Future of Division III

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'd never heard of early decision when I went to college

Cuz you old!   

Because I was entirely ignorant of these elite schools and the whole process.  I just assumed I couldn't afford them and no one told me to look into it.  I didn't realize that poor folks like me could go for free if I could get in.

[Kuiper]

From Facebook:

Division III collaborating with National Council for Mental Wellbeing to help participants recognize, respond to and reduce stigma around mental health challenges
For more information visit NCAA.org

Here's a little more information:

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2025/8/12/media-center-division-iii-equipping-coaches-athletic-trainers-with-mental-health-first-aid-training.aspx

To better support the mental well-being of student-athletes, Division III is working with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to offer fully funded Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Higher Education training to institutions across the division, with a focus on head coaches and athletic trainers.

Division III schools are eligible to receive one fully funded training during the program, which launched in March and will be in effect until Aug. 1, 2027.

"In our efforts to assist Division III institutions with supporting their student-athletes' mental health, we are excited to engage the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to provide this critical training," said Louise McCleary, vice president of Division III. "Our goal is to equip those who interact with student-athletes daily with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, build resilience, and reduce stigma."?

The 2022 NCAA Coach Well-Being Study underscored the need for expanded mental health support in college athletics. More than 80% of coaches reported spending increased time addressing mental health concerns with their student-athletes compared with prepandemic levels, and many identified mental health as the top issue facing their teams. These findings reinforced the importance of MHFA training as a timely and valuable resource for Division III coaches and athletic trainers. As of late July, 66 Division III institutions have completed the MHFA training.

MHFA for Higher Education is an evidence-based, interactive program that teaches individuals how to:

    Recognize signs and symptoms of common mental health and substance use challenges among student-athletes.
    Use the five-step MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE).
    Interact with someone in crisis.
    Connect student-athletes with the help they need.
    Practice self-care to support themselves and others.

The training also aligns with recommendations from the NCAA Mental Health Advisory Group and supports on-campus implementation of the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices.

***

Through this program, up to 30 individuals at each active Division III school are eligible to participate in a 7½-hour, in-person training with expert MHFA instructors on their campus. Upon completion, participants will be certified in MHFA for Higher Education for three years.

For more information or to schedule a training session, visit mhfa.org/ncaa.

[Ron Boerger]

In a little good news, Brevard College's incoming class of 358 (including transfers) has led to the school's largest-ever enrollment of 821.  In the most recent year for which EADA data is available ('23-'24), athletes made up 501 of the school's then 747 full-time students.

In not-so-good  news, in the 2022-23 school year, only 66% of "first time" (non-transfer) students returned after their first year, and the school only saw 39% of incoming students (and 31% of men) receive a degree within six years of matriculation when last measured in 2023 - (37% transferred out in the same timeframe).  One hopes the school has made progress in those metrics since then. 

[y_jack_lok]

Here's another article about the early admission lawsuit. "The plaintiffs include current and former students from Wesleyan University, Vassar College and Washington University in St. Louis."

https://www.highereddive.com/news/32-colleges-accused-of-using-early-decision-to-drive-up-costs/757337/

By my count (please correct me if I'm wrong) 23 of the 32 defendant institutions are D3 schools.

[IC798891]

In a little good news, Brevard College's incoming class of 358 (including transfers) has led to the school's largest-ever enrollment of 821.  In the most recent year for which EADA data is available ('23-'24), athletes made up 501 of the school's then 747 full-time students.

In not-so-good  news, in the 2022-23 school year, only 66% of "first time" (non-transfer) students returned after their first year, and the school only saw 39% of incoming students (and 31% of men) receive a degree within six years of matriculation when last measured in 2023 - (37% transferred out in the same timeframe).  One hopes the school has made progress in those metrics since then. 

This strikes me as rather ominous. Getting a great first year class isn't "easy", but if you change your accept rate figure, or toss enough money at them, you can move it in the direction you want. Unless you're doing it really wrong, everyone looks good after a campus tour showing you all the best stuff.

