Working for the Weekend

written by STEVE ULRICH your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III     >> Good Friday Morning. The weekend is here! >> Today's Word Count: 1,049 >> Thanks for reading. May I ask a favor? Share this with a friend or colleague today and invite them to subscribe.   Sign Up for Free: D3Playbook TOP STORY 1. Championship Weekend What a weekend for Division III sports. The women's lacrosse championship will be determined, while the men's side whittles down to a final two. Softball determines its finalists, while baseball determines its field. Finally, track and field athletes make their case for earning a spot in the national field. Enjoy! Women's Lacrosse Semifinals St. John Fisher vs. Tufts Denison vs. Salisbury Men's Lacrosse Quarterfinals RIT vs. Colorado College Tufts v. York (Pa.) Lynchburg vs. Christopher Newport Illinois Wesleyan vs. Salisbury Softball Regionals - What We're Watching in Early Games Birmingham-Southern vs. Redlands Brandeis vs. Eastern Connecticut Rochester vs. Penn State Behrend Linfield vs. Southern Maine MSOE vs. Coe   FINANCES 2. Tuition Discount Rate on Rise by Emma Whitford, Inside Higher Ed   "Average tuition discount rates among private, nonprofit colleges continued to climb in the 2020-21 academic year as many institutions worked to retain and attract students during the pandemic, a new study from the National Association of College and University Business Officers found. The average discount rate for first-time undergraduates reached 53.9 percent -- an all-time high -- during the 2020-21 academic year, according to NACUBO’s preliminary estimates released Wednesday. In other words, for every $100 in tuition colleges appear to charge on paper, they do not collect $53.90 from first-time undergraduate students. Last year, the average discount rate held steady from the year prior at 51.2 percent, falling just short of predictions. The new study revised initial estimates that had shown the discount rate last year was tracking incrementally higher than the year before. For all undergraduates, the average tuition discount rate in 2020-21 ticked up to 48.1 percent, a 2.2-percentage-point increase from the year prior, according to the study." >> Why This is Important: "Rising tuition discount rates can depress net tuition revenue per student if a college does not raise its sticker price in lockstep or line up other sources of funding to pay for financial aid grants. Colleges use targeted tuition discounting to entice more students or certain students to enroll, which can have the effect of raising overall net revenue -- making tuition discounting a closely watched, complex element of admissions and budgeting strategy." >> What They're Saying: “Tuition discounting strategies come at a heavy cost for many colleges and universities, especially those that forgo a significant amount of tuition revenue to expand educational affordability for students and/or to meet enrollment goals,” the study said. >> Be Smart: "Eight in 10 business officers said that they’re anticipating significant changes in net tuition revenue and undergraduate student enrollment. More than three-quarters of respondents said they expect significant changes to room and board and other revenue, international student enrollment, and graduate and professional student enrollment. Only 15 percent of business officers said they did not anticipate significant changes as a result of the pandemic." >> Read More   NCAA 3.  Selection Monday     The championship field for baseball will be announced on Monday. Here is what to you need to know. Baseball The 2021 DIII baseball championship is June 4-9 at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Field Size (48 teams) - 42 AQ, 6 Pool C Who's In: PSU Behrend (AMCC), Texas-Dallas (ASC), Johns Hopkins (Centennial), Keystone (CSAC), Salve Regina (CCC), Johnson and Wales (GNAC), Rochester (Liberty), #15 Southern Maine (Little East), York (MAC Commonwealth), Misericordia (MAC Freedom), Salem State (MASCAC), #11 Adrian (MIAA), Mitchell (NECC), Amherst (NESCAC), #13 Wheaton (NEWMAC), PSU Harrisburg (NEAC), Pacific (Northwest), #2 Washington & Jefferson (Presidents), Merchant Marine (Skyline), Birmingham-Southern (SAA), #25 Texas Lutheran (SCAC), LaGrange (USA South) Championship Series Atlantic East: TBD American Rivers: TBD C2C: Christopher Newport vs. #6 Salisbury CCIW: TBD Empire 8: Utica vs. St. John Fisher Heartland: TBD Landmark: Elizabethtown vs. Scranton Midwest: Illinois College vs. Beloit MIAC: TBD NJAC: #19 William Paterson vs. #8 Rowan NAC: Cobleskill vs. Husson NCAC: Denison vs. Wooster NACC: #10 Aurora vs. Concordia (Wis.) Ohio: Mount Union vs. #4 Marietta ODAC: #17 Shenandoah vs. Lynchburg SCIAC: TBD SLIAC: Spalding vs. #3 Webster SUNYAC: #21 Oswego vs. #22 Cortland UMAC: UW-Superior vs. Northwestern WIAC: TBD >> Scoreboard   SOFTBALL 4.  COVID Claims Tourney Game After consultation with the NCAA Championship Medical Team, the NCAA Division III Softball Committee is disappointed to announce that, due to COVID-19 protocols, Geneva will not be able to participate in the 2021 Division III Softball Championship. Geneva was scheduled to play Calvin today in the regional in Decatur, Illinois. The game will be declared a no-contest, and Calvin will advance in the bracket.    SWIMMING 5.  Rules Committee Update   The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Rules Committee voted to clarify the rule regarding the minimum number of officials who must be present to conduct an official meet. The committee, which met virtually last week, recommended allowing relief in the event the required number of officials falls below the required minimum due to unforeseen circumstances. All coaches whose teams are competing in the meet would have to approve the move. Currently, the minimum of officials required for dual meets is two, and the minimum for invitational meets is four. Elsewhere ...  Committee members recommended adjusting the wording around the bona fide competition criteria for USA Swimming and USA Diving meets that may be part of a team’s schedule and be counted for qualifying in NCAA swimming and diving championships. The intent of this proposal is to ensure that participation in designated USA Swimming and USA Diving meets takes place while representing the school. The committee also recommended the following proposals: Permit the use of kinesiology tape for divers during competition. Standardize the size and distance of pool lines on the bottom of the pool in new facilities to match USA Swimming and FINA rules.  Allow divers one practice forward approach or one back takeoff approach before the start of the diving competition if a separate diving well is not used. >> Complete Release   TRANSACTIONS 6. Comings and Goings   BUENA VISTA - Jack Denholm announced his resignation as director of athletics LAKE FOREST - Patrick Kelliher resigned as head men's ice hockey coach. Sean O'Malley named head coach MARIAN - George DeAugustino has stepped down as associate head women's soccer coach McDANIEL - Adam Hertz named director of athletics ROSE-HULMAN - Jeff Jenkins announced his retirement as athletic director and head baseball coach TUFTS - Brandon Linton named head men's basketball coach    Thanks for starting your day with us and enjoy your weekend. Please invite your friends to sign up for D3Playbook.    Sign Up for Free: D3Playbook

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