NCAA considers taking action in splitting Divison III

Kelly Capehart Guest Writer

For the first time in 35 years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is considering a divisional split.

Division III athletics face an uncertain future as the NCAA ponders the potential creation of a fourth division, which would entail a split of Div. III programs, with some remaining in Div. III and some constituting the new division.

The main factor contributing to the potential split is growth. At present, there are over 1,000 institutions under the umbrella of the NCAA. By far the fastest growing division, 40 percent of the NCAA’s membership is Div. III institutions. Over 150,000 student-athletes compete in Div. III.

In order to appropriately oversee the expansion of collegiate athletics, especially beyond the giants of Div. I sports, many within the NCAA feel that the creation of a new division is in order.

In January, President of the NCAA Myles Brand said on his radio program Mondays with Myles that while the issue was far from resolved, it would eventually be necessary to deal with the growth of Div. III.

Dan Dutcher, NCAA Vice-President for Div. III, noted on the same radio program that for Div. III schools, “access to the National Office Of Programs and Services, and in particular access to the championships” could suffer if the growth is not dealt with actively.

The proposal originated in the Div. III Working Group on Membership Issues. In order to assess the feelings of member institutions, the NCAA sent a survey to college and university presidents and chancellors on Feb. 8. The survey aims to uncover opinions on the potential creation of a fourth division and to seek other options for dealing with the growth of Div. III.

Survey responses were originally due on Feb. 29, but the deadline was postponed until March 7 to allow university leaders more time to confer with athletic directors, coaches, athletes and other appropriate members. “Town hall”-type meetings to discuss the issue face-to-face are scheduled for the summer in Boston, San Antonio and Indianapolis. Institutions will send representatives to the conventions to discuss their views.

The effects of such a split on Vassar athletics remains unclear. Chrissy Lewis ’08, President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, said that at this early stage, the full impact of a divisional rearrangement cannot be known.

“It’s hard to see what the effect would be,” said Lewis. This lack of clarity is mostly attributable to the fact that the rearrangement is still in its early stages. “It’s in kind of this baby phase this year,” continued Lewis.

However, Lewis speculated that Vassar athletics could well feel the impact of such an administrative change if the split were to happen.

“The Liberty League might not exist, or the Liberty League might split,” she said. “Who our rivals are might change.” Still, in Lewis’s mind, the matter of how Vassar sports would be altered is “the hardest question to answer.”

Whether or not any restructuring will actually occur, however, remains to be seen. A final verdict is expected by the 2009 NCAA convention.