But the retention and grad rates speak more to what students are really experiencing on campus day-to-day. And those problems are a lot harder to fix. A 39% six-year grad rate is pretty bad — though any six-year window including the pandemic years is going to be lower than what that colleges typically experience.

I suppose the optimistic way to look at would be that the retention and grad rates will rebound once we get out of the pandemic affected years — but there's a lot of ground to make up if you start from 39%

[Ron Boerger]

This strikes me as rather ominous. Getting a great first year class isn't "easy", but if you change your accept rate figure, or toss enough money at them, you can move it in the direction you want. Unless you're doing it really wrong, everyone looks good after a campus tour showing you all the best stuff.

But the retention and grad rates speak more to what students are really experiencing on campus day-to-day. And those problems are a lot harder to fix. A 39% six-year grad rate is pretty bad — though any six-year window including the pandemic years is going to be lower than what that colleges typically experience.

I suppose the optimistic way to look at would be that the retention and grad rates will rebound once we get out of the pandemic affected years — but there's a lot of ground to make up if you start from 39%

The DOE's College Scorecard, which puts Brevard's eight-year graduation rate at an equally woeful 40%, says the midpoint for four-year colleges is 58%.  IMO the very high proportion of athletes likely contributes to the school's issues in this area - and further hurting the student-athlete experience is the school's failure to qualify for a single NCAA postseason event last season and as a result were unranked in the NACDA Directors' Cup.  In 2023-4 and 2022-3 they qualified in one event each year.  If you're going to hang your hat on athetics you better be able to show a little success.

[IC798891]

IMO the very high proportion of athletes likely contributes to the school's issues in this area

I cannot speak to Brevard specifically, but division-wide data suggests athletes graduate at a slightly higher percentage

Absent official data, it's really impossible to know, but a grad rate that low is likely problematic across the board
 

[WUPHF]

That is a woeful graduation rate.

The article references renovations to a residence hall and library as well as a new student center opening in 2027, so the administration and board must be feeling pretty good about the direction of the college.

[Gray Fox]

That is a woeful graduation rate.

The article references renovations to a residence hall and library as well as a new student center opening in 2027, so the administration and board must be feeling pretty good about the direction of the college.

Is there any mention of faculty retention or experience?  I think students can sense when they are getting their money's worth.

[Ron Boerger]

IMO the very high proportion of athletes likely contributes to the school's issues in this area

I cannot speak to Brevard specifically, but division-wide data suggests athletes graduate at a slightly higher percentage

Absent official data, it's really impossible to know, but a grad rate that low is likely problematic across the board
 

The point I tried (and apparently failed) to make was that if you recruit a bunch of athletes, they're going to expect (in addition to all the other things they want from a school) to be competitive.  The six-year graduation rate for male students was even lower, 31%,  and with 353 of their 457 male students (77%) competing in athletics the last year of the period, I don't think my inference is an unreasonable one.   Less than half Brevard's women (138 of 290) competed in athletics; they had a markedly higher six-year rate (51%).

[IC798891]

The point I tried (and apparently failed) to make was that if you recruit a bunch of athletes, they're going to expect (in addition to all the other things they want from a school) to be competitive. 

Anecdotally, Hartwick is a similarly bad athletics school. They had 50 Director's Cup points in 2022-23, finishing tied for 238th in D3. Their Fall 2023 retention rate from their Fall 2022 incoming first years students was three percentage points higher among athletes than non-athletes.


 

[IC798891]

The 31% from men can still be, for example, 33% for athletes and 28% for non-athletes, I guess is what I'm trying to say.

There are other factors at play when you compare men to women. Certain majors may attract women more than men, and if those happen to be ones you're strong in, that is going to impact retention rates
 

[IC798891]

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say Brevard's biggest issue is that their most popular major is "undecided". Kids can be under a lot of pressure from parents to go to college. 

Given the low graduation rate, I wonder if they're drawing in students who really aren't sure about college, period, but are getting pushed by others to go. They don't know what they want to do — hence not declaring a major — but they get there, don't feel a connection, and don't stay.