Following are the minutes of the January 7 meeting of the Division III Presidents Council in Orlando, Florida. All actions taken by the Presidents Council are included. Highlights of the meeting were reported in the January 15 issue of The NCAA News.

1. Announcements. Ann Die, chair, welcomed new member, R. Kevin LaGree.

2. Review Roster, Future Meeting Schedule, Division III Newsletter. The Presidents Council reviewed all documents. No action was necessary.

3. Previous Minutes. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the November 1, 2000, Presidents Council meeting, and the October 25-26, 2000, Management Council meeting.

It was voted that the minutes of the November 1, 2000, Presidents Council meeting be approved as distributed.

4. Report of the November 2, 2000, NCAA Executive Committee Meeting. The Presidents Council reviewed the minutes of the November 2, 2000, Executive Committee, specifically noting:

a. A review of Executive Committee priorities.

b. A review of the Confederate battle flag discussion.

a. Division III Strategic Plan. The Presidents Council endorsed the action of the Management Council.

b. Association-Wide Committees.

(1) Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(2) Honors Committee. The Presidents Council approved the Management Council's recommendation to request that the committee exercise greater diligence and responsiveness to diversity in its selection of future speakers and that this principle be endorsed by the Executive Committee.

The Presidents Council also recommended consideration for the inclusion of recognition for the Sportspersons of the Year during the Honors Dinner.

(3) Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(4) Olympic Sports Liaison Committee. The Presidents Council:

(a) Approved the Management Council's recommendation for a second in-person meeting for the committee.

(b) Approved the Management Council's recommendation to grant the waiver of NCAA Executive Regulation 31.7.2.1.5-(b) (the requirement that committees that meet more than once per year are required to conduct at least one-half of the meetings in the Indianapolis metropolitan area), and forwarded it to the Executive Committee.

(5) Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

b. Management Council Subcommittees.

(1) Administrative Review Subcommittee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

c. Division III Committees.

(1) Budget Committee. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

(2) Financial Aid and Awards Committee. The Presidents Council approved the Management Council's recommendation to establish a Division III financial aid audit model to clarify compliance and enforcement processes related to 2001 NCAA Proposal No. 46.

(3) Interpretations and Legislation Committee. The Presidents Council agreed to sponsor legislation to:

(a) Amend the provisions of Bylaw 14.1.6.2.5 -- Extension Courses -- consistent with the new definition of "nontraditional" courses drafted by the Management Council Subcommittee on Academic issues.

(b) Delete the provisions of Constitution 5.3.11.4 -- Special Voting Requirements -- Voting on Football Issues.

(4) Membership Committee. The Presidents Council:

(a) Endorsed the waivers for the CEOs from Alverno College, Bay Path College, Dominican University, Lesley College, Medaille College and Thomas College from being required to attend the 2001 Convention.

(b) Approved the Management Council's recommendation not to amend current legislation to permit a national accrediting agency such as the American Academy for Liberal Education to satisfy the provisions of Constitution 3.2.1.1.

6. Issues Related to the 2001 NCAA Convention.

a. Review 2001 NCAA Convention Program. The Presidents Council endorsed the Convention schedule.

b. Review of Proposed Legislation, Speaker Assignments and Positions for All Legislation. The Presidents Council identified an additional speaker (John DiBiaggio) for possible motion to reorder Proposal No. 50 before Proposal No. 49.

c. Review of Noncontroversial Legislation Adopted by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.3.1.1.1. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

d. Review of Division III Modifications of Wording Adopted by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.4.1.1.1. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

7. Proposed Legislation for the 2002 Convention.

a. Review of Noncontroversial Legislation Adopted by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.3.1.1.1 for the 2002 Convention. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

b. Review of Editorial Revisions Approved by the Management Council per NCAA Constitution 5.4.1.1.1 for the 2002 Convention. The Presidents Council endorsed the Management Council's actions.

8. Association-Wide Issues.

a. 2001 NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. The Presidents Council endorsed involvement in the leadership conference and solicited interested volunteers.

b. Confederate battle flag. The Presidents Council accepted the information from the Management Council but took no action.

9. Litigation Update. Elsa Kircher Cole, NCAA general counsel, provided a litigation update for the Council.

10. Presidents Council Demographics. The Presidents Council reviewed the demographics data and noted one immediate vacancy.

11. Other Business. The Presidents Council expressed its deep and abiding thanks to John DiBiaggio for his involvement and to Ann Die for her leadership as chair.