DII Implementation Committee makes additional recommendations

The Division II Implementation Committee on Tuesday made additional recommendations for the division's Management Council and Presidents Council to consider at their April meetings. The recommendations include proposals to enhance student-athlete representation and voting power on both councils.

The Implementation Committee made these recommendations, along with others at its February meeting, as part of its charge to ensure that changes made to Division II rules and policies are consistent with the principles agreed upon in the new NCAA constitution.

One recommendation would add two student-athletes to the Division II Presidents Council, effective Aug. 1. These student-athletes would be Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members (one representing men's sports and one representing women's sports) and be elected by that committee. Each student-athlete elected would serve a one-year term (renewable for one year) and have a vote in the council's decision-making process.

Another proposal would give each of the two student-athlete representatives serving on the Division II Management Council their own votes, effective Aug. 1. Currently, the pair hold a combined single vote.

Additionally, the committee recommended a proposal that would change how the Division II representation on the NCAA Board of Governors is determined, effective Aug. 1. Currently, the chair and vice chair of the Division II Presidents Council are automatically appointed to the Board of Governors. The committee's recommendation would specify that one member of the Presidents Council be appointed to the Board of Governors, which was reduced from 21 to nine members in the new NCAA constitution.  

The committee also recommended a 2023 NCAA Convention proposal that would allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages at Division II championships in venues that meet certain NCAA requirements.

The Implementation Committee referred other recommendations, concepts and items for feedback to specific committees in the governance structure or groups within the membership.  Many of these committees and groups are meeting in April and will have a chance to review the committee's work and provide additional feedback.

The recommendations and concepts were formed by the Implementation Committee's six subcommittees: budget, championships, enforcement and infractions process, governance, legislative process and compliance, and membership. Their work followed a membership feedback period, which included a membership survey distributed in February and meetings with representatives serving on Division II committees, conference commissioners, athletics directors, coaches and student-athletes.

The committee will meet again in person May 16-17 to review feedback, refine any recommendations and concepts, and make additional recommendations. Another feedback opportunity with the membership will occur June 6-24 before the committee finalizes recommendations for the summer meetings of the Management Council and Presidents Council. The Implementation Committee, with one representative from all 23 Division II conferences and five current and former student-athletes, will continue to serve as a feedback mechanism, as well.