Six of the 13 proposals sponsored by the Division II Presidents Council will be voted on at the 2022 NCAA Convention, while the other seven proposals will be reconsidered in the future.
The Division II Administrative Committee decided Wednesday that only those proposals that are process improvements, those that address student-athlete health and safety, and those that have the most widespread impact on student-athletes should continue to the 2022 Convention. The committee did so due to the upcoming NCAA constitution review, with final proposals from a special constitutional convention in November expected to be voted on by the membership at the annual Convention in January.
After the 2022 Convention, the Division II governance structure will review all of the proposals that were previously sponsored and decide whether to sponsor any in the future.
"Considering the transformational work that lies ahead for all of the NCAA, it's important we prioritize certain legislative proposals for the upcoming Convention. Student-athletes are always our top priority, which these 2022 Convention proposals reflect," said Allison Garrett, president of Emporia State and chair of the Division II Presidents Council. "We will reevaluate other proposals after the Convention when there is more clarity surrounding the changes to the NCAA constitution."
The proposals that the Administrative Committee moved forward for the Convention include the following:
- Establish a negotiated resolution path in the Division II infractions process, similar to that of Division I's.
- Eliminate the option for a student-athlete to sign a written release or waiver declining the sickle cell solubility test.
- Enact several changes to the division's football preseason practice period to enhance student-athlete safety.
- Broaden the division's legislative options in three areas: emergency legislation, resolutions and special conventions.
- Amend legislation in several areas related to four-year college transfers.
- Prohibit countable athletically related activities, such as practices and games, on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 every year to provide more opportunities for student-athletes to participate in civic engagement activities like voting, volunteering and other community engagement.
The proposals not moving forward for the 2022 Convention included the following:
- Four proposals including changes to the Division II enforcement policies and procedures or its infractions process.
- One proposal permitting schools to reimburse prospective student-athletes for any costs associated with canceled official or unofficial recruiting visits.
- One proposal eliminating the overall equivalency limit in men's sports. (Women's sports do not have a limit.)
- One proposal adding stunt as an emerging sport for women.
