DIII Presidents Council approves third-party review of finances

At a meeting Wednesday at the national office in Indianapolis, the Division III Presidents Council approved the hiring of an outside vendor to conduct a financial analysis of the division.

The scope of the division's analysis would include finding ways to strengthen overall financial performance, improving revenue growth, identifying financial priorities and threats, and providing recommendations.

This review follows recommendations from the Financial and Risk Management Working Group, which was created by the Presidents Council in January. The working group was tasked with assessing the financial threats currently facing higher education and college athletics.

An update of the financial review will be provided to the membership during the Division III Business Session of the 2024 NCAA Convention. Final analysis and recommendations are targeted for next summer.

Presidents Advisory Group meeting

The council met with the Presidents Advisory Group for the first time in person since August 2019 to discuss important Division III issues and hear Association-wide updates from NCAA leadership.

The NCAA business review, sports wagering, congressional engagement, and health and safety were the main topics discussed.

"We had an engaged discussion among the Presidents Advisory Group that allowed our diverse university leadership from across the country to participate in passionate conversations regarding the wide-ranging concerns we are facing in Division III and collegiate athletics," said Jim Schmidt, chair of the Presidents Council and chancellor at Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Proposal outlook for Convention

The following three governance proposals were reviewed Wednesday in preparation for the 2024 NCAA Convention:

• Establishing stunt as a sport in the Emerging Sports for Women program.
• Amending the Division III Philosophy Statement.
• Altering the sponsorship requirements for tennis from six to four participants to align sports sponsorship requirements with NCAA playing rules.

The council also reviewed one membership-sponsored proposal that would allow sponsors of proposals to offer amendments. 

Cannabis testing at championships

During its September meeting, the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports signaled its support for removing cannabis from the Association's banned drug list and testing protocols.

The NCAA Board of Governors agreed with CSMAS that divisional governance bodies should take the necessary legislative action to eliminate the cannabinoid class from the NCAA banned drug list before addressing the NCAA championships drug-testing policy.

In Wednesday's meeting, the council discussed the topic and will continue to provide guidance to the Management Council as it considers the recommended action during its January meeting. 

Athletic Training Working Group update

The council received details on a recent survey sent to athletics directors and head athletic trainers to gather information to better assess the athletic training issues facing the division. The Athletic Training Working Group will review the survey results and use them as the foundation for a session at the Division III Issues Forum during the 2024 NCAA Convention. 

Board of Governors representative and new council members

The council approved extending the term of Springfield President Mary-Beth Cooper until January 2025. Cooper serves as Division III's representative on the NCAA Board of Governors and will continue in that role.

The council also approved the following four-year appointments to the Presidents Council, pending an electronic vote of all Division III presidents and chancellors in November. The terms will begin after the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Convention:

• Suzanne Davis, president at Greenville.
• Anne Harris, president at Grinnell. 
• Marisa Kelly, president at Suffolk.
• Carolyn Lepre, president at Salisbury. 
• Adam Weinberg, president at Denison.