role.”

The proposal also calls for the vice chair to be permitted as an ex-officio member of the division’s 18 sport committees and to attend those meetings when warranted.

“By permitting the vice chair to serve as a non-voting member of all sports committees, the vice chair will have an opportunity to provide guidance and direction to the sports committees and be a conduit of information between the sports committees and the Championships Committee to the Management Council,” Racy said. “This is similar to the Council chair serving as a conduit for information from the Division II governance committees to the Management Council and Presidents Council.”

The Management Council vice chair would continue to be an elected position and serve a maximum two-year term, with the appointment being effective September 1 to August 31. The vice chair also would continue to serve as a member of the Division II Planning and Finance Committee and the Division II Administrative Committee.

The proposal means that the Championships Committee would be responsible for electing its chair, similar to all other Division II committees. If the noncontroversial legislation is adopted, the Championships Committee would elect a new chair to begin a two-year term September 1.