The Division III Management Council took formal positions on three of the six membership-sponsored legislative proposals to be voted on at the division's business session at the 2022 NCAA Convention in Indianapolis. The Presidents Council will take positions on the remaining three proposals at its meeting Oct. 27.
The council supported proposals to reduce the minimum number of conference members required for automatic qualification for Division III championships from seven to six and to reduce the minimum number of member schools required to form a single-sport conference from seven to six. The Council also supported adding equestrian as an emerging sport for women. The equestrian proposal was narrowly defeated at the 2020 Convention.
"We have a large slate for our 2022 business session, and I appreciate the diligent discussion our council had on each proposal. In such an important time for college athletics and with many constituencies in the division, we felt like further guidance from our Presidents Council would be helpful for our membership as they will vote on these in January," said Jason Fein, chair of the Management Council and director of athletics at Bates. "It was also valuable to hear our student-athletes' opinions on the proposals as we formed our positions."
The Presidents Council will formally take positions on the remaining three membership proposals that would:
- Use the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify the amateurism of international prospective student-athletes.
- Measure seasons of eligibility for student-athletes by competition.
- Allow institutions that sponsor a Division I sport to offer athletics aid to those student-athletes that participate in the Division I sport.
Special Convention update
The Council received an update on the Constitution Committee's decision and voting timeline, as well as the work of the Division III Constitution Advisory Council. Members discussed the update with President Mark Emmert. The Special Convention is set for Nov. 15, and Division III leadership and its governance structure will work to provide the necessary review and recommended amendments heading into January's convention.
2022 Women's Basketball Championship
The Management Council approved funding to broadcast the 2022 Division III Women's Basketball Championship game. Funding previously had been approved for production costs at the 2023 championship game during the joint women's basketball championship with Division I and II in Dallas. Though the 2022 funding approval is a one-time agreement like the contract agreement for Division II women's basketball to broadcast its semifinals and championship game, the NCAA broadcast services staff continues to explore a long-term solution to televise the championship game annually.
Softball and baseball resolution
The Division III Championships Committee also gave the Management Council an update on the decision to move the softball championship date formula one week later, effective with the 2023 championship, matching the dates of the baseball championship.
Membership Committee
The council extended the 2022 application deadlines for the exploratory year, provisional membership and reclassifying membership from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. The Membership Committee recommended the waivers to the Management Council to allow for the annual Convention to be completed before the application deadline.