Minutes of Fall Meeting September 13, 2016 – , Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Present: Kris Hall, David Lindholm (Bard); Steve Yianoukos, Laurel Kane (Clarkson); Mike Hanna (Hobart), Brian Miller (Hobart & William Smith), Susan Bassett (Ithaca), Lee McElroy, Karen Hansen (RPI); George VanderZwaag, Andrea Golden (Rochester); Lou Spiotti, Amy Reed (RIT); Bob Durocher, Randy LaBrake (St. Lawrence); Gail Cummings‐ Danson, Megan Buchanan, Nekisha Quinney (Skidmore); Jim McLaughlin, Joanne Little, Beth Tiffany (Union); Michelle Walsh, Kim Culligan, JoAnn Acquarulo (Vassar); Deb Steward (William Smith); Tracy King, Katie Meline (Liberty League).

I. Call to Order

Steve Yianoukos (Liberty League President) called the meeting to order at 11:03 a.m. Attendees introduced themselves.

II. Review of Minutes

The minutes of the June 1‐2, 2016 meeting at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, N.Y., were reviewed. No changes or corrections were noted. Kris Hall inquired as to the outreach to the football independent institutions (Finlandia and Maranatha Baptist). Tracy King indicated that Finlandia had a recent AD change, but no recent contact has been made with those institutions. Deb Steward noted that the coaches opted to use TeamXStream for video exchange rather than Krossover as indicated in the minutes.

Motion: A motion (McElroy, Hall) to approve the minutes from the June 1‐2, 2016 meeting PASSED 11‐0‐0.

III. Financial Report

Mike Hanna reviewed the budget report for FY16 as well as the proposed budget for FY17. Hanna reported that the league essentially had a break‐even budget in FY16 with $267,408.37 in revenues and $268,987.02 in expenses. A budget shortfall of approximately $18,000 is projected for FY17, which is the result of declining revenues from the NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching Grant (grant for assistant commissioner position) combined with salary increases.

Motion: A motion (Steward, McElroy) to approve the proposed FY17 budget as presented PASSED 10‐0‐0.

Hanna indicated that the league had originally agreed to increase dues to $18,000 in 2015‐ 16, but the increase had not been implemented. Hanna noted that reserve funds have declined over the last two years and it has been recommended that conferences maintain a

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reserve of two years’ worth of operating expenses. Rather than increase dues by $2,000 each of the next two years, it was recommended that the dues increase from $16,000 to $20,000 in FY18. It was noted that the Liberty League full member dues are currently below the average of other Division III conferences. Hanna also recommend that Tracy King survey other conferences regarding associate member dues to determine the appropriate level.

Motion: A motion (Hanna, McElroy) to establish Liberty League full member dues of $20,000 for FY18 and FY19 PASSED 8‐2‐0.

IV. Commissioner’s Report

A. FLSA Update – Assistant Commissioner: Tracy King reported that the Executive Committee reviewed the salary structure for the Assistant Commissioner position to ensure that the league is in compliance with the FLSA’s Final Rule. In order to ensure compliance with the regulation, the committee recommended a salary of $40,172 ($913 per week for 44 weeks), which was supported in an August email vote of the athletic directors. The committee also reviewed paid leave for employees of less than 12 months at Liberty League member institutions, but did not find a common standard. Rather than specify a certain number of days for sick time, vacation time and personal time, it was suggested that all leave time be a combined total.

Motion: A motion (Hall, Golden) to establish 15 days of annual paid leave for the Assistant Commissioner position, including sick, personal and vacation leave PASSED 10‐0‐1.

Motion: A motion (McElroy, Hanna) to specify that unused leave time for the Assistant Commissioner position will not accrue and carry over from year‐to‐year PASSED 7‐3‐1.

With regard to FLSA on campuses, it was reported that some institutions will likely be elevating certain individuals to the full amount required for 12‐month employees under the Final Rule ($47,476) while other employees will be converted to an hourly wage and hours will be tracked. Campuses are in the process of finalizing by the Dec. 1 implementation deadline. The options of a fluctuating work week and the exemption for teaching are also being explored.

B. Championship Expansion Proposals: King reminded the administrators that championship expansion proposals for sports in which league tournaments could increase from four to six teams will be considered at the league meeting in January at the NCAA Convention. Sports in which there are nine or more participating teams that could be considered for an increase include: , , , soccer and . Sport liaisons should conduct calls or meetings with those sport groups prior to the December break to finalize proposals for January. Implementation for tournament expansion was

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originally planned for 2018‐19, but may be considered for 2017‐18 depending on scheduling and budget impact. If a sport requires a revised schedule in order to accommodate a six‐team tournament, then it may not be feasible to implement an expanded tournament for 2017‐18, but that will be considered when proposals are reviewed in January.

