Division III Presidents Council elects new leadership, approves per diem increase for championships

At its August virtual meeting, the NCAA Division III Presidents Council elected the current vice chair, Marc Camille of Albertus Magnus, as chair. Suzanne Davis of Greenville was elected vice chair.

They will assume their council leadership positions with the close of the 2026 NCAA Convention.             

Per diem increase and strategic plan 

The council gave final approval to a recommendation to increase the championships per diem. This action increases the per diem provided to those participating in Division III championships in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years to $150 for those with traveling teams and $60 for those with host teams. Recent data showed that over the past two years, 80% of Division III schools sent an individual or team to an NCAA championship.

"Given the current financial burdens facing many Division III institutions, coupled with rising costs, increasing the championships per diem made sense. Also, it becomes even more impactful understanding that more than two-thirds of the division is having a championships experience," said council Chair Jim Troha, president of Juniata.

Additionally, the council approved an implementation strategy for year two of the division's strategic plan, which aligns with year two of the budget biennium. The council also noted that 2025-26 will be a budget planning year to create the next budget biennium (2026-28).

Presidents Council Futures Subcommittee

The council highlighted initiatives in which the division has led the Association, including the Mental Health First Aid Program, which brings mental health training to every school; the creation of a resource to assist schools with the recruiting and retention of athletic trainers; and the adoption of the NCAA Power Index to provide transparency and efficiency with the selection of at-large teams to Division III championships. Understanding that many Division III schools are facing significant budget constraints, the council discussed the importance of key identified strategic priorities from its Futures Subcommittee:

• Future financial reviews and stability: The council discussed the recent House settlement and any potential impacts on Division III. It also highlighted the steps taken by the division over the past two years to monitor its finances and potential risks.
• Congressional engagement: Understanding the House settlement doesn't address student-athlete employment and legal threats, the council will recommend congressional engagement remain a focus for the division.
• Division III membership stability: The council discussed the division's diverse membership. It noted existing pressures on schools to meet NCAA minimum standards, as well as recent conference realignments that are fulfilling conference needs but simultaneously growing conference footprints and straining institutional budgets. 
• Branding and marketing: Branding continues to be a priority for the membership. While there are resources for members to highlight the division's priorities, the division also found success in livestreaming all team championships this past year.  
• NCAA Purchasing Cooperative: Currently, there is low use of the NCAA purchasing cooperative, which provides discounts for athletic training supplies (such as tape and braces), fitness center equipment and field construction. The council expressed its strong support for efforts to expand the cooperative to include other items (such as balls and uniforms). 
• Deloitte financial analysis: The council noted last year's Deloitte analysis will be a standing supplement for Futures Subcommittee meetings, as it is a useful tool that identifies risks and opportunities for the division. 

The council also had an opportunity to engage with NCAA President Charlie Baker on these topics and others facing the Association.

Management Council report

The Presidents Council received an update on the Management Council's discussion of the current eligibility standards regarding the use of a season for Division III student-athletes and those transferring into Division III from other divisions and associations. The council noted the importance of having this discussion broadly with the membership to gather feedback that will inform next steps.

The Presidents Council also reviewed the Management Council's acceptance of a recommendation from the Membership Committee not to change current legislation that requires a Division III member school to have regional accreditation. Committee members think no action should be taken now, given the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. Department of Education, the entity responsible for higher education accreditation. Additionally, the committee noted there would be no impact on current Division III members by maintaining the current rule.