The Division II Presidents Council approved a recommendation from the Division II Management Council and Planning and Finance Committee on how to allocate $4.5 million in surplus from the 2021-22 budget. The approval will allocate roughly $2.3 million of the surplus for a supplemental distribution to Division II schools, or $8,000 per school, which will be sent to Division II members in February.
Additionally, $1 million will be placed in the division's reserve fund for future needs, while another $720,000 in unused funds from the joint championships ($450,000) and Make Game Day Yours initiative ($270,000) budgets will roll over to the 2022-23 budget. Also, $250,000 will be put toward the Division II 50th anniversary celebration to purchase signs, 50th anniversary team recognition trophies and other initiatives to celebrate the division.
Presidents Council vice chair
Colleen Perry Keith, president of Goldey-Beacom, was elected as the Presidents Council's new vice chair. Her one-year term will end at the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Convention, and she will be eligible for re-election. As vice chair, Keith also will serve on the Division II Administrative Committee and chair the Division II Planning and Finance Committee.
Stunt proposal
The Division II Management Council and Presidents Council each had significant discussions on a recommendation from the Committee on Women's Athletics to refer the proposal to add stunt as an emerging sport for women in Division II back to the committee. The Committee on Women's Athletics made the recommendation in December to allow for further review and discussion of new information received regarding the sport. After careful consideration, both councils voted against the recommendation and agreed the division should vote on the proposal Saturday as intended, rather than delaying the addition of a sport that will increase participation for women in the division. (See all 12 Division II proposals here.)
Strategic plan update
The Presidents Council approved a recommendation from the Division II Planning and Finance Committee to establish a new timeline for the development of the 2026-32 Division II strategic plan. The strategic planning process was paused in August 2021 while the new NCAA constitution was being finalized for an Association-wide vote at the 2022 Convention. Before the pause, the division's goal was to have a new strategic plan to share with the membership at the 2024 Convention. The approved timeline aims to launch a new strategic plan at the 2026 Convention.
Presidents Council, Management Council and SAAC joint meeting
The Division II Presidents Council, Management Council and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee held a joint meeting Thursday to discuss a few key topics, including updates from the Board of Governors Subcommittee on Congressional Engagement and Action.
The groups heard from NCAA Board of Governors chair Linda A. Livingstone, president at Baylor, and John J. DeGioia, president of Georgetown and chair of the subcommittee. The subcommittee was put together in fall 2022 to provide guidance to the board on what actions the Association should take to seek congressional partnership in addressing legislative issues.Â
Division II SAAC members also got an opportunity to receive professional development advice from members of the Management Council and Presidents Council.
Management Council elections
Bennett Cherry, faculty athletics representative at Cal State San Marcos, and Kim Hancock, faculty athletics representative at Ferris State, were elected to serve on the Division II Management Council, effective immediately. They will serve on the council for four years.