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NCAA Division III
MONTHLY UPDATE // ISSUE NO. 152 // JULY 2018

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 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, conference commissioners and the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators electronic mailing list.  We encourage athletics directors to share this communication with their 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.


HOT TOPICS

Deadline July 13:  Division III Voluntary Student-Athlete Graduation Rates

NCAA staff requests that those institutions that didn't submit their voluntary student-athlete graduation rates information consider submitting the data by the deadline extension of Friday, July 13 . In April, the Division III Presidents Council approved the Management Council's recommendation to sponsor 2019 Convention legislation to mandate the annual submission of student-athlete graduation rate data.  If adopted, Division III institutions will be required to submit student-athlete data to the NCAA beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year.  To make an even more informed vote at the 2019 Convention, you may want to consider taking the opportunity to learn more about the data collection program by submitting the data this year.  Remember that your Financial Aid director has already identified the student-athlete cohort due to the annual mandatory financial aid reporting process.  The data are also an integral component of the Division III Institutional Performance Program (IPP), the widely endorsed institutional assessment and benchmarking tool available to all.  Keep in mind that Division III has retained its honorarium fund to encourage the voluntary submission of this student-athlete data. Contact Maria DeJulio to begin the process.

NCAA Compliance Forms Now Available

The 2018-19 NCAA Division III compliance forms are now available. The hard-copy forms can be found at www.ncaa.org under Division III, Compliance, on the left-hand side.  The NCAA Compliance Forms Database is also available and will allow an institution to administer and monitor the forms electronically.  New to the Compliance Forms Database for 2018-19 is the ability for parents of minors to electronically sign the forms.  To access the NCAA Compliance Forms Database, go to www.ncaa.org and click the My Apps link.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hot Topics

FAR Updates

ADR Updates

360 Proof Updates

SSI Updates

Diversity Spotlight

Special Olympics

AMA Updates

Educational Information

PROP Updates

Committee Updates

Key Dates

ACTION REQUEST:  Sport Sponsorship and Demographic Form

The Sport Sponsorship and Demographic Form is open for completion.  The completed form, which is a membership requirement, must be submitted no later than Aug. 1.  Access to the site is through the NCAA single source sign-on.  The instructions and frequently asked questions documents found within the site will guide the user through each area of the form.  If you have additional questions, contact Maria DeJulio.

2019 Convention Amendment Procedures

Information related to submitting proposed legislative amendments for the 2019 NCAA Convention is now available on the NCAA website.  In particular, please note the deadline for the submission of amendments sponsored by the membership is not later than 5 p.m. Eastern time July 15. As a reminder, at least one of the two sponsors of a conference-sponsored amendment or at least 10 of the 20 individual institutional sponsors must meet the July 15 deadline.  The effective date of the proposed legislation will be August 1, 2018, unless an alternative date is given.  All materials can be accessed by clicking here.  You must be logged in to the membership side of www.ncaa.org in order to access the page.

Career Next Steps

Prior to the recent Career in Sports Forum held in Indianapolis, Division III successfully held the second annual Career Next Steps program.  The program provided a day and a half of professional development programming for 21 Division III students of color who had previously attended the Student Immersion Program, at the NCAA Convention.  The participants heard from current athletics administrators and NCAA staff on topics such as networking, interview techniques and business etiquette leadership.  After the program, the participants attended the NCAA Career in Sports Forum.  Next year's program will be held in conjunction with the 2019 Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis, June 6-9.

Institute for Administrative Advancement

During the recent Regional Rules Seminar held in Atlanta, Division III, in coordination with the Office of Inclusion and the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), successfully held the sixth annual Institute for Administrative Advancement.  The Institute provided a day and a half of professional development programming for 30 Division III mid-level administrators of color.  The participants heard from current athletics administrators on topics such as leadership, mentoring, resume development, and preparing for the next career move.  Next year's Institute will be held in conjunction with the 2019 Regional Rules Seminar in Indianapolis, May 13-15.

