The Division III Presidents Council on Wednesday discussed several topics and approved actions related to the Division III Enrichment Fund, the philosophy statement review and more.
DIII Enrichment Fund
Following the foundation laid by the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee and the Management Council, the Presidents Council approved the process for hiring a third-party vendor to conduct an assessment of the Division III Enrichment Fund initiatives, programs and resources.
The initiatives and programs supported by the Enrichment Fund either directly or indirectly affect the student-athlete experience. The evaluation would include all grants and programs currently being funded through the Enrichment Fund. Currently, the Enrichment Fund provides grants and programs in the following areas:
- Conference office support.
- Diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Student-athlete support.
- Professional development.
Conducting a comprehensive assessment will help ensure those grants and programs are meeting expectations, align with the division's strategic priorities and continue to be in student-athletes' best interest.
"We are excited to begin the process of an external evaluation of the Enrichment Fund," said Jim Schmidt, chair of the Presidents Council and chancellor at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. "The council supports strengthening the fund's initiatives and programs to better enhance the student-athlete experience."
Financial and Risk Management Working Group
The council discussed the recently created Financial and Risk Management Working Group, specifically its charge, timeline and initial areas of review. The working group's charge is to review the division's financial standing within the current landscape of intercollegiate athletics and examine threats, risks and opportunities to enhance the division. The working group's first meeting will be in mid-May.
Philosophy statement review
Evaluation of Division III's philosophy statement continued in Wednesday's virtual meeting. The latest version from the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee was shared as Division III works to finalize the statement that serves as the guide for the division's governance committees.
After discussing the document with the Management and Presidents Councils, the working group will share an updated draft with the membership for feedback. The committee's goal is to review a final draft during the summer round of governance meetings with the intent of presenting a formalized legislative proposal for the 2024 NCAA Convention to establish a new Division III philosophy statement.
Visit from President Baker
President Charlie Baker spoke with the council to discuss Tuesday's Board of Governors meeting, congressional engagement and other Association-wide and Division III-specific topics.
Departures and appointments
Kate Foster is leaving the council after resigning as president of The College of New Jersey. Maryville (Tennessee) President Bryan Coker joins the Presidents Council for a term lasting until January 2027. Colby student-athlete Adaobi Nebuwa officially started as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative on the council.
