NCAA Division III
MONTHLY UPDATE // ISSUE NO. 135 // DECEMBER 2016 JANUARY 2017

This update is a tool to enhance communication between the NCAA national office and the Division III membership, with distribution to athletics directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletics representatives, presidents, national SAAC, conference commissioners and the NADIIIAA list serve.  We encourage athletic directors to share this communication with their athletics department members.  Please contact Louise McCleary to include an item or share comments, and remember to check out the Division III governance homepage for the latest news and information.


HOT TOPICS

2017 NCAA Convention

The Question and Answer Guide for the 2017 NCAA Convention Division III Proposals and the Official Notice are now available online.  The Q&A guide will be updated as additional questions arise.  Please visit the 2017 Convention Resource page for all of this year's convention resources.   

TES Travel Portal

With recent changes, both NCAA committee travel and championships reimbursements are now available on the Travel Expense System (TES) within Single Source Sign-On (SSO).  If you do not already have access to NCAA systems through SSO, you will need to contact your institution's SSO administrator, typically your athletics director, to be granted access. 

Those of you who have traveled for NCAA meetings will find the championships system to be very familiar. A list of expense reports waiting to be filed, as well as those that have been filed, will be listed on your Championship Expense Report page. In addition to filing expense reports, you'll be able to check the status of previously submitted reports (including payment information) and view any changes the travel staff may have made. Finally, requests for per diem exceptions may be filed, and you can track their status as well.

If you have any questions about the new TES system, please feel free to contact the travel department at 317-917-6757 or travel@ncaa.org


HIGHLIGHTS

Hot Topics

CoSIDA Updates

FAR Updates

360 Proof Updates

SSI Updates

Diversity Spotlight

Special Olympics

AMA Updates

Educational Information

The NCAA Record

Committee Updates

Key Dates

Commission to Combat Campus Sexual Violence

To build on the work of the 2012 Think Tank and the Task Force on Sexual Assault, the NCAA's Board of Governors created a Commission to Combat Campus Sexual Violence.  The Commission's charge is to examine issues and propose solutions related to what athletics departments, conferences and the Association can do to address campus sexual violence to achieve positive cultural change.  Click here to review the Commission's charge in more detail.

ACTION ITEM:  Division III Financial Reporting System and the Institutional Performance Program

The Division III Financial Reporting System (FRS) data is due January 15. Approximately two-thirds of Division III institutions voluntarily submitted athletics finance data via the FRS last year.  

This data is important for the following reasons:

  1. It forms the basis for the financial component of your institution's Division III Institutional Performance Program (IPP), a new benchmarking tool that was released in October.  Click here to see the benefits of the IPP.

  2. It forms the basis for the Division III Revenues and Expenses report, an annual report of Division III athletic departments' financial information.   The latest report can be found here.
While all Division III, II and I institutions use the same reporting system, there may be items that do not pertain to your institution.  Staff has compiled a list of the 48 reporting categories and their definitions - 19 revenue, 22 expense and seven others.  Before you log into the FRS, review the list and determine the categories that pertain to your institution.  When you find one that is not applicable, make a note of it, and simply move onto the next category when entering your data in the FRS.  Additional information can be found here.  Contact Maria DeJulio (913-397-7668) or Katrina Buell with questions.

ACTION ITEM:  Division III Week

Mark your calendars - the 2017 Division III Week will be here before you know it! The week-long celebration will take place April 3-9. Be on the lookout for updated materials and more information to assist in your planning efforts. Please email Adam Skaggs with any questions or suggestions.

CoSIDA UPDATES

NCAA and D3SIDA Recognition Award

The next submission round for the NCAA Division III and D3SIDA recognition award is now open.  The recognition program seeks to honor the best work - including news releases, feature articles, videos, blogs and other materials - produced by Division III campus and conference athletics communication offices.  Each top honoree will receive a $1,500 credit to attend DIII Day at the annual CoSIDA convention. A panel of D3SIDA members will select the recipients, with winners publicized through NCAA.org and social media platforms. Participants can self-nominate or be nominated by peers. Entries should be submitted via email to d3identity@ncaa.org with "NCAA Division III and D3SIDA Recognition Award Nominee" as the subject line. In addition to the story URL or Word document, the nominee's name, institution, and email address should be included.  All submissions must be received not later than February 15.  Click here for more details.

FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE (FAR) UPDATES

At the recently concluded FARA Annual Meeting and Symposium, the assembled FARs reviewed the 2017 Division III legislative proposals and developed their final positions.  To view a pdf of the positions, click here.