Division III Webinars

The next Division III webinar will occur from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Eastern time, Tuesday, July 10.  Participants must RSVP by emailing Debbie Brown not later than 5 p.m. Eastern time Friday, July 6.  The topic will be an overview of the Division III diversity grant process and a Division III Identity Initiative update.

Future webinars will be conducted on the following dates from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Eastern time:

  • Aug. 7 - Gameday the DIII Way.
  • Sept. 4 - Championships mock selection.

Each webinar will be limited to the first 250 participants. All past webinar PowerPoints are on the Division III website.  

Funding Available:  Identity Initiative Purchasing Website

Have you used your $500 purchasing website credit? The Division III Identity Initiative purchasing website now features new Gameday the DIII Way items. To view, click here . Do not forget that a $500 credit is available for each institution and conference through August 2018 for purchases from the site.  Access the site by entering the email address of your institution's director of athletics (or for conferences, the commissioner's email address) as the username, and the password you created. For assistance, contact Amy Byrnes at Source One Digital.

New Division III Governance Intern

In mid-June, the Division III governance team welcomed Tiffany Alford, a 2018-19 NCAA Postgraduate Intern.  Tiffany has practiced law for the past nine years, with both the Department of the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs before deciding to pursue her passion in collegiate athletics.

Alford graduated magna cum laude from Wagner, where she was a member of the women's track and field team.  Following her undergraduate studies, she was a member of the Drexel University School of Law's inaugural class.

FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE (FAR) UPDATES

New 2018 Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) Orientation

Applications are now being accepted for the new Division III FAR Orientation from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 in Baltimore.  The program is being held in conjunction with the FARA Annual meeting and will focus on understanding the Division III model of athletics, exploring the role of a Division III FAR and enabling participants to get the most from the FARA Annual meeting.  Funding for the institute is provided by the Division III budget and covers all attendee expenses. 

The program is open to FARs with two years or less experience in the role, and priority will be given to those who are attending the FARA annual meeting for the first time.  Selections also will focus on accommodating the greatest possible number of Division III conferences and on maximizing diversity in personal and institutional demographics for the class. The 2018 class will include 25 to 30 participants.

Apply using the NCAA Program Hub through Sept. 1, with selections announced Sept. 7.  This orientation will take place in alternating years (2018, 2020, etc.) with the FAR Fellows Leadership Institute (2019, 2021, etc.).  See the event web page for further details on the program's purpose, objectives and application. Any questions about the orientation may be directed to Leah Kareti

ATHLETICS DIRECT REPORT (ADR) UPDATES

Applications are now being accepted for the fourth annual Athletics Direct Report (ADR) Institute.  This event will take place Jan. 23-24, at the NCAA Convention in Orlando, Florida.  The purpose of the program is to engage Division III ADRs in best practices to oversee and manage athletics departments and to improve the relationships between ADRs and their presidents, athletics directors and conference commissioners.   The two-day program includes both networking opportunities and interactive discussions with ADR peers and other expert presenters.  Event details are available here . Each ADR participant will receive a registration fee waiver to the NCAA Convention to continue their professional development. The Institute also provides travel, meals and lodging for all participants. Applications are being accepted via Program Hub  through August 31 and may be completed by conference commissioners, institutional presidents or chancellors, athletics directors, and athletics direct reports.  Each multi-sport conference is guaranteed one participant per year.  Please contact Leah Kareti with any questions. 

360 PROOF UPDATES

Have you checked out the turnkey 360 Proof Personalized Feedback Index (PFI)? The PFI is a confidential tool, accessible from any web-enabled device, which presents to students the impact and consequences of their alcohol-related behavior. It also offers practical strategies for reducing the negative consequences of high-risk alcohol use.  Studies show the PFI can have a significant effect on students' alcohol use, reducing:

  • The total number of drinks consumed per week.
  • Frequency of alcohol use after one month.
  • Frequency of drinking after one year.
Contact Leah Kareti with any questions, or to schedule an orientation.
 

