INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Presidents Council took emergency legislative action to immediately change the requirement that transferring student-athletes would have to serve an academic year of residence before being eligible to compete.
Division III has been closely reviewing its transfer rules since January by engaging with the division’s governance committees, faculty athletics representatives, commissioners and membership. Many of these groups supported eliminating the year in residence.
The proposal clarifies that a student-athlete who transfers while academically ineligible would not be immediately eligible for competition but could regain eligibility after the first term at the new Division III school based on the school’s academic standards for all student-athletes.
The council acknowledged the significance of this change and noted that this action would typically be considered by the membership through a vote at the annual NCAA Convention. However, the council ultimately decided that immediate action via emergency legislation is warranted due to the recent and potential future legal challenges faced by the NCAA. The council noted that emergency legislation may be considered when the Presidents Council deems it appropriate to limit or avoid NCAA liability as a result of litigation, alternate dispute resolution or governmental proceedings. Finally, the council noted that the membership will have an opportunity to discuss the change at the 2025 Convention when it will be asked to ratify the action.
Release courtesy National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
