DIVISION III PRESIDENTS QUARTERLY UPDATE
MAY 2019

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

President Sue Henderson
New Jersey City University
 
It is hard to believe that the academic year is ending, and with it, commencement celebrations are upon us!  This quarterly update highlights the recent 2019 April Presidents Council meeting.  I encourage you to review and discuss relevant issues on your campus and at your next conference meeting.
 

TRANSFER PORTAL

The Presidents Council approved a recommendation from the Division III Administrative Committee to allow Division III student-athletes to use the NCAA Transfer Portal beginning in the 2019-20 academic year.  The portal is a compliance tool that provides academic and athletic information relevant to the transfer process and will allow compliance directors to enter and view information about Division III student-athletes who hope to transfer to a different school.  It is important to note that the portal will not replace the student-athlete self-release form.


ATTESTATION AND CERTIFICATION
OF RULES COMPLIANCE

The Council approved noncontroversial legislation that clarifies the roles and responsibilities of chancellors, presidents and athletics directors with respect to attestation and certification of rules compliance.  Specifically, the proposal shifts some compliance certification requirements related to the athletics program from the chancellor or president to the athletics director, while maintaining that the chancellor or president affirms understanding of the institutional and personal obligations.

Additionally, this proposal relieves athletics staff from the undue administrative requirement of having each staff member provide a written attestation of rules compliance.  It also moves the annual attestation deadline to October 15.  This legislation will be effective August 1, 2019.   

2020 CONVENTION LEGISLATION

  • DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ATHLETICS DESIGNATION - The Presidents Council sponsored a legislative proposal brought forward by the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and recommended by the Division III Management Council, which calls for all member institutions and conference offices to add an athletics diversity and inclusion designee.  This title could be conferred upon a current staff member who would be charged with serving as the primary contact and conduit for NCAA diversity and inclusion-related information, policies and initiatives.  The proposal is moving forward in all three divisions.
  • CONFERENCE COMPOSITION LEGISLATION - The Presidents Council endorsed a proposal, sponsored by the Management Council and recommended by the Membership Committee, that would permit provisional institutions involved in year three or four of the new member process to count toward the seven institutions needed to form a Division III conference. 

SAAC DISTRIBUTION OF MENTAL HEALTH CARDS

Division III National SAAC distributed mental health resource cards to 200 participating Division III institutions.  The cards are personalized with each institution’s mental health contact information, providing student-athletes with quick access to on-campus resources if they find themselves or others facing a crisis or emergency.  A template of the card also is accessible on ncaa.org for institutional use.
 

SPORTS SCIENCE INSTITUTE INTERASSOCIATION RECCOMENDATION

The NCAA Board of Governors unanimously endorsed comprehensive interassociation guidelines for the prevention of catastrophic injury and death.  The recommendations are contained in a new Association-wide policy that provides a road map in six areas for schools across the Association to effectively prevent injury: sportsmanship, protective equipment, acclimatization and conditioning, emergency action plans, responsibilities of athletics personnel and education and training. 


CONCLUSION

My goal is for the quarterly update to provide the critical information necessary to assist you in the oversight of Division III athletics on your campus.  You can find a more detailed recap of the April 2019 Presidents Council meeting here.   This link to the Summary of Actions highlights all recent Council actions.  As always, I welcome any questions or comments.  Enjoy the summer!
 

DIVISION III GOVERNANCE STAFF

Dan Dutcher
Vice President for Division III

Louise McCleary
Managing Director of Division III

Adam Skaggs
Assistant Director of Division III Governance Communications

Debbie Kresge
Executive Assistant for Division III

Debbie Brown
Administrative Assistant for Division III
This email was sent to NCAA presidents and chancellors; athletics direct reports and conference commissioners based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
National Collegiate Athletic Association, 700 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 US



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