CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Cedarville University announced today that it will apply to the National Collegiate Athletic Association with the hopes of becoming a Division II member. The transition, which would take three years to complete, was recommended by the Administrative Council and recently approved by the Board of Trustees.
Dr. Bill Brown, President of the University, made the announcement at a morning press conference in the Callan Athletic Center attended by a number of off-campus guests including Ohio State Senator Chris Widener and State Representative Bob Hackett. CU administration, faculty, and staff were in attendance as well as Yellow Jacket coaches and athletes.
"The NCAA is a recognizable association of athletic quality and it's a natural step for us to be aligned with such a nationally-known organization," stated Dr. Brown. "We see it as a progressive move for our athletic program and student-athletes."
This is not a new consideration for the University in that it's the third time in the past 25 years that it has studied the possibility of joining the NCAA. While there can be more questions than answers with any significant endeavor, the consensus is that it's the right time to pursue the option now.
"There is no argument that the move strengthens the perception of Yellow Jacket athletics simply by taking on the NCAA brand," remarked
Dr. Alan Geist, who is in his first year as athletic director. "Will we be able to play at the same level of success that we've enjoyed in the NAIA? That's a question that remains to be answered.
"We also have the desire to help create an Ohio-based NCAA Division II conference. It would assist us in redeveloping and strengthening traditional rivalries that we've had within the state under the NCAA banner."
Currently, there are five schools in the state of Ohio who are active NCAA Division II members. That list includes Ashland, Central State, Findlay, Lake Erie, and Tiffin. Six others, including Cedarville, are in the process of pursuing membership or have announced they will apply.
The time line requires the University to apply for membership to the NCAA by June 1. The school will be notified sometime in July whether or not it has been accepted.
If approved, the athletic program would begin what is called Candidacy Year 1 followed by Candidacy Year 2. It is during those years the Yellow Jackets can remain active members within the NAIA.
Year three is known as a Provisional Year which requires CU to drop it's NAIA membership as it meets more NCAA requirements. The Jackets would become a full NCAA member in their fourth year of compliance which would be the 2012-13 academic year.
Cedarville is believed to be a charter member of the NAIA with an association dating back over 60 years. The Yellow Jackets are also the only remaining charter member of the American Mideast Conference which was founded in 1949 as the Mid-Ohio League and later changed to the Mid-Ohio Conference. CU knows it will be in the AMC at least through the 2009-10 academic year and maybe one additional year.
Cedarville will remain active in the National Christian College Athletic Association. The Yellow Jackets are a charter member of the NCCAA which was founded in 1968.
