National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

March 24, 1997

Busy agenda for CEOs in next-to-last Commission meeting

The NCAA Presidents Commission is down to its next-to-last meeting, but the amount of business on the agenda for the March meeting does not reflect that its days are numbered.

The Commission, which will cease to exist after its June 24-25 meeting because of membership restructuring, will address an array of topics -- most of them on a division-by-division basis -- when it meets March 27-28 in Indianapolis.

The full group will hear a report from the Commission's Subcommittee on Minority Issues, chaired by Gladys Styles Johnston, chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and also will receive a report from the Association's Academic Requirement Committee.

Otherwise, most of the Commission's work will be done within the three division subcommittees.

In Divisions I, II and III, time will be spent in each subcommittee meeting identifying possible Association-wide and division-specific issues for the new Executive Committee to address after the dissolution of the Presidents Commission.

The Division I subcommittee also will:

  • Discuss restructuring issues relating to Division I.

  • Review proposed major changes to the athletics certification program for the second cycle (see related story, page 1).

  • Hear an update on the activities of the Special Committee on Agents and Amateurism.

    In Division II, a report will be provided by the Division II Management Council Transition Team focusing on the educational-assessment program for Division II provisional members and on enhancing compliance programs and services for Division II active members.

    The Division II presidents also will discuss a recommendation that would require that the results of the Division II institutional self-study be reported by the chief executive officer to the board of trustees at each institution.

    Other items on the Division II agenda:

  • A report from the Division II Budget/Finance Subcommittee.

  • A report from the Division II Financial Aid Project Team.

  • An update on the study of the 21-year-old eligibility legislation, as required by Convention Proposal No. 150.

  • A discussion of chief executive officer involvement on Division II general committees and an examination of what subcommittees may be necessary for the Division II Presidents Council (for example, minority issues, communications or strategic planning).

    The Division III subcommittee will follow up on the recent orientation session for the Division III subcommittee of the Presidents Commission/ Council.

    Regarding championships issues, the group will receive an update on the work of the Division III Championships Committee, will review results of the Division III straw votes at the 1997 Convention, will review recommendations from the Division III Football Committee related to alternatives for future Division III football championships and discuss the direction of Division III championships in general (specific items include a proposed increase in championships brackets for 1997-98 in Division III men's and women's lacrosse and the possibility of proposed legislation for the 1998 Convention to establish a Division III Women's Golf Championship.

    Other follow-up discussion will take place on the budget and nomination processes.

    In addition, the Division III presidents will:

  • Review the draft of guiding principles for the new Division III Budget, Championships and Nominating Committees.

  • Identify two Division III Presidents Council representatives to serve on the new Executive Committee.

  • Discuss ways to enhance the efficiency of the new Division III Presidents Council.