The Timeline

NCAA Division II Application and Sponsorship (20.3.2.1)

An institution applying for Division II membership shall complete an application signed by the president and be received in the national office not later than June 1.  An applicant institution must be sponsored by an active member institution or conference.  A nonrefundable application fee shall accompany the application form.  The amount of the fee will be determined annually by the Membership Committee based on a continual analysis of expenses associated with the member educational assessment program.  The Management Council, on recommendation of the Membership Committee, may establish an annual limit on the number of eligible institutions that will be selected to begin the membership process.

YEAR 1 (2008 – 2009)

NCAA Division III Administrative Committee

During its August 30, 2007 teleconference, the committee voted to amend and approve a recommendation from the Membership Committee to adopt noncontroversial legislation to amend By-laws 20.6.1.1 and 20.6.9.1 to mandate that a Division III institution reclassifying to Division II lose access to Division III championships and grant and initiative funding at the start of the second exploratory year, or on the awarding of athletically related financial aid, whichever occurs earlier.

Exploratory Period (20.3.2.2)

Once an institution receives notice that it has been accepted to begin the Division II membership process, the institution shall enter the exploratory period.  The exploratory period shall be a minimum of two years.  At the completion of the two-year period, the institution shall receive an assessment of its readiness to proceed to the provisional period.

Educational Assessment Program – Exploratory Period (20.3.2.2)

Institutions are required to complete the following educational activities during the exploratory period:

1. Year One (2008 – 2009):

1. A visit paid by the institution to an active member institutions campus, as selected by the Membership Committee;
    
2. A Division II Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG);
    
3. Demonstrated involvement and commitment of the president at the institution in the membership process, as determined by the Membership Committee;
    
4. An on-campus assessment conducted by an outside group to review the readiness of the institution to become an active member, as measured against a Division II active member’s athletics program as selected by the Membership Committee; and
    
5. An annual report submitted by June 1, which shall include the completed Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG) and an athletics department strategic plan.

YEAR 2 (2009 – 2010)

Educational Assessment Program – Exploratory Period continued (20.3.2.2)

1. Year Two (2009 – 2010):

1. An on-campus assessment conducted by the Membership Committee to review progress;
    
2. An annual report submitted by June 1, including an update on Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG) action items and the athletics department strategic plan;
       
3. Demonstrated involvement and commitment of the president at the institution in the membership process, as determined by the Membership Committee.

YEAR 3 (2010 – 2011)

Provisional Period (20.3.2.3)

After successful completion of the exploratory period, an institution will be invited to enter the provisional period of the membership process.  During the provisional period, an institution’s readiness to become an active member institution will continue to be evaluated.  The length of the provisional period will vary depending on the institution’s readiness to become an active member institution; however, in no event shall the provisional period be less than one year.  A nonrefundable member education fee will be accessed if an institution is invited to provisional membership.  The amount of the fee will be determined annually by the Membership Committee, based on a continual analysis of expenses associated with the new member process.  Additionally, a check in the appropriate amount of annual dues also shall accompany the notice.  The Management Council, on recommendation of the Membership Committee, may establish an annual limit on the number of eligible institutions that will be invited to begin the provisional period.

Education Assessment Program – Provisional Period (20.3.2.3.1)     

Institutions are required to complete the following educational activities during the provisional period:

1. Demonstrated administration of its athletics program in accordance with the constitution, bylaws and other legislation of the Association;
    
2. Demonstrated involvement and commitment of the president as the institution in the membership process, as determined by the Membership Committee;
    
3. An on-campus assessment conducted by an outside group to review the readiness of the institution to become an active member through the use of compliance review and progress since the exploratory period assessment.  Based on the reports, the institution may be invited to active membership; and
    
4. An annual report submitted by June 1.