The Division III Management Council gathered Wednesday, and the Presidents Council met Thursday at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix.
The councils approved a two-year pause in an extra assessment on top of annual NCAA dues for Division III members. The pause will reduce the annual Division III dues from $2,000 to $900 for institutions and from $900 to $450 for conference offices for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
While the NCAA Board of Governors sets the Association's annual membership dues, at the 2016 Convention, Division III delegates approved an additional assessment to provide more revenue, approximately half a million dollars annually, to the division's operating budget. The councils approved the pause to spend down the excess beyond the mandated reserve and provide budgetary relief to the membership.
2024 legislative proposals
The councils reviewed proposals for Saturday's business session and discussed key Division III topics.
On Thursday afternoon, as part of the Division III Presidents and Chancellors Forum, the attendees received Association-wide updates from NCAA President Charlie Baker and health and safety updates from NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline. The group also participated in roundtable discussions focused on amplifying the Division III brand.
Media rights agreement, amplifying Division III
Both councils discussed the NCAA's new media rights agreement with ESPN and ratified funding to support the production of Division III championships of men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball semifinals and championship on ESPN+.
With the increase of annual revenue, the councils felt it was advantageous to expand marketing and branding for the division while amplifying exposure to Division III and maintaining its commitment to gender equity.
Removing cannabinoids from banned substances
Following September 2023's recommendation from the Committee for Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, the Management Council approved, in concept, noncontroversial legislation to remove cannabinoids from the list of NCAA banned substances.Â
"We're trying to help these young adults understand and manage something that is present versus saying don't do it, or if you do it, you're bad," said Jamey Houle, chair of CSMAS and lead sport psychologist at Ohio State, in September. "It is a more complicated evolution and understanding of drug misuse. Drug misuse is a mental health issue. We don't punish student-athletes for having an eating disorder. We don't punish student-athletes for having depression, and we shouldn't punish student-athletes for drug misuse."
The council emphasized the importance of recentering student-athlete health by taking a harm-reduction approach to cannabinoid use and promoting the Sport Science Institute's educational resources.
Men's ice hockey expansion
The councils approved the expansion of the men's ice hockey bracket from 12 to 13 teams, effective with the 2024 season.
Departing council members
This meeting was the last for four Management Council and four Presidents Council members whose terms expire with the conclusion of the Convention.
Leaving the Management Council:
- Cheryl Aaron, Wentworth, director of athletics.
- Matt Hill, Northwestern-St. Paul, director of athletics.
- Daniele Iaboni, Anna Maria, SAAC representative.
- Michelle Walsh, Vassar, director of athletics and physical education, vice chair.
Leaving the Presidents Council:
- Rich Lapidus, Fitchburg State.
- Richanne Mankey, Defiance.
- Troy Paino, Mary Washington.
- Jim Schmidt, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, chair.