SPORT SCIENCE INSTITUTE (SSI) UPDATES

Mental Health Best Practices 

The NCAA Sport Science Institute has released two resources, developed in partnership with the Task Force to Advance the Mental Health Best Practices, to assist member schools and conference offices implement the Mental Health Best Practices, in order to promote mental wellness, destigmatize mental illness and support help seeking. 

  • Mental Health Interdisciplinary Team Planner: This web-based resource is designed for athletics department staff to support student-athlete mental health care in collaboration with campus partners. The planner identifies tasks and resources that are associated with a comprehensive approach to supporting student-athlete mental health care.
  • Mental Health Workshop Planning Kit : This web-based resource is designed for conference offices to support member schools in the implementation of the Mental Health Best Practices. The planning kit provides conferences with resources to conduct an approximately seven-hour training with athletics and campus stakeholders using an integrative approach to promote and support student-athlete mental wellness. 
Several of the tools embedded within the conference workshop planning kit and institutional interdisciplinary team planner may also be found on the SSI website here.  
 

2018 NCAA CHOICES Alcohol Education Grants

The NCAA Sport Science Institute is pleased to announce 15 NCAA schools have been selected as 2018 NCAA CHOICES Alcohol Education Grant recipients, including three Division III institutions: Catholic University, Central College and University of Texas at Dallas.

DIVERSITY SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) is the recipient of the June Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative. The ODAC hosted a Women in Athletics Symposium that provided professional development and networking opportunities for women currently working at any ODAC member institution.  Click here for more information and a photo gallery.

The Diversity Spotlight Initiative recognizes and promotes outstanding diversity related projects, programming and initiatives that are 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 May, 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 July 21.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Special Olympics 50 for 50th

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics and in celebration of the Division III partnership, Division III and Special Olympics have joined forces to present 50 profiles honoring the unified work of the NCAA, Division III and Special Olympics. To follow the conversations, use the hashtag #d3SO50for50th for more profiles and on any Division III/Special Olympics activities.

Spotlight Poll

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

June Winner

After 1,317 total votes Alfred State's 6th Annual Special Olympics Event a Major Success, won the June Special Olympics Spotlight Poll by gathering 54 percent (711) of the total votes! Alfred State will receive $500 to use for its next Special Olympics event. To submit a story for consideration, please email d3specialolympics@ncaa.org.

July Nominees

Here are the stories for the July Special Olympics poll:

Click here to vote starting Monday, July 2. The winner will be selected July 26, 2018.


ACADEMIC AND MEMBERSHIP AFFAIRS (AMA

Division III Rules Test

The 2018-19 NCAA Division III Rules Test will be available to the membership August 1, 2018. Simultaneously, the 2017-18 test will no longer available. The 2018-19 test is administered online and may be accessed through the MyApps page on NCAA.org. Administering the test online allows users and the NCAA national office the ability to view incorrect answers and use these results to gauge educational needs. The 2018-19 NCAA Division III Rules Test PowerPoint will also be available on August 1 and may be accessed using the same link as the rules test. The PowerPoint may be used as a resource to supplement educational needs. As a reminder, all head coaches and any athletics administrators with compliance responsibilities must take the rules test annually. Institutions must file a secondary violation for failure to adhere to this annual requirement. Institutions are encouraged the complete the Rules Test at the beginning of the academic year as opposed to the end,  as the test covers information related to legislation passed at the 2018 NCAA Convention.

SAR Update

The student-athlete reinstatement staff and committee have the authority to process four types of waivers: Bylaw 14.2.2 (10-semester/15-quarter waiver); Bylaw 14.2.5 (hardship waiver - independent institutions or appeal of conference office decisions); Bylaw 14.2.6 (season-of-participation waiver - participation while ineligible); and Bylaw 14.2.7 (season-of-participation waiver - participation while eligible). Institutions must submit waiver requests through the Requests and Self-Reports Online (RSRO) system. All student-athletes or prospective student-athletes are required to complete a signed, case-specific Buckley statement when an institution requests a waiver processed by student-athlete reinstatement. This signed Buckley statement is in addition to the standard Buckley statement all student-athletes sign during campus athletics orientation meetings and is located within each case in RSRO. Only written materials submitted with a waiver request will be reviewed by the reinstatement staff and committee.  Photographs, X-rays, etc., will not be considered.