360 PROOF UPDATES

360 Proof at 2017 NCAA Convention

All 360 Proof users are invited to book a one-on-one appointment with a 360 Proof alcohol prevention expert at the 2017 NCAA Convention.  To schedule your session, email a request to ExpertHelp@360proof.org  and include:

  1. Your name and institution, 

  2. Your phone number, and 

  3. The topic or questions you would like to discuss.


SPORT SCIENCE INSTITUTE (SSI) UPDATES

Online Mental Health Education Modules

The SSI announces the release of online Mental Health Education Modules to member schools and conference offices. These interactive, educational modules for student-athletes, coaches and faculty athletics representatives are designed to help normalize and destigmatize mental health help seeking for student-athletes and complement the education recommendations identified in the interassociation Mental Health Best Practices. Division III members are encouraged to share this important resource with their colleagues, coaches, SAAC members and faculty athletics representatives on campus. An introductory video and the three modules can be accessed by clicking here.

NCAA Sexual Violence Prevention Tool Kit is Now Available

The SSI released its latest publication, Sexual Violence Prevention: An Athletics Tool Kit for a Healthy and Safe Culture, as part of its efforts to support sexual violence prevention on campuses. In partnership with the NCAA office of inclusion, the SSI engaged leading higher education organizations across the country to develop this new resource for athletics administrators to use in their efforts to create safe places for students to learn and thrive and campus communities free of sexual violence. Print copies of the tool kit have been mailed to Division III conference commissioners, directors of athletics, senior woman administrators and Title IX coordinators To access a web version of the tool kit, click here

ACTION ITEM:  NCAA CHOICES Alcohol Education Grant

The application for the 2017 NCAA CHOICES Alcohol Education Grants is now open. As part of an effort to educate students about the risks involved with the misuse of alcohol, NCAA CHOICES provides funding for NCAA member institutions and conference offices to integrate athletics into campus-wide efforts to reduce alcohol abuse. Proposals must be submitted through the NCAA Program Hub not later than 5 p.m. Eastern time February 15, 2017. For more information about NCAA CHOICES, including grant guidelines and a tutorial on writing a proposal, please visit www.ncaa.org/choices.

Proposed Independent Medical Care Legislation

The NCAA Sport Science Institute and the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports recently released a white paper for Divisions II and III on independent medical care, an environment in which athletic health care providers may make medical decisions for student-athletes free of pressure or influence from non-medical factors. This document explains the origins, answers frequently asked questions and discusses the potential impact of the proposed legislation (Division III Convention Proposal No. 2017-1) on athletics health care delivery at Division II and III member schools. The Independent Medical Care White Paper can be found here.

DIVERSITY SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is the recipient of the November Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative. For the past four years, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) has participated in Feeding America, a nationwide partnership with various organizations all aimed at the fight to end hunger. Now, Feeding America is an entire Athletic Department and student-athlete driven event. Last December, the football team, 80 other student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty, Lourdes Academy (a local high school), and other Oshkosh community members logged over 500 service hours and fed over 390 families from all over Wisconsin. By tackling hunger in America, they are also addressing issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and many things that define us as a people, community, and a nation. Click here for the full story.

The Diversity Spotlight Initiative recognizes and promotes outstanding diversity related projects, programming and initiatives that are occurring on Division III campuses and in conference offices.  Each month, the program recognizes an institution or conference in regard to a diversity related event, program or initiative.   All recipients receive $500 towards their next diversity initiative.  To submit an initiative for consideration for October, please email Reed Fogle or Julian Jones, with a brief statement (no more than 500 words) as to why your institution or conference office deserves to be the spotlight recipient. Attach a video or photo if applicable. The nomination deadline is January 21

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Spotlight Poll

The NCAA Division III Special Olympics Spotlight Poll is a story-telling initiative located on ncaa.org/D3SpecialOlympics .  It features new stories each month that highlight a Division III and Special Olympics joint activity or event.  The story with the highest number of votes on the 25th day of each month is the winner. That institution or conference receives $500 to use for its next Special Olympics event. Both written and digital submissions are accepted.  Featured stories are selected based on inclusion of the student-athlete perspective and Division III messaging. To submit a story for consideration, please email d3specialolympics@ncaa.org.

November Winner

After 4,343 total votes and with only three votes separating Wheaton College (MA) women's basketball starts season with Special Olympics of Massachusetts and Hamline hosts unified basketball game with Special Olympics, both institutions are the winners of the November Special Olympics Spotlight poll by garnering 49 percent of the total votes! Wheaton College and Hamline  University will each receive $500 to use for its next Special Olympics event.

