D3Playbook: The Art and Science of Selecting Peers

written by STEVE ULRICH
your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III

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TOP STORY

1. The Art and Science of Selecting Peers

Who Does Your College Think Its Peers Are?
by Audrey Williams June, Chronicle of Higher Education

"Dozens of baccalaureate institutions see themselves as being a lot like Carleton College.

According to a Chronicle analysis of the comparison groups that nearly 1,500 colleges submitted to the U.S. Department of Education last year, Carleton College was the most-commonly selected peer institution. It was chosen by 55 colleges.

However, as was typical among popular picks in the Chronicle’s analysis, Carleton didn’t reciprocate. Carleton selected 25 colleges as its peers; 20 of them also chose Carleton, making them mutual peers.

There’s no shortage of ways to compare colleges, and they often rely on the assumptions of the beholder. What makes the dataset in The Chronicle’s analysis noteworthy is that it’s the institutions selecting these comparison colleges for themselves."

>> Situational Awareness: "The choices colleges make about who to link themselves to also says something about what they value, how they perceive their status in the higher-education ecosystem, and, for some, what their aspirations are."

>> What They're Saying: “It’s a bit of an art and a science,” Christine M. Keller, the executive director and CEO of the Association for Institutional Research, said. “In some cases you look at: Are they doing something really well that you want to get better at? I think it’s important to ground your choices in data and look at the goals and the purpose of what you’re trying to accomplish.”

>> Your Date or Mine: "Forty-six colleges outside the Ivy League chose at least one member of that elite group as a peer. Bowdoin College, for example, selected all eight Ivy League institutions as part of its 98-member comparison group. Kenyon College was selected by 49 institutions as part of a comparison group, while Oberlin and Allegheny Colleges — tying for third — were selected by 48."

>> Bottom Line: Said Keller: “You’re never going to find a perfect set of peers.”

>> Continue Reading
>> Who Does Your College Think its Peers Are?

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NCAA

2. ILC Meeting Recap

The Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee held a videoconference on March 16. The ILC recommended that the Management Council approve the following:

The ILC confirmed that the 75 minutes of contact permitted for preseason activities after the six-day acclimatization period is a per student limitation. Each student-athlete is limited to 75 minutes of contact in any on-field preseason practice session conducted during any one on-field practice session. This permits the 75 minutes of contact to occur at different times during that session for different groups of student-athletes. Additionally, the 75-minute limitation applies to both full and thud contact.
That preseason scrimmages, exhibitions, joint practices permitted in the sport of football are considered part of preseason and each scrimmage, exhibition, joint practice session must count as one of the eight allowable on-field full padded practice sessions. This also requires that these activities would count as contact practices when considering that an institution may not conduct more than two consecutive days of full contact. However, the preseason scrimmages, exhibitions, joint practices are not subject to the 75-minute contact limitations.

The committee also started its review of a legislative concept that would deregulate the use of social media within Bylaw 13, focusing specifically on whether recruiting should remain a private process between the prospective student-athlete (PSA) and the institution.

>> Read More

DATEBOOK

3. Calendar of Events

April
6-8 - Wrestling Committee
9-10 - Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
11-12 - Management Council
20 - Interpretations and Legislation Committee
26 - Championships Committee
27 - Presidents Council

VOLLEYBALL

4. Regional Rankings

General

Elan Dorkhman, Rutgers-Newark | photo by Larry Levanti

Here are the latest Division III men's volleyball regional rankings.

Region I: Springfield, Wentworth, St. Joseph's (L.I.)
Region II: Rutgers-Newark, Stevens, Southern Virginia
Region III: Carthage, North Central (Ill.), Dominican

>> Complete Rankings

NEWS

5. Lightning Round

Baldwin Wallace P Nikki Camarata tossed a no-hitter in the Yellow Jackets' 3-0 win against Wilmington. She fanned 18 of the 21 batters faced, allowing only a walk to open the third inning.

Rhode Island P Abby Kidd twirled a no-no in the Anchorwomen's 4-0 win against Roger Williams. She struck out nine and allowed just two baserunners.

Not to be outdone, Olivia O'Connor pitched a no-hitter in Augsburg's 3-0 triumph vs. North Central (Minn.). She walked one and struck out 10.

FDU-Florham set a DIII single-game record for draw controls, winning 33 in a 25-15 victory against Drew.

Wabash OF Kamden Earley and Buena Vista RHP Dalton Glenn named NCBWA Player and Pitcher of the Week.

Cake and candles to Muhlenberg women's soccer coach Dave Weitzman and American Rivers Conference assistant to the commissioner Hannah Helverson.