C. Salary / Staffing Survey: Following up on the discussion from the spring meeting regarding a league‐wide salary and staffing survey, King contacted colleague Dick Rasmussen regarding a similar survey he had compiled for the UAA. The comprehensive survey compared staffing and salaries for various administrative and coaching positions across the member institutions. Liberty League administrators who participated in the UAA study felt the salary data was less helpful due to the differences in the cost of living in different geographic areas. For example, salaries in City (NYU) were typically higher than salaries in Rochester. Also, certain positions may have had varying secondary responsibilities that made comparisons difficult. Staffing and FTE levels might be a more beneficial comparison. King will solicit staffing survey tools from other conferences.

D. ECAC Membership: King surveyed the members to confirm which institutions are remaining as ECAC members. Skidmore and RIT reported that they have withdrawn from the ECAC. Hobart & William Smith will withdraw after the 2017‐18 academic year when the school’s hockey programs are no longer part of the ECAC. The four institutions that are members of ECAC Hockey (Div. I) are required to remain as ECAC members as part of their separation agreement with the ECAC.

V. Management Council Update

Gail Cummings‐Danson provided an NCAA update on behalf of the Division III Management Council. Updates include:  The NCAA has announced that it will be moving its 2016‐17 predetermined championship sites out of North Carolina, which will impact Division III soccer and tennis. The NCAA is currently soliciting bids for championships that have been impacted. New sites will be announced in October.  The Playing and Practice Seasons subcommittee will be sponsoring a legislative proposal to standardize contest exemptions across all sports. A vote will be conducted on the proposal at the 2017 NCAA Convention.  The committee has gathered feedback on a proposed split season in baseball, but it will not be voted on at the convention. A proposal sponsored by the Allegheny Mountain Conference did not receive a co‐sponsor.  Brackets will be expanding in several Division III championship sports.  The NCAA will be conducting an Athletics Direct Report Institute at the 2017 NCAA Convention. RIT Vice President Dr. Sandra Johnson will be attending from the Liberty League.

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 The NCAA Eligibility Center is changing the registration process effective January 1 whereby prospective Division III student‐athletes can register for free. PSAs will receive a unique registration number.  Division III Week is slated for April 3‐9, 2017.  Registration for the 2017 NCAA Convention opened on Sept. 12.

VI. Submission of Concussion Data to NCAA

Bob Durocher polled the league to determine how many institutions have submitted concussion data to the NCAA per the request. For institutions that do not submit data, the NCAA has indicated that it may subpoena the information. Institutions reported that compiling and producing the requested information is a manpower issue that will fall on the alumni office at most schools. Some data may be difficult to produce, but institutions are making a good‐faith effort to compile as much of the requested information as possible.

VII. Liberty League Membership Review

Tracy King indicated that an email had been circulated among the Liberty League presidents advocating for full membership for Stevens Institute of Technology. King had responded to the presidents that the addition of Stevens, a quality institution with a strong athletic program, would not address the league’s primary membership issue, which is the instability created due to the withdrawal of the football associate members – Merchant Marine, Springfield and WPI. The presidents asked the league to study the potential impact along with the benefits and challenges of adding Stevens. It was noted that the league had previously conducted membership studies in 2008‐09 and 2014‐15. While Stevens had been included in previous discussions, it was recommended that the information that was compiled during previous studies could be updated to reflect the current Liberty League membership. Additional study could be worthwhile to the league if helps to solve current membership issues and challenges. King will work with the Executive Committee on drafting a response letter to the presidents indicating that the league will continue to evaluate Stevens and how to best address current challenges.

VIII. Officiating Assigning Services

The league has moved to independent assigners in a number of sports, but there is no designated assigner in field hockey, and as schools use a local assigner. It was noted that softball currently has five different individuals assigning umpires for seven schools. Utilizing one assigner might help with securing the highest quality umpires available for tournaments as well as containing costs through negotiated fees. The concern is that if a certain assigner does not have umpires available in a particular geographic area, a school may be subject to additional mileage fees and may pay more than it is currently paying. If sport groups in field hockey, softball and volleyball have a desire to use a central assigner, they can submit a proposal to the administrators for their consideration.

IX. Transgender Inclusion Policies

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Amy Reed shared a draft of a transgender inclusion policy that RIT had compiled. Legal affairs is currently reviewing the proposed policy and RIT anticipates implementing the policy in the fall with training for coaches and student‐athletes. Others institutions reported that they are in discussion with student‐life offices on policy development. Reed expressed a willingness to assist other institutions that are developing policies.

X. Review of Proposed Schedules

Scheduling models were developed for soccer, baseball, basketball, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse and volleyball utilizing the scheduling principles discussed at the spring meeting.

