The Division III Strategic Planning and Finance Committee met Tuesday in Indianapolis for discussions around key strategic and budget issues.
The committee approved a motion to send a formal recommendation to the Management and Presidents Councils to hire an outside vendor to evaluate Division III's Enrichment Fund programs and initiatives and determine whether the program outcomes align with the division's strategic priorities. Both councils supported the initial idea of an assessment in October 2022.
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.
"As fierce supporters of Division III athletics and the role it serves at our institutions, the topics we covered in our Strategic Planning and Finance Committee meeting are crucial to the continued vitality of the division," said Jim Troha, chair of the committee, vice chair of the Presidents Council and president at Juniata. Â
Financial and Risk Management Working GroupÂ
After discussions at the 2023 NCAA Convention among the Management and Presidents Councils, the committee discussed the newly created Financial and Risk Management Working Group. It noted the working group will collaborate with the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee and be responsible for reviewing the landscape of intercollegiate athletics, the division's financial standing, and the risks, threats and opportunities that confront the division.  As needed, the working group will prepare alternatives for the Presidents Council to act on behalf of the division.
Philosophy statement review
The committee also discussed Division III's review of its philosophy statement, using feedback from the Issues Forum at the NCAA Convention and recent meetings of the Philosophy Statement Review Working Group.
The focus of the conversation centered around the need for the philosophy statement to account for how the division has changed and provide adequate flexibility for its continued evolution. Â
The Strategic Planning and Finance Committee reviewed the latest draft and will forward it to the Management and Presidents Councils to provide feedback during their April meetings. After the councils' review, the working group will share the latest draft with the membership for feedback. The committee's goal is to review a final draft during its June meeting to forward to the councils to consider sponsoring a legislative proposal for the 2024 NCAA Convention to establish a new Division III philosophy statement.
Championships enhancement priorities
The new CBS/Turner Sports broadcast agreement begins in fiscal year 2025, and Division III will receive a 13% revenue increase. With the additional funds coming, the committee received an update from the chair of the Championships Committee regarding discussions to enhance the student-athlete championship experience. Topics up for conversation include equal access to Pool C (at large), providing additional flights during opening rounds to protect higher regional seeds and/or providing more funding to the current championship experience.Â
The Championships Committee will be seeking feedback from the membership, via a survey to be distributed in April, regarding these potential championships enhancements.
