REPORT OF THE
NCAA DIVISION III COMMITTEE ON STUDENT-ATHLETE REINSTATEMENT
MAY 17-18, 2016, MEETING
ACTION ITEMS.
1.
Legislative Items.

2.
Noncontroversial Legislation – Hardship Waiver Numerator.
(1)
Recommendation: That the NCAA Division III Management Council
sponsor in concept noncontroversial legislation to clarify that, in order to
qualify for a hardship waiver or a season of participation – participation
while eligible waiver, a student-athlete may not have participated in more
contests or dates of competition than a number equivalent to one-third of
the standard denominator, where the standard denominator is determined
by the maximum number of contests or dates of competition plus one
contest or date of competition.
(2)
Effective Date: Immediate.
(3)
Rationale: Figure 14-1 clearly identifies both the standard denominator
and the number of contests or dates of competition equal to one-third of
the standard denominator. Member institutions, however, have suggested
that the legislative language pertaining to hardship waivers and season of
participation – participation while eligible waivers, suggests an alternative
calculation. This proposal would amend the legislative language to more
clearly reflect the intended method of calculating one-third of the
maximum contests or dates of competition plus one contest or date of
competition.
(4)
Budget Impact: None.
(5)
Student-Athlete Impact: None.
Nonlegislative Items.

None.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
1.
Review of Violations Involving Competition While Enrolled in Less
Than Full-Time Program of Studies.
The NCAA Division III Committee
on Student-Athlete Reinstatement modified its guidelines to reflect the evolving
NCAA Division III Committee on
Student-Athlete Reinstatement
May 17-18, 2016, Meeting
Page No. 2
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landscape of academic enrollment and curriculum patterns.
2.
Review of Medical Documentation Standards for Hardship Waiver Appeals and
Extension Requests. The committee reviewed current legislated medical documentation
requirements and supported current legislation requiring contemporaneous medical
documentation and diagnosis from a treating physician. The committee noted NCAA
student-athlete reinstatement staff should have continued flexibility on a case-by-case
basis (i.e., cases involving diagnosis by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant).
Additionally, the committee supported further research and collaboration with the NCAA
Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports regarding
nonphysician practitioners diagnosing season-ending injuries or illnesses.
3.
Update Regarding Financial Aid Legislation. The staff provided the committee an
update regarding the number of reinstatement cases processed since December 2015
involving financial aid violations. The committee requested the staff provide additional
information and case data regarding financial aid violations at its December 2016
committee meeting.
4.
Review of Hardship Waiver Legislation. The committee received an update regarding
an editorial revision to clarify the application of NCAA Division III Bylaw 14.2.5.3
(Eligibility for Practice After Receipt of Hardship Waiver) following review by the
NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee.
5.
Flexible Student-Athlete Reinstatement Decisions. The committee reviewed and
discussed cases recently decided in the NCAA Requests/Self-Reports Online Case
Management System (RSRO). As a result of the committee’s discussions, NCAA
Eligibility Case No. 869197 was archived; however, all other cases reviewed were
accepted and will remain available for precedent within the database consistent with the
NCAA Divisions I, II and III Committees on Student-Athlete Reinstatement Policies and
Procedures.
6.
Review of Guidelines. The committee reviewed and approved editorial revisions to its
NCAA Division III Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement Guidelines.
7.
Review of Reinstatement Policies and Procedures. The committee reviewed and
approved editorial revisions to the NCAA Divisions I, II and III Committees on StudentAthlete Reinstatement Policies and Procedures.
8.
Division III Summary of Actions. The committee received an update regarding
recently
adopted
legislation
relevant
to
student-athlete
reinstatement.
NCAA Division III Committee on
Student-Athlete Reinstatement
May 17-18, 2016, Meeting
Page No. 3
_________
9.
Governance Update. The director of Division III updated the committee on several
items, including the following: composition of the NCAA Board of Governors; playing
and practice seasons review; budget planning; impact of the Fair Labor Standards Act on
the athletics landscape; possible changes to financial aid legislation related to receipt of
outside aid; continuation of the Athletics Direct Report (ADR) Institute at the January
2017 NCAA Convention; engagement of faculty athletics representatives; diversity and
inclusion initiatives; and changes to the NCAA Eligibility Center registration process for
prospective student-athletes.
10.
Future Meetings. The committee established the following future meeting dates and
locations:
a.
November 30-December 1, 2016, Indianapolis.
b.
To be determined, 2017, Indianapolis.
Committee Chair:
Staff Liaisons:
Lisa Sardinia, Pacific University (Oregon); Northwest Conference
Stephanie Grace, Academic and Membership Affairs
Brad Rochman, Academic and Membership Affairs
NCAA Division III Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement
May 17-18, 2016, Meeting
Attendees:
Matthew Burke, Mount Ida College; Great Northeast Athletic Conference.
Frank Millerick, Becker College; New England Collegiate Conference.
Carlton Pickron, Westfield State University; Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Lisa Sardinia, Pacific University (Oregon); Northwest Conference.
Brian Williams, State University of New York at New Paltz; State University of New York Athletic
Conference.
Robert Wingert, Stevenson University; Middle Atlantic Conference.
NCAA Staff Support in Attendance:
Stephanie Grace, Brad Rochman.
Other NCAA Staff Members in Attendance:
Louise McCleary, Jeff Myers.
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