December/January Nominees
Here are the stories for the December/January Special Olympics poll:

Haverford Student-Athletes Volunteer at 2016 Special Olympics Fall Festival
• Commonwealth Coast Conference SAAC Spends the Day with Special Olympics
• Concordia Texas Student-Athletes Host Special Olympics Flag Football Tournament

Click here to vote starting Thursday, December 1. The winner will be selected January 25, 2017.

ACADEMIC AND MEMBERSHIP AFFAIRS (AMA)

Rule of the Month

One method of certifying a 4-2-4 transfer student-athlete under the transfer exception in Bylaw 14.5.4.1-(c) is by reviewing his or her athletic and academic status at the previous four-year institution. A 4-2-4 transfer student-athlete can be immediately eligible at the new four-year institution if he or she would have been athletically and academically eligible at the time of departure from the original four-year institution. Consequently, the certifying institution should ask the first four-year institution about the student-athlete's academic and athletic status at the time that he or she transferred from that institution to the two-year institution. (Note: the legislation was recently amended to reflect the original intent of this exception that the determination of athletically and academically eligible is to be made at the time of transfer from the original four-year institution as opposed to the time of transfer from the two-year institution to the new institution.) Below is an example of how the rule applies.

Example:

Claire is a 4-2-4 transfer student. After attending Bengal University (a four-year institution) for one year, she left the institution eligible and transferred to Ocicat College (a two-year institution). Claire attended Ocicat for one semester and finished the term ineligible there. She has now transferred to Devon Rex College. 

Outcome:

Claire is eligible at Devon Rex College because she was eligible at Bengal University at the time she transferred to Ocicat College. This is the case even though she is currently ineligible at Ocicat College. 

New!  Requests Self-Reports Online Training Video

Click here to learn how to submit a waiver or interpretation through the RSRO system. The video can also be located on the Division III Compliance web page in the resources area.

AMA Interpretive Assistance

Do you have questions?  Save this resource for a quick reference on where and how to seek assistance with interpretive issues or waiver requests from the Division III AMA staff.

Official Interpretation -- Employment and Endorsement of Recruiting or Scouting Service (III)

Date Published: November 17, 2016. The Interpretations and Legislation Committee confirmed that an athletics department staff member may not be employed (either on a salaried or volunteer basis) in any capacity by a recruiting or scouting service.  Additionally, athletics department staff members may not directly promote or endorse a recruiting or scouting service.  [References: NCAA Division III Bylaws 13.02.12 (recruiting or scouting service), 13.10.2.1 (evaluations for media, recruiting services) and 13.12.2.4.1 (camp/clinic providing recruiting or scouting service)].

Official Interpretation -- Transfer Following Nonparticipation at an NCAA Division I or II Institution

Date Published: November 17, 2016. The Interpretations and Legislation Committee confirmed that transfer student-athletes who were Division I or II nonqualifiers only due to the lack of an Eligibility Center certification are eligible to use the four-year college transfer exception for student-athletes who have never practiced or competed in intercollegiate athletics. [References: NCAA Division III Bylaws 14.5.5 (four-year college transfers), 14.5.5.1 (general rule), and 14.5.5.1.1 (exception)].

Official Interpretation -- Use of Season of Participation (III)

Date Published: November 17, 2016. The Interpretations and Legislation Committee determined that for a student-athlete to satisfy the early graduation exception to the full-time enrollment requirement and remain eligible for the remainder of the playing season without being enrolled full time, the student-athlete must have graduated (or completed degree requirements for graduation) in less than four consecutive years from initial full-time collegiate enrollment and have been charged with a season of participation for that year prior to the completion of degree requirements. 

The early graduation exception applies as follows:

a)  A basketball student-athlete completes degree requirements for graduation at the conclusion of the fall semester in less than four consecutive years. She was charged with a season of participation prior to the completion of the fall semester.  This student-athlete satisfies the early graduation exception and would be permitted to continue participation for the remainder of the basketball season without being enrolled.

b)  A tennis student-athlete completes degree requirements for graduation at the conclusion of the fall semester in less than four consecutive years.  He was charged a season of participation during the fall semester. This student-athlete satisfies the early graduation exception and would be permitted to participate for the remainder of the tennis season without being enrolled.

c)  A baseball student-athlete completes degree requirements for graduation at the conclusion of the fall semester in less than four consecutive years.  He was not charged with the use of a season for participation in the nontraditional segment.  This student-athlete would not satisfy the early graduation exception and would need to be enrolled full-time at his institution in the spring to participate with and compete on the institution's baseball team. 

d)  A softball student-athlete completes degree requirements for graduation at the conclusion of the winter quarter.  She started practice for the softball traditional segment but was not charged with a season of participation prior to the conclusion of the winter quarter.  This student-athlete would not satisfy the early graduation exception and would have to enroll full time in the spring quarter to continue participation.