A. Soccer: Three models that utilized six weekends were developed by a committee consisting of Beth Tiffany, Deb Steward, Michelle Walsh and Tracy King. Model 1 included 2 back‐to‐back weekends, 4 single Saturdays and 1 midweek game. Model 2 included 1 back‐to‐back weekend, 5 single Saturdays and 2 midweek games. Model 3 was a hybrid model consisting of 2 back‐to‐ back weekends for Clarkson and St. Lawrence and one for all other schools, 4 or 5 single Saturdays and 2 midweek games (1 for Clarkson and St. Lawrence). Model 3, the hybrid model, was ruled out because of the competitive inequity. Concern with Model 1 was the significant travel distance on one of the back‐to‐ back weekends for two schools. Concern with Model 2 was midweek travel for teams involved in games with the North Country institutions. Certain teams would need to make a long midweek trip every other year.

Vote: 5‐4‐2 in favor of Model 2 (five members voted in favor of Model 2; four voted in favor of Model 1; two members abstained)

King will compile a four‐year schedule utilizing the format of Model 2.

B. Baseball: Jim McLaughlin reviewed a proposed divisional schedule which comprised of two five‐team divisions. The divisional schedule would be implemented in 2019 as Ithaca will be competing in the for 2018 as part of its exit agreement. Since the current schedule runs through the 2017 season, Tracy King drafted an additional schedule for the 2018 season utilizing the current format. The divisional schedule consisted of three‐game weekend sets with the final weekend being utilized as a crossover playoff weekend (i.e., #1 seed in East hosts #4 in the West, #2 seed in the East hosts #3 in the West, etc.). The four winning teams from the playoff weekend would advance to the four‐team double‐elimination championship tournament the following weekend while the fifth‐place teams would play a three‐game season‐ending series. Additional clarity was needed regarding the format for the weekend (1 game Saturday and 2 Sunday or vice versa) along with the length of the games (9‐9‐9 or 9‐7‐9).

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Motion: A motion (McLaughlin, McElroy) to adopt the proposed 2018 schedule along with the proposed divisional model PASSED 10‐0‐1.

McLaughlin will conduct a conference call with the coaches to discuss the weekend format and the length of the games along with other details that need to be finalized.

C. Basketball: Brian Miller indicated that three scheduling models were developed for men’s basketball. Models included an 8‐week double round‐ robin schedule with two games scheduled independently against a travel partner; a 10‐week double round‐robin schedule utilizing only weekends (Friday‐Saturday); and an 8‐week divisional schedule in which teams would play a double round‐robin against divisional opponents and a single round‐ robin against non‐division opponents (13 games total). The 10‐week double round‐robin was ruled out because it required three weekends in December – one of which would likely conflict with final exams for a number of institutions and the other would require teams to begin league play prior to the new year. While some coaches felt that the divisional model might improve the league’s chances of earning an at‐large bid to the NCAA tournament, it could also be a challenge for teams to find 12 non‐conference games without utilizing a significant number of midweek dates. The 8‐week double round‐robin schedule was rotated over six years so each of the Capital Region teams would have a turn with having two weekends with longer travel. Deb Steward asked if the schedule could be rotated so HWS, Ithaca and RIT share a turn as the travel partner with the Capital Region team (currently HWS is always the travel partner). Tracy King indicated that he would review the schedule to see if that could be rotated among the western teams.

Motion: A motion (McElroy, Spiotti) to adopt the proposed 8‐week double round‐robin for 2017‐18 through 2022‐23 PASSED 10‐0‐1.

D. Men’s Lacrosse: Gail Cummings‐Danson reviewed the draft schedule for men’s lacrosse which consisted of six Saturdays and three midweek games. The current men’s lacrosse schedule utilizes six Saturdays and one game scheduled independently against a travel partner. Cummings‐Danson noted that the men’s lacrosse coaches are a collegial group that would work together to resolve schedule issues. Since men’s lacrosse is not a sport in which back‐to‐ back games can be played, additional weekends would be needed in order to reduce the number of midweek games. The concern with utilizing additional Saturdays is that games could potentially conflict with spring break dates. Cummings‐Danson suggested that the league should determine whether the priority is to preserve spring break weekends or minimize midweek games. Jim McLaughlin asked if a model with seven Saturdays could be developed for comparison purposes. Tracy King will develop a model and circulate it among the coaches and administrators. An email vote will be conducted to determine the preferred model.

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E. Women’s Lacrosse: Laurel Kane reviewed women’s lacrosse scheduling models which included: 4 back‐to‐back weekends and 2 single games; 2 back‐ to‐back weekends, 4/5 single Saturdays, 1/2 midweek games; 2 back‐to‐back weekends, 5 single Saturdays, 1 midweek game; and 8 single Saturdays, 3 midweek games. The concern with the models that utilize eight weekends is that it would be difficult to schedule many non‐league games prior to the start of league play. When more weekends are utilized for league play, more non‐ league games will be forced onto midweek dates. Also, weather and field conditions could be a challenge for some schools with games in early March. Since two of the more favorable models were developed within the last week (4 back‐to‐back weekends and 2 single games; 2 back‐to‐back weekends, 4/5 single Saturdays, 1/2 midweek games) it was agreed that the administrators should review the models with their coaches. An email vote will be conducted to determine the preferred model.

