DIVISION III PRESIDENTS QUARTERLY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2021
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR PRESIDENT FAYNEESE MILLER
I am Fayneese Miller, the president at Hamline University and the newly elected chair of the Division III Presidents Council. I hope this quarterly update finds you and your campus continuing to manage the public health crisis and your students, staff and faculty have a healthy and safe spring semester. It is with great honor that I begin my service as the Council chair. It has been a privilege to serve with outgoing chair, President Tori Murden McClure, and I thank her for her exceptional leadership this past year. I also thank all departing Council members for their hard work. This quarterly update highlights the recent virtual
2021 NCAA Convention. Our worlds continue to be significantly impacted and altered by COVID-19 and racial injustices, and I look forward to serving the division as we continue to tackle these challenges. I encourage you to review and discuss the topics included in this update with your presidential colleagues, athletics direct reports and commissioners.
NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS (NIL)
The Presidents Council approved a recommendation from the Division III Management Council to withdraw Proposal No. 2021-01. This proposal would have allowed Division III student-athletes to use their name, image, and likeness to promote their own work product or service and endorse third-party products or services.
The pause follows the NCAA Board of Governors decision to support a postponement on anticipated votes on name, image, and likeness. For more information on the postponement please click here.
The Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, along with the Division I and II Student-Athlete Advisory Committees and the Board of Governors Student-Athlete Engagement Committee, issued a joint statement regarding the pause in the voting process for NIL. The leaders from all four committees expressed their disappointment for the delay while stating their understanding for the need. To see the statement, click here.
DIVISION III GRADUATION RATES
The Council reviewed the most recent Division III graduation rates. Student-athlete graduation-rate reporting was mandatory for the first time with this reporting cycle. The Division III national four-year average Academic Success Rate (ASR) continues to hold steady at 87 percent. Even when utilizing the less-inclusive federal rate, Division III student-athletes perform better than the general student body.
CAMPUS SEXUAL VIOLENCE POLICY
In April 2020, the NCAA Board of Governors expanded the Association-wide policyon
campus sexual violence to include individual accountability measures. This action is an opportunity for institutions to evaluate their prevention measures based on their campus policies and state and federal laws. To fully serve the membership in fulfilling this annual policy requirement and given the new DOE regulations, effective in Aug. 2020, the BOG directed the development of a membership task force to provide resources to assist members in developing implementation measures on campus. The task force shall work to develop operational guidelines, best practices and supporting documentation that campuses can use to implement the
expanded policy, effective with the 2022-23 attestation. Institutions are still required to attest in May of 2021 and May of 2022.
GALLUP STUDY
The Council received an update on the Gallup’s 2020 study on the college experiences and life outcomes of college graduates who competed in NCAA athletics. Data showed NCAA student-athletes engaged in important undergraduate experiences at higher rates than their nonathlete peers. Former student-athletes were also more likely to be thriving in many post-college domains. Click herefor the Division III-specific data.
DEPARTING MEMBERS
The Division III Presidents Council saw two individuals attend their last meeting. Tori Murden McClure, Council chair and president at Spalding University, and Javier Cevallos, president at Framingham State, finished their terms with the conclusion of the 2021 NCAA Convention. The Council elected a new vice-chair, Troy Hammond, president at North Central College, and welcome two new members: Sean Decatur, president at Kenyon College, and Sue Hasseler, president at Muskingum University.
DAN DUTCHER RETIRES
NCAA Vice President of Division III Dan Dutcher concluded a 25-year career leading the division as he bid farewell at the virtual 2021 NCAA Convention. Dutcher, who began his career at the national office in 1986 as a legislative assistant has served as vice president since January 1996. He was honored with a tribute video from members throughout Division thanking him for his service and wishing him farewell. Louise McCleary, managing director of Division III, will serve as the interim vice-president.
CONCLUSION
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 January 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
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