MONTHLY UPDATE // ISSUE 167 // NOVEMBER 2019
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 listserv. We encourage athletics 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.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hot Topics
FAR Updates
360 Proof Updates
SSI Updates
Athletics Communication Updates
Diversity Spotlight
Special Olympics
AMA Updates
Educational Information
PROP Updates
Committee Updates
Key Dates
 

HOT TOPICS

Name, Image and Likeness

Consistent with the Association's continuing efforts to support college-athletes, the NCAA Board of Governors recently voted unanimously to permit student-athletes the opportunity to benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.  The Board directed the three divisions to immediately consider modifying and modernizing relevant bylaws and policies consistent with Association values and principles, no later than January 2021. 
Here are the key takeaways from the board’s decision:
  • The NCAA has taken a major step by committing to allow name, image and likeness opportunities for student-athletes consistent with the college athlete model.
  • The college athlete model is not the professional model, meaning students will compete against other students, not professionals or employees. 
  • The NCAA is best positioned to provide a uniform and fair name, image and likeness approach for all student-athletes on a national scale.
Additional information may be found in the press release , as well as in an FAQ on name, image and likeness.
 

Complete Now: Convention Survey.

The Division III Convention Planning Subcommittee has secured Haydn Shaw, a leading expert on the multiple generations and author of "Sticking Points: How to Get 4 Generations Working Together in the 12 Places They Come Apart," to speak at the 2020 Division III Issues Forum.  To help prepare his session, Dr. Shaw has requested our membership provide feedback regarding generational gaps. Please take a few minutes to complete this three-question survey and submit responses not later than Wednesday,  Nov. 13.  Your answers will be anonymous.  Thank you, in advance, for your feedback.

2020 NCAA Convention Resource Page

Please visit the 2020 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, education session PowerPoints) on this page as it becomes available.

Grad Rate Reporting

The 2019 voluntary graduation rates data collection hit an all-time high with 264 institutions voluntarily submitting student-athlete information.  Thank you to all those institutions that participated in this important reporting process.  Remember that at the 2019 NCAA Convention, the division voted to make this reporting process mandatory, effective with the upcoming June 1, 2020, reporting deadline.  Questions should be directed to Eric Hartung.

Division III Health and Safety Survey

The Division III Management Council approved administering the Sport Science Institute health and safety survey as a Division III pilot for 2019-20. The survey is designed to collect information on the administrative and organizational aspects of Division III sports medicine programs. Data from the survey will allow institutions to assess how they compare with peer institutions on issues related to athletics health care delivery and administration.

The survey, which  will be available to the Division III membership Dec. 1 through Jan. 12, is to be completed by the institution’s athletics trainers/athletics health care administrators. The NCAA will make the aggregate and institutional survey data available through the Institutional Performance Program. The Management Council will review the aggregate survey results and feedback from participants during its July 2020 meeting to determine if the survey instrument was suitable and beneficial for Division III institutions in assessing the medical care they provide to their student-athletes.

Division III Webinars

A webinar offering an overview of the NCAA Transfer Portal and, in particular, the Transfer Tracer will be from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Eastern time, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
 
Future webinars will be conducted from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Eastern time on the following dates and topics:
  • Dec. 3 – 2020 Convention Legislative Proposal Review.
  • Feb. 4 – NCAA Convention Recap.
  • March 3 – Federal and State Legislation Working Group Update (Name, Image and Likeness).
Each webinar will be limited to the first 250 participants. All past webinar PowerPoints are on the Division III website.

LGBTQ OneTeam Program

Are you interested in making your campus or conference more LGBTQ inclusive? Request a Division III LGBTQ OneTeam facilitator today.  Thirty individuals are certified to facilitate the Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Program – a free two-hour interactive session for coaches and administrators – at a Division III institution or conference. For more details and instructions on how to book a program, visit the  Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Program webpage.

NCAA Championships Site Selection and Bid Process

The NCAA is seeking hosts and sites for 86 of the 90 annual NCAA championships that will occur during the 2022-23 through 2025-26 academic years.  Bid responses are due Feb. 3.

Financial Reporting System

Institutions now can submit athletics finance information voluntarily to the NCAA via the Financial Reporting System (FRS).  The submission deadline is Jan. 15.  Contact Maria DeJulio or Katrina Buell with questions.  Additional information can be found here.
 

FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE UPDATES

Twenty-five Division III faculty athletics representatives participated in the ninth offering of the NCAA Division III FAR Fellows Institute on Oct. 18-20 at the national office in Indianapolis.  Highlights of the institute included the following participants list of ideas to be more effective FARs at the campus, conference and national levels:

Campus

  • Start or continue the Faculty Mentor Program.
  • Host FAR coffee hours with student-athletes and coaches.
  • Have structured meetings with the president and/or athletics director.
  • Present to the Faculty Senate, full faculty or department chairs.

Conference

  • Communicate/share knowledge with other FARs.
  • Investigate funding available to FARs.
  • Participate in conference meetings.
  • Pursue a conference-wide inclusion/equity/diversity policy.

National

  • Increase nominations of student-athletes for scholarships, internships, grants, etc.
  • Attend FARA Annual Meeting and NCAA Convention (alternate years).
  • Contact Institute participants with questions.
 

360 PROOF UPDATES

Monthly Prevention Tips

Finals are approaching, as are the holidays.  For some students, their first trip home will be right around now.  Equip parents with strategies for talking to their students – that means considering parent-based interventions detailed in CollegeAIM, as well as getting collegeparentsmatter.org/ in the hands of parents.  Re-watch the webinar from March 14, 2018, with national expert Rob Turrisi as he discusses the outstanding findings from his parent-based intervention.

Learning Collaborative

The October 360 Proof Learning Collaborative Webinar was “The Science of the Positive in Action – Exploring Positive Community Norms” presented by Jeff Linkenbach, Director and Chief Research Scientist at The Montana Institute. The Science of the positive framework is the study and application of Positive experiences and cultures. This webinar explores how positive norms exist in all teams, organizations and communities; however, they are often misperceived. Visit the 360 Proof content library to view the webinar.

The next webinar, "Alcohol and Team Bonding" is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern time, Wednesday, Dec. 4, and features Tom Fontana, BASICS Program Coordinator, at the University of Vermont.

All registered 360 Proof users receive invitations to the webinar series and have access to the library of past sessions. Questions about 360 Proof or accessing the webinars? Email: experthelp@360proof.org .

Technical Assistance

You also are invited to book a one-on-one appointment with a 360 Proof alcohol prevention expert at the 2020 NASPA Strategies Conference or the NCAA Convention.  To schedule your session, email a request to experthelp@360proof.org and include:
  • Your name and institution.
  • Your phone number. 
  • The topic or questions you would like to discuss.
 

SPORT SCIENCE INSTITUTE UPDATES

Complete Now:  Sexual Violence Prevention Survey

As a reminder, NCAA member schools were invited to participate in the NCAA Sport Science Institute Sexual Violence Prevention survey designed to understand how institutions are incorporating the five core commitments essential for establishing a culture free from violence as outlined in Sexual Violence Prevention: An Athletics Tool Kit for a Healthy and Safe Culture, Second Edition.

The person most responsible for sexual violence prevention implementation strategies should complete the survey. Responses will be confidential. Results will be reported in the aggregate at the division and conference-level only. Responding to this survey will not jeopardize your institution’s compliance with any NCAA policies and is for educational purposes only. Responding to this survey will be extremely beneficial to the SSI as findings will be used to focus the creation and dissemination of membership resources and educational efforts in this area. To assist you in this process, here is a
PDF of the survey questions.  Click here to complete the survey not later than Friday, Nov. 8.
 

ATHLETICS COMMUNICATION UPDATES

CoSIDA Recognition Week

The fourth annual CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week is just around the corner (Nov. 6-12). This week is an opportunity for those who interact with collegiate Sports Information and Athletics Communication Directors to observe and celebrate the impact these individuals have on intercollegiate athletics. Click  here for the CoSIDA Week promotional kit, which includes recommendations and best practices for a number of constituencies in collegiate athletics to recognize SIDs.

Division III and D3SIDA Recognition Award

Congratulations to Brad Nadeau, Director of Athletic Communications at Middlebury, on receiving the 2019 Fall Division III and D3SIDA Recognition Award.  The selection committee of D3SIDA members chose Nadeau's story “ Calling The Shots.” The story was exceptionally well done, and Division III and D3SIDA applaud your work and efforts. Award winners receive a $1,500 credit to attend Division III Day held in conjunction with the annual 2020 CoSIDA Convention. 