F. Volleyball: Kris Hall indicated that the league had voted in the spring to utilize a single round‐robin format for volleyball. Based on the approved format, the coaches voted on a schedule of three Friday‐Saturday weekends (weekends 4, 6 and 8) and two matches scheduled independently against a travel partner. A recommendation on match times for the weekends will be solicited from the coaches.

Motion: A motion (Hall, McLaughlin) to approve the proposed 2017‐ 2020 volleyball schedule PASSED 8‐0‐3.

XI. & Championship Format

Laurel Kane conducted a conference call with the Liberty League swimming and diving coaches on Sept. 7 to discuss the future of the league championship. The championship has currently been conducted on the weekend (Friday and Saturday) that falls eight days after Thanksgiving with the site rotating between the Rochester schools (Rochester and RIT) and the Capital Region schools (RPI and Union). With the addition of Ithaca to the meet, the current facilities would not be able to accommodate the championship. Ithaca is the only institution with a facility large enough to host the meet. Some coaches favored moving the meet to an end‐of‐season championship, which is the date currently utilized for the Upper New York State College Swimming Association (UNYSCSA) championship. The coaches voted 8‐1‐2 to conduct the championship in the spring. The coaches also voted to follow the Wednesday‐Saturday format currently used for the UNYSCSA championship.

Motion: A motion (Steward, Spiotti) to approve the proposal of the swimming and diving coaches to conduct the Liberty League swimming and diving championship beginning in the spring semester of 2018 while following the Wednesday‐Saturday format currently utilized for the UNYSCSA championship PASSED 10‐0‐1.

XII. Tennis Championship Format

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Tracy King reported that the tennis coaches on their conference call in the spring expressed a strong desire to conduct the championship outdoors since tennis is an outdoor sport. The last two years the championship has been conducted indoors at the Reis Tennis Center at Cornell. With four matches currently being played on Saturday, lighted courts would be needed to play the championship outdoors. Reis does not have lighted outdoor courts, so the only option with the Saturday‐Sunday schedule has been to play indoors. Also, the league has only reserved the indoor courts and not the entire facility. King suggested that the tournament could be conducted outdoors by utilizing a schedule of Friday‐Saturday‐ Sunday where two semifinal matches could be played Friday (noon and 3 p.m.) followed by the first championship match (9 a.m.) and the other two semifinals (noon and 3 p.m.) on Saturday and finally the second championship match (9 a.m.) on Sunday. Reis has agreed to let the league utilize the outdoor courts for the championship while having the indoor courts available as a backup in the event of inclement weather. The order of the gender that would play the Friday/Saturday and the Saturday/Sunday schedule would alternate every year with the women’s teams playing Friday/Saturday in 2017. King indicated that if the league moves to a six‐team tournament in tennis, an additional day would be needed with the tournament schedule likely shifting to Friday‐Saturday‐Sunday.

Motion: A motion (McElroy, Steward) to conduct the Liberty League men’s and women’s tennis championships outdoors at the Reis Tennis Center while retaining the indoor courts for backup with a Friday/Saturday and Saturday/Sunday schedule PASSED 7‐0‐2.

XIII. Liberty League Championship Webcasting / Pay‐Per‐View Policy

Tracy King noted that on an August 16 conference call of the Liberty League SIDs, the issue of institutions charging a fee for individuals to view webcasted league championship games was discussed. Four schools (Bard‐HD, HWS, Rochester and Union) currently have a pay‐ per‐view policy for all webcasted games. Some SIDs felt that there should be no charge for Liberty League tournament games. King pointed out that per league policy admission may be charged for Liberty League contests in round‐robin sports per the prerogative of the individual schools. To be consistent with the admission policy, it was agreed that it should be the prerogative of the individual schools to determine whether they will charge individuals to view webcasted league games.

XIV. Future Meeting Sites / Dates

Meeting dates for 2016‐17 were reviewed. A. Winter Meeting: Friday, Jan. 20 at NCAA Convention (Nashville, Tenn.). NCAA Convention dates: Jan. 18‐21. B. Spring Meeting: May 31‐June 1 at Cooperstown, N.Y. (Otesaga Resort Hotel).

XV. Other Business

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National Anthem Protests: Lou Spiotti surveyed the group to determine whether institutions have encountered any issues with protests during the national anthem. Schools have thus far not reported any protests. Some institutions reported having a policy of permitting protests or demonstrations as long as they are non‐violent in nature.

XVI. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 3:19 p.m.

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