DIII Convention preview: 12 proposals and a few resolutions on the table

Division III members will vote on 12 proposals and one resolution during the Division III Business Session on Jan. 14 at the 2023 NCAA Convention in San Antonio. All proposals have an Aug. 1, 2023, effective date unless otherwise noted. Here are some key proposals on the agenda:

Committee and council composition

There are both governance-sponsored and membership-sponsored legislative proposals regarding composition changes to the Management and Presidents Councils.

Governance-sponsored proposals stem from the results of the 2022 Division III Membership Survey and feedback from other membership groups.

One governance-sponsored proposal would adjust the composition of six designated governance committees to provide consistency in size and regional representation and to provide a student-athlete voice on governance committees where such representation is not currently present.

Another governance-sponsored proposal includes adjusting the composition of the Management and Presidents Councils to provide representation from each active multisport conference on either council with an amendment option to establish that conference representation requirements would not be satisfied by Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives.

A membership-sponsored proposal calls for each Division III multisport conference to have one representative on either the Presidents or Management Councils and for the conference's slot on either to alternate accordingly. This would be effective Aug. 1, 2024.

An additional membership-sponsored proposal includes amending the composition of the Nominating Committee to include at least one member from each of 10 regions (modeled after the championships regions) to cultivate more committee nominations and appointments representative of the membership.

Playing and practice seasons — days vs. weeks model

Opposing proposals from governance and membership regarding the division's playing and practice seasons also are up for discussion at the Division III Business Session. 

A governance-sponsored proposal calls for eliminating weeks as a measurement for a season and establishing a new playing seasons structure for all sports besides football. This would establish a traditional start and end date for fall and spring segments, increase the nontraditional segment interaction from 16 to 24 days, measure the winter sports season by 114 days with the flexibility to use eight days before or after the season, and measure seasons for sports such as golf, rowing and tennis by 114 days.

The membership-sponsored proposal would define playing and practice seasons in nonconsecutive days by allowing for either 114 or 144 days of athletically related contact between student-athletes and coaching staffs. The proposal also would require at least one day off from activity or contact each week. Citing the temporary legislation as a response to COVID-19, the proposal aims for a more flexible and permissible approach to managing the entire season.

Additional governance-sponsored proposals

• Provide the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee one vote at the Division III Business Session of the NCAA Convention.
• Require an institution have an invitation from an active Division III conference before applying for membership and maintain affiliation during the membership process. This would go into effect for schools that would begin the process during or after the 2024-25 academic year.
• Add stunt as an emerging sport for women and establish legislation related to playing and practice seasons and membership.
• Eliminate the requirement for active member institutions and active multisport conferences to submit a comprehensive self-study guide at least once every five years. This would be effective immediately.
• Change the date when institutions may have public communications via social media with prospective student-athletes who have submitted financial deposits from May 1 to Jan. 1 of their senior year in high school.

Additional membership-sponsored items

• A proposal to amend preseason legislation for all fall sports, except football and men's water polo, to the following: Calculate the first permissible start date by counting back 18 days; require an acclimatization period during the first seven days during preseason practice; require one day off of physical activity per defined week of the preseason, including the acclimatization period; and require all student-athletes, including those who arrive to preseason practice after the first day of practice to undergo the seven-day acclimatization period.
• A resolution directing the governance structure to collaborate with the membership to establish a hardship waiver process specific for mental health. 

Special note: Alternative voting method at Convention

In October, the Presidents Council proposed special rules of order applicable only for the 2023 Division III Business Session at the NCAA Convention. The process, if approved by delegates during a Special Rules of Order Business Session on Friday morning, will result in establishing the voting order of similar proposals (i.e., playing and practice seasons and council composition) without discussion limitations imposed by the current rules of order. 

The intent of the alternative voting method is to minimize procedural issues during Saturday's session, allow open discussion of generally similar proposals and ensure the opportunity for delegates to vote on their preferred proposal voting order.