The Division III and D3SIDA Recognition Award is a partnership between the Division III governance staff and the Division III College Sports Information Directors of America.  The recognition program is part of the Division III Identity Initiative.  It seeks to honor the best news releases, feature articles, videos, blogs and other materials - produced by Division III campus and conference athletics communication offices to portray the Division III identity and student-athlete experience. 

The next submission period opens mid-November and closes Feb. 15.  For more details on the recognition award, click here.

Conference Office Instagram Takeovers

Division III officially has launched its first conference office Instagram takeover. From Oct. 19 to Division III Week (April 13-19), Division III conferences will be taking over the @NCAADIII Instagram account, showcasing their offices, initiatives, student-athletes and more. In addition to the takeovers, NCAA staff will highlight all 44 conferences on the DIII Instagram timeline with the founding year, the number of member institutions and a fun fact. Visit the Division III Instagram page today at instagram.com/ncaadiii/?hl=en
 

DIVERSITY SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE

There were no submissions for the October diversity spotlight.  The Diversity Spotlight Initiative recognizes and promotes outstanding diversity related projects, programming and initiatives occurring on Division III campuses and in conference offices.  All selected recipients receive $500 toward their next diversity initiative.  To submit an initiative for consideration for November, email Louise McCleary , 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 Nov. 21.

Diversity Tip of the Month

The Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign held Oct. 22-25 was a week of awareness, education and engagement showing the importance of inclusive environments in college sports, but it does not have to end.  Click here for ideas that you can implement throughout the academic year to show your support.  Thank you to all Division III institutions, conferences, athletics personnel and student-athletes that participated in this year’s campaign.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Spotlight Poll

The NCAA Division III Special Olympics Spotlight Poll is a story-telling initiative 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. Written and digital submissions both are accepted.  Featured stories are selected based on inclusion of the student-athlete perspective and Division III messaging. To submit a story for consideration, email d3specialolympics@ncaa.org.

October Winner

After 729 total votes, SUNYAC Athletes Host Special Olympic Event won the October Special Olympics Spotlight Poll by gathering nearly 61% of the total votes. The SUNYAC will receive $500 to use for its next Special Olympics event.

November Nominees

Click here to vote starting Friday, Nov. 1. The winner will be announced Nov. 26.
 

ACADEMIC AND MEMBERSHIP AFFAIRS (AMA)

Rule of the Month

Signing Ceremonies and the Nonbinding Athletics Celebratory Signing Form (Bylaw 13.9.1.1)

Participating in high school signing ceremonies has become the norm for many prospective student-athletes.  Because Division III does not subscribe to the National Letter of Intent (NLI) program, the NCAA membership created the nonbinding athletics celebratory signing form to make such events inclusive for student-athletes attending Division III institutions.  An institution may use the form after a PSA has been accepted for enrollment to your institution.  

An institution may not allow a PSA to sign the form on campus, be present when a PSA signs the form (regardless of media presence) or donate/loan equipment or apparel for a PSA to wear during the signing.  While the celebratory signing form is not required, it is important to note that no alternate forms can be used in its place. Further, an institution may not customize or alter the content of the form except for putting the form on institutional letterhead.

Along with the celebratory signing form, an institution is permitted to send a cover letter provided the cover letter is produced by the institution and does not require or request the PSA to indicate any form of commitment to attend the institution. The cover letter maybe personalized and offer a roster spot, but it must not ask or require a PSA to sign the letter or indicate any type of acceptance.  

The celebratory signing form can be found under Compliance on the Resources tab within LSDBi.

New Division III Interpretation

The NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee confirmed that it is permissible for institutions to provide prospective student-athletes personalized recruiting materials, provided the materials are on official athletics publications (for example, institutional letterhead, institutional email and institutional postcard) published or produced by the institution. [References: NCAA Division III Bylaw 13.4.1 (recruiting materials--general regulations)]

Second Publication of Proposed Legislation (SPOPL)

Information related to the 2020 NCAA Convention Division III Second Publication of Proposed Legislation (SPOPL) is now available on the NCAA website.

Legislative Timeline

The legislative timeline for the remainder of the 2019-20 legislative cycle is summarized below.

