31.3.3.1.3 Grace Period. A period for two consecutive academic years after the date the conference falls below the six required institutions but maintains at least four institutions (they must be core institutions for multisport conferences) in the particular sport. Continued automatic-qualification eligibility shall be as follows: (Adopted: 1/9/06 effective 8/1/06, Revised: 4/19/06, 5/5/06, 4/13/10, 1/22/22 effective 8/1/22)

(a) A conference shall remain eligible for automatic qualification in the particular sport if, by the expiration of the grace period, the conference has a minimum of six institutions (for multisport conferences, at least four shall be core institutions) that sponsor the sport on a varsity intercollegiate basis and that are eligible for the NCAA Division III championship. (Revised: 1/22/22 effective 8/1/22)

(b) A conference that fails to satisfy Bylaw 31.3.3.1.3-(a) by the expiration of the grace period shall no longer be eligible for automatic qualification in the particular sport until it again satisfies all requirements for automatic qualification, including the two-year waiting period set forth in Bylaws 31.3.3.1.1-(a) and 31.3.3.1.1.1-(b).