INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Two MIAA athletic directors have been selected to chair different NCAA Division II Committees. Dr. Chris Ratcliff, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics at Rogers State University, was appointed the new Chair of the NCAA Division II Legislation Committee and Curtis Janz, Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, was named the new Chair of the NCAA Division II Strategic Planning and Finance Committee.
 
“The MIAA office and our member institutions are proud of the service and leadership being provided by Chris and Curtis on these key Division II Committees,” said MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy. “MIAA engagement on important NCAA and national intercollegiate issues during this challenging time for higher education is essential for the future success of NCAA Division II.”
 
Dr. Chris Ratcliff has just begun his eighth year as the Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at Rogers State University and was appointed the new chair of the NCAA Division II Legislation Committee at the beginning of September.
 
The NCAA Division II Legislation Committee’s primary charge is to determine interpretations of all Division II-specific legislation and incorporate new legislation and interpretations in the NCAA Manual. The committee is made up of 12 members, including two members of the Division II Management Council and one member of the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The Legislation Committee also reviews and considers legislative issues of those portions of the Association’s constitution and bylaws that relate to the principles governing financial aid and amateurism, professional sports relations, recruiting, personnel limitations, and playing and practice seasons. In addition, the committee consults with other Division II committees to review deregulation issues, and it reviews and considers issues regarding rules education and compliance resources.

Finally, the committee reviews and determines the facts related to the certification of a prospective student-athlete’s amateur status on the request of an institution. An institution may make such a request if it disagrees with the determination of facts rendered by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

In addition to becoming the Chair of the Legislation Committee, Ratcliff is also a member of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Regional Advisory Committee.

Curtis Janz is in his sixth year as the Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and was selected as the new Chair of the NCAA Division II Strategic Planning and Finance Committee earlier this month.

The NCAA Division II Strategic Planning and Finance Committee is made up of 13 representatives from NCAA II and monitors the Division II strategic plan/strategic priorities and recommends updates, when necessary, consistent with the Division II philosophy, strategic position and direction from the Division II Executive Board. This committee makes recommendations related to the Division II budget and the budget guidelines and principles, ensures alignment of the division's strategic plan/strategic priorities with financial allocations, and advises both the Executive Board and Management Council regarding the division's financial affairs.

For more information on NCAA Division II Committees, visit NCAA.org.