General | 1/19/2022 11:33:33 PM
The Empire 8 will be hard at work during the 2022 NCAA Convention, which takes place from Jan. 19-22 in Indianapolis. On Saturday, Jan. 22, the Empire 8 is the primary sponsor of three legislative proposals that aim to benefit the student-athlete experience during the NCAA’s Division III Business Session, while co-sponsoring a fourth piece of legislation.
“Empire 8 greatly values the student-athlete experience and these proposals impact and support maximizing, enhancing and retaining student-athlete opportunities,” said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano, who also begins his term as Chairperson of the NCAA Division III Championships Committee this month.
Overall, the Division III membership is scheduled to vote Saturday morning on nine proposals. The three pieces of legislation that the Empire 8 is sponsoring include:
PROPOSAL #3 – Expanded ability to practice without using a season of competition
This proposal would allow student-athletes to participate in a full season of practice without using a season of competition if the athlete does not compete in any games. It also grants student-athletes more control of their collegiate athletic experience by providing flexibility to maximize seasons of participation at their discretion.
“By using competition as a trigger for use of a season it provides the student-athlete with flexibility to maximize their four years of eligibility in the manner that suits them best and puts them in the best position for academic success,” stated Mitrano, who is in his 21st year as Empire 8 Commissioner. “It also reflects the modern Division III institution and the realities of our student-athletes. They should have ownership in their experience based on their unique circumstances the same as every other student on campus.”
Co-sponsors of this legislation includes the Liberty League and Atlantic East Conference.
PROPOSAL #5 – Reduce the minimum number of multi-sport conference members required for automatic qualification for Division III championships from seven to six.
PROPOSAL #6 – Reduce the minimum number of member schools required to form a single-sport conference from seven to six.
Co-sponsors of these legislative pieces includes the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, Atlantic East Conference, Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, United East Conference and USA South Athletic Conference.
Division III has experienced substantial membership movement across conferences on an annual basis. Virtually all changes were an effort to earn or retain automatic qualification (AQ) in various sports. Lowering the automatic qualifier to six provides more stability and also allows conferences and institutions to provide meaningful experiences at the national championship level for student-athletes who participate in less broadly sponsored sports.
“By reducing the minimum number of institutions for the automatic qualifier to six, it provides every conference more stability which in turn protects quality experiences at the NCAA and conference level for all student-athletes,” said Mitrano. “Every time a conference grows to protect AQ’s the domino effect cripples other conferences, and the impacted student-athletes lose quality opportunities. We believe we should be trying to retain opportunities for all student-athletes.”
In addition, the Empire 8 is a co-sponsor of
NCAA Proposal #4 that would allow Division III member schools with Division I sports to apply all Division I legislation, including Bylaw 15 (financial aid), to the Division I sports. In 2020, NCAA legislation was updated permitting Division III schools sponsoring Division I sports to apply all Division I rules to those programs except for principles of financial aid. If passed, this proposal would be effective immediately.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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