Nov. 1 : Deadline for amendments-to-amendments and all resolutions. All amendments-to-amendments (which do not increase the modification of the original amendment/proposal) and all resolutions must be received in the national office not later than 5 p.m. Eastern time Nov. 1. No amendments-to-amendments sponsored by the membership may be submitted after this date. The Presidents Council is authorized to submit further amendments-to-amendments at the Convention if it deems such action necessary, provided it is approved by two-thirds of the council and copies are distributed before or during the Business Session.   

Nov. 15 : The Official Notice will be available for distribution to the entire membership through a hard-copy mailing. The Official Notice includes all membership-sponsored legislation (as modified by a sponsor modification submitted by the Sept. 15 deadline), all Presidents-Council sponsored legislation, all properly submitted amendments-to-amendments and resolutions (submitted by the Nov. 1 deadline) and all position statements issued by the Division III Councils.

Jan. 22-25, 2020 : NCAA Convention: All delegates have access to the NCAA Convention App when they register at the Convention. The App contains the most up-to-date meeting schedule and other helpful Convention information. Changes of an editorial nature to the proposed legislation (as it appears in the Official Notice) will be noted for the membership on the Convention floor at the beginning of the Convention business session and will be distributed in a handout (if necessary).

2019-20 Institutional Self-Study Guide

NCAA Constitution 6.3.1 requires all Division III institutions to conduct a comprehensive self-study and evaluation of their athletics programs at least once every five years. The Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG) is due at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time June 1, 2020. The ISSG can be accessed via the My Apps link on ncaa.org (if access has been granted by the institution’s single-source sign-on administrator).  Click here  for a list of institutions required to complete the ISSG for the 2019-20 year. To see when your institution's ISSG is due, check the information on your institution's NCAA Directory page. The directory can be accessed from the My Apps area on ncaa.org.

2020 Regional Rules Seminars

NCAA Constitution 3.2.4.16 (Convention and Regional Rules Seminar attendance) requires all NCAA Division III institutions to attend the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar at least once every three years. Registration will be available in the spring. Before the seminars, attendees are encouraged to review the LSDBi and RSRO training videos to prepare for on-site learning objectives.  Click here for a list of institutions that are required to attend a 2020 regional rules seminar.

Student-Athlete Reinstatement

For student-athlete reinstatement decisions that involve withholding from competition as a condition for reinstatement, student-athletes must fulfill the reinstatement condition when they are otherwise eligible and during one of their four seasons of participation. Student-athletes who are fulfilling a withholding condition may sit on the team bench but may not wear the team uniform while they are ineligible for competition. Scrimmage, exhibition or nontraditional segment contests may not be used to fulfill a withholding condition. If a withholding condition will be fulfilled during a team's away-from-home trip that includes multiple contests or dates of competition, the student-athlete reinstatement staff may permit institutions to allow student-athletes to travel and receive expenses, provided they will become eligible and have the opportunity to compete before the end of the road trip.
 

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

DiSC Assessments Available

Use of the DiSC is strongly encouraged on member campuses. Participants gain personalized feedback on their specific leadership style, and student-athletes, coaches and administrators gain valuable understanding of everyone’s unique behavioral style. Applying this knowledge can develop effective team dynamics, leadership, and communication among the group.

In 2019-20, each Division III institution interested in using the DiSC resource will be provided assessments for up to 50 student-athletes, as well as 30 coaches or administrators, at no cost. Funding is limited, and requests will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here, to learn more about the DiSC resource.

Lessons in Management

Lessons in Management is now accepting nominations on the NCAA Program Hub until noon Eastern time  Monday, Nov. 4.  A new offering for the 2020 leadership development calendar, this program, Jan. 21-22 in Anaheim, California is designed to provide 24 female participants, eight representatives from each division who are new managers and first-time supervisors in college athletics, with the opportunity to build the foundational skills needed to succeed as first-time managers.

The curriculum for the Lessons in Management program will center upon educating and empowering first-time supervisors to successfully manage others. Participants will have the opportunity to share their individual challenges and discuss the critical success behaviors that drive performance of first-time managers and/or supervisors. Participants will explore risks related to manager derailment and will be equipped with strategies to avoid potential barriers so often faced by new managers.  For further nomination and application instructions, visit the Lessons in Management program page  here.

