Members to vote on measure to create men’s volleyball championship for division
The Division II Executive Board took action this week on several items designed to enhance championships, support divisional storytelling and guide the division’s work for the 2026-27 academic year.
“By supporting these championship enhancements and 2026-27 priorities, the Executive Board is helping position Division II to better serve student-athletes, strengthen the championship experience and support the evolving needs of our membership,” said Sandra Woodley, board chair and president of The University of Texas Permian Basin.
Championships updates
The board sponsored legislation for the 2027 NCAA Convention to establish a Division II Men’s Volleyball Championship and create a Division II Men’s Volleyball Committee. If the proposal is adopted in January by the Division II membership, the committee would begin its work immediately, with the first championship projected for spring 2029. Division II had 36 schools sponsor men’s volleyball during the 2025-26 academic year, with that number expected to reach 44 in 2026-27.
The board also approved funding to expand photo coverage at Division II championship finals sites. The enhancement will add daily photo coverage and an on-site editor to provide real-time image transmission to NCAA staff, schools and conferences, expanding storytelling opportunities and increasing visibility for student-athletes competing on the national stage.
Ad policy and Corporate Champions and Partners Program
The board reviewed recent changes by the Division I Board of Directors that included approving new corporate champion and partner categories, as well as adding categories to the advertising standards policy. The board approved the changes to ensure consistency across the Association in sponsorship categories, advertising guidelines and the alcohol sales policy.
Additionally, the board noted the media agreement was modified to expand the territory in which the NCAA may sell local sponsorships that are materially differentiated from the NCAA Corporate Champions and Partners Program and limited to the designated market area where a championship is held. It also permits the NCAA to pursue limited, sport-specific sponsorships with select equipment companies whose products are used in a championship. Both opportunities apply to all NCAA Championships other than the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
2026-27 priorities
The board approved the Division II priorities for 2026-27, which include implementation of the NCAA Power Index for team sports, ongoing work on bracketing principles, the crafting of the 2027-30 triennial budget, the 2028-31 host site bid process and preparations for the 2026 Division II Fall Festival in Kansas City, Missouri.
The priorities also include goals of the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, continued marketing support for the “Make It Yours” brand campaign, implementation of fully funded Mental Health First Aid training for eligible Division II schools, a review of GOALS survey data, continued discussion of transfer windows, and professional development opportunities for athletics administrators, faculty athletics representatives, communicators and student-athlete leaders.
