NEW
ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans was informed Tuesday that it has been
approved to begin its multi-year reclassification process to NCAA Division III.
The
Division III Management Council, which makes the final decision on provisional
and reclassifying members, supported the recommendations made in June by the
Division III Membership Committee.
They
include:
- The institution will
adhere to its plan provided in the application to ensure that it is meeting all
sport sponsorship requirements prior to the 2011-12 academic year. Schools with
enrollments of over 1,000 students have a Division III sport sponsorship
minimum of 12 sports - six men's and six women's.
- The institution will
work closely with a mentor institution.
UNO
plans to add three sports in time for the 2011-12 academic year, and expects to
make an announcement in the fall about which new teams it will field.
"We
have received a lot of positive feedback from the community each time the
possibility of adding football, women's golf and women's soccer at UNO comes up
in conversation," said interim athletic director Amy Champion. "Adding sports
is always an exciting process and one that our campus has embraced."
In
2010-11, the University will sponsor teams in nine sports, of which five are
men's and four are women's. These teams will compete as an NCAA Division I
Independent Transitioning to Division III. UNO last competed as NCAA Division I
Independent in 1975-76 and again from 1980-1987.
Additionally,
UNO has established a partnership with the University of Texas at Dallas, which
will serve as a mentor during the reclassification process.
Founded
in 1961, UT-Dallas is a public research institution with an undergraduate
enrollment of more than 9,800 students that competes in the American Southwest
Conference. The ASC is a Division III conference that includes members in
Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.
"It
is our pleasure to work in collaboration with everyone at the University of New
Orleans in their pursuit of transitioning from Division I to Division III,"
said UT-Dallas athletic director Chris Gage. "We feel that part of our
collegiality is to assist and nurture institutions as best we can in such
endeavors; it strengthens the division as well as the industry to welcome like
institutions into our organizations."
The
two institutions have already started working together as UNO navigates through
the process to full Division III membership.
"I
have had the opportunity to meet with Amy (Champion) and see the extensive and
well planned course of action for adding sports, facilities and the complex
transition from Division I to Division III," said Gage. "I firmly believe this
comprehensive agenda addresses the immediate and long range goals, the passion
and purpose for making the move will be achieved."
Division
III is the largest division in the NCAA, consisting of 432 member institutions
and roughly 20 more that are currently involved in the process of becoming full
members.
UNO
is committed to the Division III approach of combining academics, competitive
sports and an opportunity for student-athletes to pursue a broad range of
interests.
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