Council also approves sponsorship of 2027 Convention legislation to establish flag football championship and elects new chair, vice chair
At its meeting this week, the Division III Management Council approved an amendment to the Division III Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement sports-betting guidelines. The council’s action allows for penalty reductions for a student-athlete who commits sports-betting violations, provided it is the student-athlete’s first violation, the violation does not involve integrity concerns and the student-athlete engages in appropriate clinical evaluation or support.
The decision, effective immediately, is based on the view that a reduced penalty may encourage help-seeking behavior among student-athletes without undermining the Association’s long-standing commitment to protecting the integrity of competition.
The council also discussed the following topics:
Approval of budget and strategic plan
The council approved the division’s budgets for the 2027 and 2028 fiscal year and the 2026-27 strategic plan. The Presidents Council will review the measures during its August meeting for final approval. If adopted, the new budget will begin Sept. 1.
Election of chair and vice chair
The council elected a new chair and vice chair. Kristie Bowers, associate vice president and athletics director at Rensselaer, will be the chair, while Patrick Summers, commissioner of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference, will be the vice chair. Their terms will begin after the 2027 NCAA Convention. The council also elected Bowers to serve as the council’s vice chair for the remainder of 2026, effective immediately.
2027 Convention proposals
The council sponsored legislation for the 2027 Convention to add flag football as an NCAA National Collegiate Championship and to establish a women’s flag football committee. This approval follows the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact’s vote to recommend Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add the championship. If the legislation is adopted by all three divisions, the flag football committee would begin its work in January to prepare for the first championship in spring 2028.
The council also acted to sponsor a 2027 Convention proposal to permit individuals to enter into an agreement with an agent for the purpose of identifying or securing playing opportunities and receiving benefits before their initial collegiate enrollment.
DIII analysis recommendations
The council endorsed the recommendations from the Division III Analysis Working Group to mitigate the identified core tensions, as well as move select options to a “parking lot” for future discussion. The council also emphasized the importance of using the identified options and overall analysis to strengthen the division’s strategic priorities. The Division III analysis was intended to help the division’s membership navigate the evolving landscape of higher education and intercollegiate athletics. The Presidents Council will consider the recommendations at its early August meeting.
Athletic trainers program, commercial logos
The council approved the continued exploration of an Athletic Trainer Connect program. The vision of the program is to enhance engagement with athletic trainers and fortify their role as advocates for the value of Division III athletics.
The council also determined that allowing commercial logos on uniforms should be an issue addressed by the membership if there is interest, and the governance structure will not continue to review this as a concept for future Convention legislation.
