the Division III Presidents Council approved a recommendation from the Division III Administrative Committee that the division’s student-athletes be allowed — though not required — to use the portal beginning in the 2019-20 academic year. The Presidents Council is expected to review further details regarding the portal’s use in Division III when it reconvenes this summer.

Division III coaches and administrators now have read-only access to the portal, which includes athletes from only Divisions I and II.

The Presidents Council sponsored a legislative proposal recommended by the Division III Management Council that calls for all member schools and conference offices to add an athletics diversity and inclusion designee. The designation would not necessitate a new hire. It could be a title conferred upon a current staff member — inside or outside the athletics department — who would be charged with serving as the primary contact and conduit for diversity and inclusion-related information

The Presidents Council endorsed a proposal [...] that would permit provisional institutions involved in year three or four of the new member process to count toward the seven institutions needed to form a Division III conference. At least four of those seven members, though, would need to be active Division III colleges or universities.

Graduate students from outside Division III will now meet minimum waiver criteria if they graduate within four consecutive academic years with no breaks in enrollment and have at least one season of eligibility remaining with at least a 3.0 GPA. (Their remaining eligibility will be measured by Division III’s parameters — specifically, a redshirt year at a non-Division III institution would count as a season used.)

NCAA Baseball Rules Committee proposed adding two visible 20-second play clocks for all Division I baseball games, starting with the 2019 season.

Division II and Division III would be required to have two play clocks by the 2020 season.

[...]
Under the proposal, the 20-second play clock would start once the pitcher steps on the dirt portion of the mound with the baseball. If the pitcher does not deliver a pitch, make a pick-off throw to a base or step off the pitcher’s rubber before the clock expires, a ball will be assessed to the count. If the batter is not ready to hit by the time the clock expires, a strike will be added to the count.

• 2018-4: Graduate and postbaccalaureate eligibility among students graduating from DIII institutions
• Permit those who have graduated from Division III institutions and have remaining athletics eligibility to compete at another Division III institution.
• Students must be seeking a second baccalaureate or graduate degree, and participation must occur in the legislated 10-semester/15-quarter period.


• 2018-5: Football preseason start date
• Make first permissible practice date 25 days before first permissible Saturday contest date. · Ensure a day off of physical athletically related activities during the first six days of preseason and a day off of physical athletically related activities during each remaining week of the preseason.
• On-field activity cannot exceed four hours per day and no practice session can last more than three hours.


• 2018-6: Alumni contest exemption
• Add an exemption for one annual alumni contest per sport (except for football).
• Alumni contest would not count against the two permitted exhibitions, scrimmages or joint practices.


• 2018-7: First permissible basketball contest date
• Make Nov. 8 the first permissible contest date in basketball.
• When Nov. 8 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday, first game may be held on the preceding Friday.