Jan 13, 2010 11:19:42 PM

ATLANTA – The Division III Management Council has tackled what is proving to be a tricky question in challenging economic times: Should student-athletes have an opportunity to raise their share of funds for a spring trip or international tour through team activities such as working a concessions or ticket booth?

The Council considered a recommendation Wednesday to allow those kinds of fund-raising activities within limits. However, it struggled not only with what types of fund-raising might be permitted, but also the more fundamental question of whether it is even appropriate to credit an individual student-athlete for raising funds for a team's benefit.

As a result, Division III delegates at the Convention in Atlanta may find themselves pondering the question themselves this week, as the Council solicits feedback on the issue at various membership gatherings.

The Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee proposed permitting institutions to "earmark" funds "earned" by an individual student-athlete toward his or her fund-raising obligation, based on a desire to recognize that some student-athletes may devote more time to team fund-raising activities and should be credited for their effort.

The committee's proposal makes distinctions between types of activities that would and would not be permitted. It supported earmarking funds raised by a student-athlete from "volunteering or working a fund-raising activity," listing examples such as working concessions or ticket booths or serving as an usher at an athletics event. It also specified activities for which earmarking would be prohibited, including selling goods, writing letters soliciting donations or participating in events featuring athletic ability.

The Council, however, could not reach a consensus on the basic question of whether it is philosophically appropriate to earmark fund-raising proceeds for individual student-athletes.

Current legislation prohibits earmarking fund-raising proceeds for individual student-athletes, except for donations from family members. Many Council members think that remains the simplest way to treat fund-raising.

Members agreed, however, they would benefit from membership feedback given the increasing importance of fund-raising activities in a challenging economic climate. They will seek input this week in such forums as conference meetings, the Division III Commissioners Association meeting and a joint breakfast involving members of the Division III Presidents Council, Management Council and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The Council then will revisit the issue Saturday afternoon during its post-Convention meeting.

Much of the Council's pre-Convention meeting was devoted to routine preparation for membership voting on nine legislative proposals at Saturday's general business session.

However, members also heard reports from various Division III committees, including a recommendation from the Membership Committee to require NCAA member institutions interested in reclassifying to Division III to complete an exploratory year before applying to move into the division.

The Council supported the recommendation, agreeing to consider formally adopting the requirement as noncontroversial legislation at its April meeting in Indianapolis. If approved, the requirement would be applicable to institutions declaring their intent on or after May 15, 2010, to reclassify.

Council members also approved recommendations from the Division III Championships Committee to increase championships fields for student-athletes in swimming and diving, outdoor track and field, and wrestling beginning in 2011, drawing from reallocation of funds and inflationary adjustments in the division's budget.

The increase of 70 student-athletes (35 men and 35 women) in swimming is expected to bring more participants into relay events; the addition of 10 wrestlers will enable selection of 16 student-athletes for each of the 10 weight classes at that event; and an increase of 108 participants (54 men and 54 women) in track and field will result in additional qualifiers in all events at the outdoor championships.