INDIANAPOLIS – Ursuline College is the newest National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II institution, the NCAA's Division II Membership Committee announced Friday (July 12) from its headquarters in Indianapolis.
Ursuline will officially become an active member on September 1.
Friday's announcement culminated years of hard work by the College, led by Athletic Director Cindy McKnight and President Sr. Diana Stano, O.S.U., both of whom launched the athletic department in 1999.
"This is a great day, one that we have been working toward for years," McKnight said. "There is no doubt this news will benefit our department and the College greatly, in particular our outstanding students. The work is not done as we will continue our pursuit of excellence on the playing surfaces while molding young women who are well-educated and sound citizens."
"Ursuline College is delighted to become an active member of the NCAA's Division II," Stano said. "Ursuline has always had a strong academic reputation and we are now adding recognition of our athletic program."
Division II prides itself on providing a balanced atmosphere that emphasizes growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and development of positive societal attitudes in service to the community. In line with the College's mission, Division II stresses learning, balance, resourcefulness, sportsmanship, passion and service.
"The tagline of Ursuline is, 'Values. Voice. Vision.' and that fits well with the Division II platform," Stano added. "We look forward to contributing to the ongoing development of Division II's "life in the balance" with a focus on the integration of academics and athletics, inclusiveness and community engagement."
Ursuline initiated application for NCAA membership in 2010 and has been following a prescribed timeline for full Division II membership ever since.
The NCAA Division II membership process prepares institutions for membership as a successful Division II athletics program. The minimum three-year membership process consists of two periods, the candidacy period and the provisional period. The candidacy period consists of at least two years (candidacy period year one and two) and at least one year of a provisional period. The process includes opportunities for education, assessment and growth as institutions integrate the Division II philosophy, strategic positioning platform and best practices to be a model Division II institution.
During the 2013-14 academic year, lacrosse will debut as Ursuline's 11th sponsored sport, joining basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and volleyball. With the exception of lacrosse and swimming and diving, the remaining sports are members of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), scheduled to become Division II's 24th active conference in September.
"The G-MAC is excited to learn of Ursuline's admittance as an active NCAA Division II institution," G-MAC Commissioner Tom Daeger said. "Ursuline, behind the leadership of Sister Diana and Cindy McKnight, has worked diligently to not only meet but to exceed the expectations of the NCAA Division II Membership Committee. The decision by the committee to permit Ursuline to active status is the next step towards the institution's continued development as a model D-II member. The Conference is now enhanced further by another charter member earning active status and its growth to eight active NCAA members."