Council also OKs new budget, a campus senior leadership initiative and the election of a new chair and vice chair
During this week’s virtual meeting, the Division III Presidents Council reviewed the 36 options developed by the Division III Analysis Working Group to mitigate the six core tensions identified by Division III delegates at the 2026 NCAA Convention.
To develop the options ranging from short-term to long-term implementation, the working group used feedback from over 155 individual stakeholders who were interviewed and from a Division III-specific survey. The council also approved the working group’s recommendation to forward some options to existing governance committees or the membership or to be moved to a “parking lot” for future discussion.
The working group will continue to research and develop 10 options that are focused on creating financial resources (for example, peer benchmarking), broad playing season reviews and governance strategic planning. The working group also will build case studies to help the membership frame and discuss key topics such as eligibility, the implications of membership segmentation, and name, image and likeness opportunities.
The Division III analysis is intended to help the division’s membership navigate the evolving landscape of higher education and intercollegiate athletics by codifying its distinctive core commitments, experiences and values; analyzing internal tensions and external pressures that threaten Division III values; and identifying, developing and proposing actionable solutions within the current structure to reinforce the division’s values.
Division III budget
The Presidents Council approved the fiscal year 2027 and 2028 budgets, as well as the fiscal year 2027 strategic plan. The new budget will go into effect Sept. 1.
Campus Senior Leadership Initiative
The council approved the creation of an initiative to engage and educate campus senior leaders (presidents/chancellors and athletics direct reports) through a series of webinars, videoconferences and in-person meetings. The initiative will begin with the start of the 2026-27 academic year.
Election of new chair and vice chair
The council elected a new chair and vice chair. Suzanne Davis, president of Greenville, will be the chair, while Alberto Cardelle, president of SUNY Oneonta, will be the vice chair. Their terms will begin after the 2027 NCAA Convention.
