Possible Transition from
Division II to Division I
The expected impacts to the University
Presented jointly by the President’s
Office, Campus Life and Athletics
Impacts of Possible Transition from Div. II to
Div. I
Presentation Outline
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Current status
Is UIW prepared for Division I?
Timeline of a transition, if it were to happen
Division I and the impacts to the university
Frequently Asked Questions
Impacts of Possible Transition from Div. II to Div. I
Current Status
• Division II, Lone Star Conference
• 19 sports; 18 are NCAA sponsored (Synchronized Swimming is not “NCAA
Sponsored”
• Men’s Sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, track
and field, soccer, swimming and diving,
• Women’s sports: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and
diving, synchronized swimming, tennis, track, volleyball
• Possible addition of fencing when Fine Arts building is built
• 600+ student athletes
• Similar schools in our conference (size, academic stature, number of teams and
athletes): Abilene Christian
Impacts of Possible Transition from Div. II to Div. I
Differences Between
Division II and Division I
NCAA Division I Requirement
UIW Status
Notes
Number of sports: Division I institutions must offer at least 14
sports (at least seven for men and seven for women, or six for
men and eight for women)
UIW sponsors 19 sports (9 for men and 10
for women)
Number of sports: Division I institutions must sponsor at least
two team sports for each gender
UIW sponsors four male team sports and
five female team sports
Number of sports: Division I institutions must have participating
male and female teams or participants in fall, winter and spring
seasons.
UIW has sports that compete in all three
seasons.
Scheduling: Division I institutions must play a minimum number
of contests against Division I opponents.
UIW will play a Division I schedule once
membership is granted. Some of our teams
already compete against Division I
opponents.
Financial Aid: Division I institutions must offer a minimum
amount of financial aid but may not exceed established
maximums.
UIW meets this requirement.
Impacts of Possible Transition from Div. II to Div. I
Division I and Impacts to the University
2012 – 2013 school year possible impacts:
- Increased Athletics budget to pay for travel expenses and recruiting expenses
- Increased level of competition for sports
- Increase of student fees to a maximum of $100.00 per semester
- Staff increases expected:
- Academic advisors
- Graduate assistants in administrative areas
2013 – 2014 school year possible impacts:
- Increased Athletics budget to pay for travel expenses and recruiting expenses
- Begin playing Division I schools in some sports
- Addition of fencing as a sport
- Increased availability of financial aid for students
- Need to increase student-athlete financial aid also means a parallel increase in
student financial aid.
- Additional academic space expected
Impacts of Possible Transition from Div. II to Div. I
Frequently Asked Questions
Why will Division I improve our degrees?
• With a successful transition to Division I athletics, our admission standards are
expected to increase, thus making our admission process more competitive, which
builds equity in our degrees.
• A transition to Division I will align us with universities of similar size and stature,
including professional academic schools (Pharmacy, Optometry, Physical Therapy,
etc.), campus activities (concerts, comedy shows, etc.) and Athletics.
How would a transition to Division I improve our facilities?
• Make facility improvements/upgrades, which could include new academic
classroom/space
• Increase the amount of academic/advising support
• Improve recreation facilities for our growing intramural and club sports program
• Increase the number of computer labs, study areas and functional study/tutoring
space,
• Renovate existing facilities (Wellness Center, Convocation Center, etc.)
Impacts of Possible Transition from Div. II to Div. I
Frequently Asked Questions
Would going Division I impact the size of our university?
- Whether we go Division I or not, our university will continue to grow in its
enrollment. Division I would require the university to increase our funding and
facilities, therefore, probably helping to manage the university’s rapid student
enrollment growth.
Is this move all about football?
- Absolutely not. There are many Div. I programs without football. This vision to
transition is mostly guided by the need to align ourselves with universities of
similar size, academic structure, athletics, student life, etc. Additionally, it would
help brand our university’s name on a national scale.
Impacts of Possible Transition from Div. II to Div. I