Emerging Leaders Seminar

The Emerging Leaders Seminar, set for Feb. 5-7 in Indianapolis, is an annual event that provides professional development in effective leadership, educational and transitional programming for more than 200 current graduate assistants and interns from NCAA membership schools, conference offices and affiliate organizations. The three-day program educates, develops and connects selected participants, and can increase the likelihood for rapid career progression within college sports. The application, available on the NCAA Program Hub, is available until noon Eastern time Monday, Nov. 4Click here for more information.

The NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy

The Coaches Academy, planned for Feb. 11-14 in Tampa, provides current, full-time college football coaches at NCAA member schools the opportunity to expand their knowledge and insight into the world of college football coaching. During the academy, NCAA leadership development and NFL player engagement staff will educate and train selected participants in a variety of areas that encourage effective coaching and improve student-athlete well-being at both the college and professional levels. The application, available on the NCAA Program Hub, is available until noon Eastern time Monday, Nov. 4Click here for more information.

Division III Diversity Grants

The Division III diversity grants provide funding to institutions and conference offices committed to enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration.  Proposals for the Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant  and Strategic Alliance Matching Grant must be submitted via the NCAA Program Hub between noon Eastern time Sept. 16 and 5 p.m. Eastern time Jan. 31.  More information can be found on the Division III Diversity Grants website.

Reminder:  Educational Programming Available for New Chancellors and Presidents

NCAA staff members are available to help orient new chancellors and presidents to college sports through the Chancellors and Presidents Engagement Program . Engagement opportunities can range from webinars to on-campus visits. The program is geared towards chancellors or presidents in their first two years on campus. Contact Gretchen Miron for more information or to set up an engagement.

PLAYING RULES OVERSIGHT PANEL (PROP) UPDATES

Men's Lacrosse

As a reminder, by the 2021 season, all men’s lacrosse institutions are required to have two shot clocks that can be set/reset to two different times. If you have any questions, please contact Andy Supergan .

Updated:  NCAA Playing Rules with Financial Implications

Click here to access an updated version of “Future Playing Rules Changes with a Potential Financial Impact”.  If you have any questions, please contact Dan Calandro .

Softball

Clarifications to Rule 10.2 – Taking the Signal – have been issued. Please click here to review this important information. If you have any questions, please contact Vickie Van Kleeck , NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Several committees conducted in-person meetings in October. 

Management Council, Oct. 21-22
Presidents Council, Oct. 29-30

Division III Committee Vacancies.  Interested in serving on an NCAA committee?  Nominations are being accepted for September 2020 openings.  The deadline to apply is Dec. 6.  View the list of openings and click here for the nomination form.
 

KEY DATES FOR NOVEMBER THROUGH JANUARY

2019-20
Dates Meeting/Championships Location 
Nov. 10 Field Hockey Selection Show 11 p.m. Eastern
Nov. 10-11 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee  Indianapolis, IN
Nov. 11 Women's Volleyball Selection Show 12:30 p.m. Eastern
Nov. 11 Women's Soccer Selection Show 1 p.m. Eastern
Nov. 11 Men's Soccer Selection Show 1:30 p.m. Eastern
Nov. 11-12 Financial Aid Committee Indianapolis, IN
Nov. 17 Men's and Women's Cross Country Selection Show 3 p.m. Eastern
Nov. 17 Football Selection Show 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Nov. 19-20 Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement Indianapolis, IN
Nov. 21-23 Women's Volleyball Championship Cedar Rapids, IA
Nov. 23 Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships Louisville, KY
Nov. 23-24 Field Hockey Championship Manheim, PA
Dec. 6-7 Men's Soccer Championship Greensboro, NC
Dec. 6-7 Women's Soccer Championship Greensboro, NC
Dec. 20 Football Championship Shenandoah, TX
Jan. 21-22 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Anaheim, CA
Jan. 22 Management Council Anaheim, CA
Jan. 22-25 2020 NCAA Convention Anaheim, CA
Jan. 23 Presidents Council Anaheim, CA

 
This email was sent to NCAA Division III presidents and chancellors that serve on Division III committees, athletics direct reports, directors of athletics, faculty athletics representatives, senior woman administrators, sports information directors, directors of compliance, commissioners, assistant/associate commissioners, national SAAC, provisional, reclassifying and exploratory members based on contact information in the NCAA Directory.
National Collegiate Athletic Association, 700 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 US



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