Divisional governance
The Division I Council unanimously adopted a proposal to address student-athlete protections related to name, image and likeness, which include voluntary registration, disclosure requirements, standardized contracts and comprehensive NIL education. It also unanimously approved new rules that will increase penalties for individuals responsible for violations in the infractions process. In addition, the council introduced several proposals into the legislative cycle for potential votes in June, including the removal of cannabinoids from the list of substances included in drug testing at NCAA championships.
The Division I Board of Directors ratified the council’s vote on NIL while charging the council with developing recommendations for a framework that would address the key elements included in President Baker’s “Project DI” framework.
Division II’s football-sponsoring delegates at Saturday’s business session narrowly approved a proposal that permits schools to play their first permissible contest one week earlier than the current legislative date. The proposal is effective Aug. 1. Another football proposal that would have guaranteed all football-sponsoring conferences representation in the championship bracket was defeated by one vote. That proposal was also voted on only by football-sponsoring delegates. Division II delegates approved a proposal by a wide margin to amend legislation around automatic qualifiers, granting automatic qualification privileges in all team sports other than football, effective Aug. 1. They also approved a proposal, sponsored by the Presidents Council, to amend the number of sponsoring schools needed to establish and/or maintain a Division II championship to 35 for both men’s and women’s sports, effective Aug. 1.
Four legislative proposals were passed with support of Division III delegates as the division also shared updates about the Inclusive Leaders Program, the division’s budget and financial reviews that are underway. Among the highlights, stunt was passed as an emerging sport, a year after the proposal was referred back to the Committee on Women’s Athletics at the 2023 Convention. In addition, delegates approved a proposal that decreases from six to four the minimum number of participants in a tennis match to be counted for sports sponsorship purposes. A new Division III philosophy statement also was passed.
Throughout the week, Baker met with governance committees representing all divisions, including the three national Student-Athlete Advisory Committees.