New AMA Intern

The Division III team welcomes Shannon Blevins to Academic and Membership Affairs for the 2018-19 academic year. Shannon will be interning with the team as a part of the NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program. Shannon graduated with distinction from Indiana University, Bloomington, where she earned a B.S. in kinesiology with a major in sport communication-broadcast. During her time at Indiana, she served as a student volunteer with the athletics department's media relations team and worked as a production assistant for the Big Ten Network. Shannon earned her J.D. from Marquette University Law School and was a recipient of the National Sports Law Institute's sports law certificate. At Marquette, she was a member of the Sports Law Society, the Association of Women Lawyers, and the Marquette Sports Law Review. Before joining the NCAA, she served as a staff assistant to U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana. 

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

Women Leaders in College Sports

Register today for the Women Leaders in College Sports National Convention that will be held Oct. 14-16, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia. This event is designed to develop attendees in their professional journey, so they may advance in their career and connect with a community of like-minded women. From Sunday through Tuesday, nearly 1,000 attendees from athletics and business will experience premier leadership development and career advancement programming.

Division III NCAA Committee Openings

The NCAA is soliciting nominations for September 2018 and January 2019 committee vacancies.  The deadline is Aug. 3.  To access Division III committee nomination best practices here.

SEPTEMBER 2018 VACANCY

Division III Men's Tennis Committee - staff contact: Alaina Keller. One September 2018 vacancy. Central region ; coach or administrator. Individuals with regional advisory committee experience are encouraged to submit nomination materials. The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is currently represented on the committee and is therefore not eligible for consideration.

JANUARY 2019 VACANCIES

Division III Management Council - staff contact: Louise McCleary . Five vacancies. One appointee must be a chancellor or president, one must be a faculty athletics representative, one must be an athletics direct report, one must be a director of athletics or senior woman administrator. One appointee must be from Region 2 (New York or Pennsylvania). Per Bylaw 4.8.1 - Composition - The Management Council shall be comprised of chancellors or presidents, athletics direct reports (non-presidents or chancellors with oversight of intercollegiate athletics), faculty athletics representatives, directors of athletics, senior woman administrators, conference representatives and student-athletes from the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The following conferences are currently represented on the Council and are therefore not eligible for consideration: City University of New York Athletic Conference, Great Northeast Athletic Conference, Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Landmark Conference, Liberty League, Little East Conference, Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, Midwest Conference, New England Small College Athletic Conference, North Atlantic Conference, North Coast Athletic Conference, Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Skyline Conference, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, University Athletic Association, USA South Athletic Conference, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Division III Championships Committee - staff contact: Liz Suscha . Two vacancies. One appointee must be a male; one must be a female; one must be an ethnic minority. One appointee must be from Region 4 (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming).The following conferences are currently represented on the committee and are therefore not eligible for consideration: Centennial Conference, Middle Atlantic Conferences, Midwest Conference, New England Small College Athletic Conference, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference. 

Division III Financial Aid Committee - staff contact: Eric Hartung . Two vacancies. One appointee must be a chancellor or president. No other restrictions. The following conferences are currently represented on the committee and are therefore not eligible for consideration: American Southwest Conference, Commonwealth Coast Conference, Landmark Conference, Little East Conference, North Coast Athletic Conference, North Eastern Athletic Conference, Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference, Northwest Conference, Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, State University of New York Athletic Conference.

Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee - staff contact: Jeff Myers . One vacancy. The appointee must be an ethnic minority faculty athletics representative. The following conferences are currently represented and are therefore not eligible for consideration: Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, American Collegiate Athletic Association, Capital Athletic Conference, Commonwealth Coast Conference, St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, University Athletic Association.

