CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Cedarville University has been approved for the Division II membership process in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Yellow Jackets were notified by the NCAA in a phone call to University president Dr. Bill Brown and athletic director Dr. Alan Geist.
[READ release from NCAA]
"We’re excited and realize it’s the right time for us to do it," Geist remarked. "It has been a long process to this point and we know there is much yet to be done as we make the move forward."
The Yellow Jackets will remain active members within the NAIA for the next two years while beginning the transition. CU has been part of the association for over 60 years.
"I have to be honest and say that it will be difficult to leave the NAIA," added Geist. "We have had a great association with them over the years working with some outstanding people."
The athletics program, which contains eight teams for women and eight for men, will enter what is called Candidacy Year 1 with the NCAA followed by Candidacy Year 2. Year three is known as a provisional year which requires Cedarville to drop it’s NAIA membership as it meets additional NCAA requirements.
If all goes as planned, the Yellow Jackets would become a full NCAA member in their fourth year of compliance which would be the 2012-13 academic year. Cedarville announced on March 23 that it was making application to the NCAA.
Only five schools in the state of Ohio are active Division II members - Ashland, Central State, Findlay, Lake Erie, and Tiffin. Urbana was just approved for its provisional year while Ohio Dominican will be entering its Candidacy Year 2. Notre Dame College has also been approved along with Cedarville for Candidacy Year 1.
The Yellow Jackets plan to continue their longtime affiliation with the National Christian College Athletic Association. CU will also remain a member of the American Mideast Conference for at least one more year. The Yellow Jackets are the last charter member of the AMC which was founded in 1949 as the Mid-Ohio League.
[CHECK OUT Cedarville's March 23, 2009 press conference announcing NCAA application]