The Division II Management Council sponsored a proposal that would allow all Division II student-athletes in their first year of collegiate enrollment an opportunity to participate in minimal competition without using a season of competition — legislation that currently exists only for football.
Additionally, five membership-sponsored proposals tied to health and safety, civic engagement, football, tennis and wrestling, have been referred to various NCAA committees for a position statement.
The Management Council met Monday and Tuesday at the national office in Indianapolis.
Governance-sponsored proposal
Acknowledging the benefits of consistency in applying the season-of-competition legislation for all sports, the Division II Management Council sponsored a proposal for a vote at the 2025 Convention that allows Division II student-athletes in their initial year of collegiate enrollment to participate in up to 30% of the maximum permissible number of contests or dates of competition in Bylaw 17 without using a season of competition, regardless of sport. The Management Council discussed that this change may provide student-athletes in their initial year of collegiate enrollment with the opportunity for development and transition to the college game, while also allowing starters and more experienced student-athletes to rest and/or to feel less pressure to play through injuries. Finally, the Management Council noted that this change may assist with roster management and student-athlete retention.
Membership-sponsored proposals
At this meeting and per Division II legislation, the Management Council referred the five membership-sponsored proposals to committees in the governance structure for them to take formal positions. The Management Council will review these positions at its October meeting and determine a council position.
The Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will launch its process with the Division II membership this fall to gather student-athlete feedback before taking formal positions at its November meeting.
The first membership-sponsored proposal, sponsored by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Northeast-10 Conference, Peach Belt Conference, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and South Atlantic Conference, specifies that a medical examination must be administered within one year prior to a prospective student-athlete's or a student-athlete's participation in any tryout, practice, competition or out-of-season conditioning activities. In following years, an updated medical history must also be administered within one year prior to a student-athlete's participation in any practice, competition or out-of-season conditioning activities for the applicable academic year. The Management Council referred the proposal to the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and the Division II Legislation Committee.
A proposal put forth by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Peach Belt Conference, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and South Atlantic Conference would permit a team participating in practice or competition during the championship segment to engage in countable athletically related activities on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, provided student-athletes are given a day off from countable athletically related activities to participate in civic engagement activities and programming within 15 days before or after the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The proposal also requires a school to develop civic engagement policies through a collaborative process involving student-athletes, coaches and senior athletics department staff members to ensure student-athletes are provided adequate opportunities, resources and programming to engage in such activities. The Management Council referred the proposal to the Division II Championships Committee and the Legislation Committee.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Great Lakes Valley Conference, Northeast-10 Conference and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference put forward a proposal to provide automatic qualification privileges to all conferences that sponsor football, eliminating the earned access legislation that currently exists. The Management Council referred the proposal to the Championships Committee, the Legislation Committee and the Division II Football Committee.
A proposal put forward by the Sunshine State Conference and co-sponsored by two other conferences would permit the Division II Intercollegiate Tennis Association indoor tournament to count as one date of competition.
The final proposal, submitted by the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and co-sponsored by three other conferences, would permit Division II wrestling student-athletes in their first year of collegiate enrollment to participate in up to four dates of competition without using a season of competition.
Management Council/Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Summit
Over the weekend, members of the Division II Management Council and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee joined select staff from the national office for a two-day summit. The summit provides an opportunity each year for the two groups to discuss key issues in Division II, ensuring the student-athlete voice is well represented in the governance process.
At this year's meeting, the two groups reviewed proposed legislation for the 2025 Convention, discussed SAAC goals for the upcoming academic year, learned conflict resolution techniques, and discussed legislation and priorities related to sports wagering. Both groups also had an opportunity to meet a family from Team IMPACT, an organization that pairs children facing serious illnesses with college sports teams. Finally, they participated in two wish reveals through Make-A-Wish, which grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Other actions:
- Approved Division II's involvement in the 2028 joint Division I, II and III Women's Basketball Championships in Indianapolis.
- Approved noncontroversial legislation to amend and eliminate several rules related to awards, benefits and expenses for enrolled student-athletes to provide more autonomy to schools and simplify their application. Some amendments include eliminating the awards legislation to permit Division II schools and conferences to use their discretion to provide student-athletes with awards, as well as deregulating the occasional meals legislation.
