2017 CONVENTION LEGISLATION
During the Business Session, Division III delegates approved seven of eight proposals upon which they voted, with a ninth proposal rendered moot. Voting results can be found here.
Proposal No. 1, sponsored by the Presidents Council, ensures unchallengeable autonomous authority for athletics health care providers regarding return-to-play decisions and creates the designation of "athletics health care administrator" on each campus. Delegates approved this significant proposal by a wide margin.
Proposal No. 2, a membership-sponsored proposal opposed by the Presidents Council, would have significantly broadened graduate-student transfer eligibility in Division III. Delegates voted 291-175 against the proposal. The Council has committed to reviewing current waiver criteria, which permit graduate-student transfer eligibility in limited circumstances.
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CONVENTION ISSUES FORUM
Division III held its annual Issues Forum on the day before the business session. The new format encouraged increased membership engagement by offering electronic question and answer opportunities throughout the forum. Alan Cureton provided an update on key Presidents Council and Association-wide issues before opening the floor for questions. Dr. Brian Hainline, NCAA chief medical officer, shared insight on key NCAA
Sport Science Institute initiatives, including concussion research and efforts to address student-athlete mental health. He also fielded questions regarding Proposal No. 1. Additionally, NCAA staff provided an overview of the remaining proposals and fielded questions from the delegates.
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BOARD OF GOVERNORS' DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PLEDGE
In August, the NCAA Board of Governors released a pledge to help enhance the diversity and inclusion of the athletics administration in all three divisions. By signing the pledge, presidents and chancellors demonstrate their institution's commitment to achieve ethnic and racial diversity and gender equity in college sports hiring practices. The Board's Committee on Cultural Diversity and Equity established a goal of eighty percent member participation in year one. To date, 266 Division III institutions and 40 Division III conferences have signed the pledge. This accounts for approximately sixty-two percent participation. Remaining presidents and chancellors are still encouraged to
participate. Please click here to learn more and sign.
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DIVISION III: "THE DIVERSE WORKFORCE"
The Division III Diversity and Inclusion Working Group recently produced a resource
to help athletics departments promote diversity in hiring practices. Creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture is an important aspect of the Division III experience, and requires an intentional and sustained commitment. To help in that regard, the resource offers best practices and other suggestions to make diversity a priority in seeking, selecting and retaining high-performing athletics administrators and coaches.
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CONCLUSION
It is my intent that the quarterly update provides the necessary and critical information you need 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 in addition to the Summary of Actions that highlights all recent Council actions. I welcome any comments or questions. Good luck with the spring semester!
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