DIVISION III PRESIDENTS QUARTERLY UPDATE - November 2020
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR President Tori Murden McClure
This update highlights the October 2020 Division III Presidents Council virtual meeting. Our worlds continue to be significantly impacted and altered by COVID-19 and racial injustices. The Division III Presidents Council is committed to work on your behalf to respond to these challenges. I encourage you to review and discuss the topics included in this update with your presidential colleagues, athletics direct reports and conference commissioners.
BLANKET WAIVER
The Council approved a blanket waiver request
from the Division III Management Council. Three-quarters of Division III conference offices submitted the request and three governance committees, including Division III SAAC, supported it. The blanket waiver allows student-athletes to compete up to the established dates of competition/contest maximums without being charged a season of intercollegiate participation or a term of attendance for any term during the 2020-21 academic year in which they are eligible for competition.
Mirroring the Management Council’s stance, the Council agreed that this recommendation does not serve as rationale for future reduced enrollment by student-athletes. Student-athletes benefiting from this waiver will still be expected to adhere to the full-time enrollment requirements during the current and future academic years, consistent with the Division III Philosophy.
NEW PRESIDENTS COUNCIL CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS ELECTED
The Council voted to elect Hamline University president Fayneese Miller as its next chair, and North Central College president Troy Hammond as vice chair. Their terms will begin at the conclusion of the Division III Business Session at the 2021 virtual NCAA Convention in January.
The Presidents Council also approved the appointments of Kenyon College President Sean Decatur, Rockford University president Eric Fulcomer, and Muskingum University president Sue Hasseler to the Presidents Council. Presidents Hasseler and Decatur will begin their terms in January after the close of the convention, and President Fulcomer will begin his term in June 2021.
2021 NCAA CONVENTION
The Council voted to designate the student-athlete Name, Image, and Likeness proposal for the presidential grouping, and the vote for the proposal and any subsequent, amendments, or resolutions at the 2021 Convention will be conducted by roll call. The Council agreed that using the roll-call method would provide greater transparency for the membership.
Registration for the virtual 2021 NCAA Convention is free and now available on ncaa.org. The Convention will occur January 11-15 and online educational programming will be offered throughout January. Visit the 2021 Convention resource webpage to access this year’s Convention resources. Staff will post key information (for example, the Official Notice, legislative proposal Q&A guide and education session PowerPoint) on this page as it becomes available.
WINTER AND SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS
During its October meetings, the Division III Management Council approved a recommendation from the Division III Championships Committee to cap the brackets and field sizes for all 2021 winter and spring sport championships (team and individual) at 75% of their standard capacity. The Council understands additional adjustments may be necessary based on the number of eligible institutions as championships approach. The financial impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was the driving force behind this decision. You can read more about the decision
here.
It is my intent that the quarterly update provides the necessary and critical information to assist you in the oversight of Division III athletics on your campus. You can find a full recap of the October Presidents Council meeting here and the Summary of Actions, which highlights all recent Council actions. As always, I welcome any comments or questions.
Adam Skaggs
Assistant Director of Division III Governance Communications
Debbie Brown
Administrative Assistant for Division III
This email was sent to NCAA Division III presidents and chancellors;conference commissioners and athletics direct reports based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
National Collegiate Athletic Association, 700 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 US