The Division II Presidents Council on Wednesday sponsored three proposals for the 2023 Convention and approved several recommendations from the Division II Implementation Committee.
The council, which met virtually, also approved a recommendation to  expand the finals format of the Division II Softball Championship from five to six days. This change will be implemented at the 2022 championship (updated bracket PDF) May 26-31 in Denver. The Division II Championships Committee, which recommended the change to improve the student-athlete experience through a less compressed format, also asked the Division II Softball Committee to further discuss and study whether additional days should be added to the softball championship in future years. The Championships Committee asked for a formal recommendation for any additional changes to the format for the 2023 championship and beyond by its September meeting.
2023 Convention proposals
The three 2023 Convention proposals sponsored by the Presidents Council were:
- Eliminating the standardized test score requirement (SAT or ACT) from the division's initial eligibility requirements, as well as establishing a requirement of high school graduation, 16 core courses and a 2.2 grade-point average to be a qualifier and 14 core courses and a 2.5 grade-point average before a student's seventh semester of high school to be an early academic qualifier for initial eligibility requirements. (The Management Council, at its April meeting, extended the COVID-19 alternative initial-eligibility standards for students who initially enroll full time at a Division II school during the 2023-24 academic year. It aligns the standardized test score requirements in the interim with the recommended Division II 2023 Convention proposal that, if adopted, would be effective Aug. 1, 2023.)
- Allowing the sale of beer and wine at Division II championships in venues that meet certain NCAA requirements. The Division II Implementation Committee made this recommendation.
- Adding stunt to the Emerging Sports for Women program.
Other Implementation Committee recommendations
The Presidents Council approved several other recommendations from the Division II Implementation Committee's Feb. 7-8 and March 29 meetings. These recommendations include several noncontroversial proposals and policy changes.
One recommendation the Presidents Council approved specifies that its chair, currently Minot State President Steven Shirley, will serve as the division's representative on the new Board of Governors. This change will be effective Aug. 1 to align with the new NCAA constitution, which reduced the Board of Governors composition from 21 members to nine. Currently, the chair and vice chair of the Division II Presidents Council serve on the Board of Governors.
Another approved recommendation adds two student-athletes to the Division II Presidents Council, effective Aug. 1. These student-athletes will be members of the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (one representing men's sports and one representing women's sports) and will be elected by that committee. Each student-athlete elected will serve a one-year term (renewable for one year) and have a vote in the council's decision-making process.
The Presidents Council discussed other concepts brought forward by the Implementation Committee, which 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.
Division II Day
The Presidents Council approved a recommendation for the division to hold an annual Division II Day on Feb. 22 after the inaugural celebration this year. See how the Division II membership celebrated the first Division II Day in this Twitter moment.