[Note: If a student-athlete does not satisfy the early graduation exception, the student-athlete may still be eligible to participate while not enrolled if another exception applies. Specifically, if a post season event (e.g., NCAA championship, NAIA championship, NCCAA championship) occurs within 60 days of the end of the semester or quarter in which degree work is completed then the student-athlete would remain eligible for the remainder of the season.]  [References: Bylaws 14.1.8.1.6.7 (eligibility after completion of degree requirements), 14.2.4.1 (minimum amount of participation), NCAA Proposal No. NC-2009-1, NCAA Division III Presidents Council, NCAA Division III Management Council Summary of Actions Fall 2007, and official interpretation (4/15/2015, Item Ref: 2-b, which has been archived)]

SAR Update

For eligibility extension waivers involving financial hardship, a specific event leading to the financial hardship must be identified and substantiated. Declaration of bankruptcy does not satisfy the specific-event requirement of the legislation, but may serve as evidence of a specific event, which must be beyond the control of the student-athlete and the person on whom the student-athlete is financially dependent. The specific-event requirement is not satisfied if the event is not in close proximity to the academic year being asserted as a denied participation opportunity. The specific event must have a direct nexus to the financial hardship. The specific-event requirement cannot be satisfied by situations that gradually develop over time into an undocumented financial hardship. Absent extenuating circumstances, the specific-event requirement is not satisfied in situations where a student-athlete initially attends an institution and subsequently discovers that the cost of attendance at the institution is beyond his or her financial means.

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

NCAA Hosts Common Ground II

As a follow-up to a 2014 think-tank event, the NCAA hosted Common Ground II on November 2-3. This program brought together administrators from faith-based institutions and administrators of faith to engage in dialogue with allies and members of the LGBTQ community. Goals of the think-tank event were to build relationships across differences of sexual orientation, gender identity and religious faith, and to identify policies and best practices for athletics departments that enable students, coaches, administrators and other staff of all sexual orientations, gender identities and religious perspectives to participate fully and openly in a climate of respect and inclusion. The focus was to find common ground, while acknowledging and respecting the different perspectives each brought to the topic of religion and LGBTQ inclusion in athletics. For more information on Common Ground II, click here for the press release.

Division III Diversity Grants

Proposals are now being accepted for the Division III Diversity Grants: The Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grant and the Strategic Alliance Matching Grant. The internship grant provides grant funding for the salary and professional development of entry-level, administratively-focused positions. The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant like-wise provides grant funding for the salary and benefits of mid-to senior-level, administratively-focused positions in addition to funding for both professional development and technology expenses. The deadline to submit a proposal is 5 p.m. Eastern time January 30, 2017.

NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum

The annual NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum took place Nov. 10-13 in Baltimore, with more than 300 student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all divisions in attendance. Division III was represented by member schools from Region I, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont. Student-athletes selected to attend the forum return to campus with invaluable leadership skills, the experience of exploring the relationship between personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, a thorough understanding of the NCAA as a whole, the different divisional perspectives, and the valuable role of Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC). Read about the impactful experience for two Drew University student-athletes and two student-athletes from Wheelock College . The next forum will take place in November 2017, and the Division III schools eligible to nominate participants will be from Region 2, which encompasses New York and Pennsylvania.

THE NCAA RECORD

See the latest appointments, promotions and retirements in the NCAA Record.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Several committees conducted in-person meetings in late October and November. 


Presidents Council, October 26-27
Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, November 10
Financial Aid Committee, November 14-15
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, November 15-16 


KEY DATES FOR DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY

2016-2017
Dates Meeting/Championships Location 
Dec. 2-3    Men's and Women's Soccer Championship Salem, Virginia 
Dec. 11-14 Competitive Safeguards & Medical Aspects of Sport Meeting Los Angeles, California 
Dec. 17Football Championship Salem, Virginia
Jan. 17 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Meeting Nashville, Tennessee
Jan. 18-21NCAA ConventionNashville, Tennessee
Jan. 18 Management Council MeetingNashville, Tennessee
Jan. 19 Presidents Council Meeting Nashville, Tennessee
Jan. 21Post-Convention Management Council Meeting Nashville, Tennessee 
Feb. 7Nominating Committee MeetingIndianapolis, Indiana
Feb. 7-8Championships Committee MeetingIndianapolis, Indiana
Feb. 8-9Membership Committee Meeting Indianapolis, Indiana
Feb. 13-14Financial Aid Committee MeetingIndianapolis, Indiana
Feb. 16-17 Interpretations and Legislation Committee MeetingIndianapolis, Indiana


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