Division III Membership Committee - staff contact: Jay Jones . Two vacancies. One appointee must be a faculty athletics representative. No other restrictions. The following conferences are currently represented on the committee and are therefore not eligible for consideration: Centennial Conference, Great Northeast Athletic Conference, Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Michigan intercollegiate Athletic Association, New England Collegiate Conference, Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference, Skyline Conference, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, USA South Athletic Conference. 

Division III Nominating Committee - staff contact: Sharon Tufano . Three vacancies. One appointee must be a chancellor or president, one must a former Management Council member. Two appointees must be males. One appointee must be from Region 4 (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming). The following conferences are currently represented on the committee and are therefore not eligible for consideration: American Collegiate Athletic Association, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, New England Collegiate Conference, North Coast Athletic Conference, Southern Athletic Association, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

Division III Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement - staff contact: Stephanie Grace. One vacancy. The appointee must be a female. No other restrictions. The following conferences are currently represented on the committee and are therefore not eligible for consideration: American Southwest Conference, Great Northeast Athletic Conference, Northwest Conference, State University of New York Athletic Conference.

Top 10 Honor Award

Nominate outstanding senior student-athletes for the 2019 Today's Top 10 Award. This award is given to 10 students who have brought distinction to themselves, their schools and college sports. The awards will be presented at the Honors Celebration during the 2019 NCAA Convention in Orlando, Florida.  Nominations are accepted for college athletes in all sports who completed their athletics eligibility in the 2017-18 academic year. Award nominations are submitted through the NCAA Program Hub and are due by 5 p.m. Eastern time Friday, Aug. 3. Click here to view the Today's Top 10 Award selection criteria. Contact Sharon Tufano, NCAA committee coordinator, at stufano@ncaa.org or 317-917-6939, with questions about the Today's Top 10 Award. Click here to learn about honorees from the 2018 NCAA Honors Celebration.

PROP UPDATES

Rule Survey Results

  • Click here to view the 2018 Women's Lacrosse Rules Survey results.
  • Click here to view the 2018 Track and Field Rules Survey results. 
  • Click here To view the 2018 Softball Rules Survey results. 
  • Click here to view the 2018 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Survey results. 


Wrestling Mats

As a reminder, by the 2018-19 season, all mats (entire competition circle and surrounding matted area) shall comply with the ASTM Specification Standard for wrestling mats. Should you have any questions, please contact Chuck Barbee, secretary-rules editor, at ncaaruleseditor@gmail.com.

Officiating Background Check Pilot Program

As a reminder, due to a software issue that limits the amount of information available to Division III conferences, conference access to the background check reports will not be available in time for the fall sports of football, soccer, women's volleyball and men's water polo. Staff anticipates resolving the issue in time for winter and spring sports (baseball, men's and women's basketball, bowling, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, softball, women's water polo and wrestling).

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Several committees conducted in-person meetings in June. 


Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, June 11
Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport, June 13-15
Championships Committee, June 18-19
Membership Committee, June 20-21

KEY DATES FOR JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER

2018
Dates Meeting/Championships Location 
July 9-12   Postgraduate Scholarship Committee Indianapolis, IN 
July 12 Student-Athlete Engagement Committee Indianapolis, IN 
July 14-15 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Indianapolis, IN
July 16-17 Management Council  Indianapolis, IN 
July 23-24 Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Indianapolis, IN
Aug. 7   Presidents/Chancellors Advisory Group Indianapolis, IN 
Aug. 8 Presidents Council Indianapolis, IN
Sept. 5-6 Committee on Women's Athletics Indianapolis, IN 
Sept. 5-6Minority Opportunities and Interest CommitteeIndianapolis, IN
Sept. 9-11Championships CommitteeIndianapolis, IN
Sept. 20-21Research CommitteeIndianapolis, IN
Sept. 20-21Interpretations and Legislative CommitteeIndianapolis, IN
Sept. 27Nominating Committee Indianapolis, IN



This email was sent to  all Division III chancellors and presidents serving on Division III and Association-Wide committees, directors of athletics, faculty athletics representatives, senior woman administrators, sports information directors, directors of compliance, commissioners, assistant commissioners, current provisional, reclassifying and exploratory members, Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and selected NCAA staff members. 

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