Eligibility -- Age-Based Eligibility Model

Convention Year: 2027

Date Submitted: June 30, 2026

Status: Web Edit

Effective Date: Immediate

Official Notice Number: 2027--5

Source: American Rivers Conference and Ohio Athletic Conference.

Proposal Category: Amendment-to-Amendment

Topical Area:

Intent: To apply the currently legislated Division Dominant standard to the age-based model proposal. A division dominant provision is a regulation that applies to all members of the division and is of sufficient importance to the division that it requires a two-thirds majority vote of all delegates present and voting at the division's annual or special Convention. Further, to confirm that future amendments to this eligibility model may be sponsored by An amendment to a division dominant provision may be sponsored by: (a) The Presidents council: (b) twenty or more active member institutions with voting privileges on written verification of sponsorship signed by each sponsoring member's chancellor or president or the chancellor's or president's designated representative; or (c) Two or more member conferences with voting privileges when submitted by the chief elected or executive officer of the conferences on behalf of each conference's active member institutions and signed by the chairs of the conference's official presidential administrative groups or at least two chancellors or presidents of the conference's member institutions if the conference has no presidential administrative group.

A.    : Amend 9.3.1.2, as follows:

B.    : Amend 12.1, as follows:

C.    : Amend 13.1, as follows:

D.    : Amend 14.1, as follows:

E.    : Amend 14.2, as follows:

F.    : Amend 17.1.6, as follows:

G.    : Amend 18.4, as follows:

H.    : Amend 21.9.5.4, as follows:

I.    : Amend figure 14.1, as follows:

Rationale: The age-based eligibility model represents a significant departure from a core principle distinguishing Division III. While this conversation is necessary and important, such a fundamental change should require broad membership support. A two-thirds majority provides a safeguard against altering a defining element of our divisional identity by a narrow margin.

Budget Impact: None

Primary Contact Person:
  Keri Alexander Luchowski , Executive Director
  Email: keri@northcoast.org

Alternate Co-sponsorship Minimums:
  No

Co-sponsorship - Conference:
  None

Co-sponsorship - Institution:
  None

Convention Vote:
  No Convention Record

Legislative References

Division	Number	Title