The NCAA News - News & Features

Seven institutions' athletics programs reclassified

In addition, reclassification petitions for two other institutions were approved effective September 1, 1997, and two more were approved for September 1, 1998.

The NCAA Council confirmed action taken by the NCAA staff under the provisions of NCAA Bylaws 20.4 and 20.5.

Probationary membership status was assigned to one institution for the 1996-97 academic year. Four other schools were placed in restricted membership.

Fourteen institutions had probationary- or restricted-membership status removed.

Three members were granted permission to move their football program from Division I-AA to Division I-A September 1, 1996. They were the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Boise State University and the University of Central Florida.

Others reclassified with the same effective date are Division I-AAA Fairfield University to Division I-AA, Division I-A University of the Pacific (California) to Division I-AAA, the U.S. Air Force Academy women's program from Division II to Division I-A, and Division II Mankato State University's ice hockey program from Division I to Division II.

Reclassification petitions approved effective September 1, 1997, include Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis from Division II to Division I-AAA and Norfolk State University from Division II to Division
I-AAA.

Two other Division II schools were approved for reclassification effective September 1, 1998. The University of Denver will move to Division I-AAA, and Portland State University will move to Division I-AA.

Probationary-membership status is applied to an institution that fails to meet the minimum men's or women's sport-sponsorship criteria for its division. The one-year probationary period can be applied to an institution only once in a 10-year period.

Rust College was assigned to probationary-membership status in all sports for the 1996-97 academic year.

Probationary status was removed in all sports for Lake Superior State University and the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Restricted membership is applied to an institution that fails to meet the minimum requirements of its division (such as sports sponsorship and scheduling).

An institution placed in the restricted-membership classification loses eligibility for a number of membership privileges and has from one to three years to comply. If the institution fails to comply in the required time period, it is reclassified as a corresponding member.

The four schools assigned to restricted membership are Fisk University and Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey (Camden), in all sports, and Quincy University and Western New England in football.

Restricted-membership status for all sports was removed for South Carolina State University and Texas Southern University.

Others removed from restricted-membership status are Alabama State University (men's tennis); Alcorn State University (men's and women's tennis and women's cross country); California State University, Sacramento (women's soccer); Florida Atlantic University (men's tennis); University of Missouri, Kansas City (men's and women's cross country); University of the Pacific (California) (women's cross country); St. Bonaventure (softball); St. Mary's College (California) (football); St. Peter's College (women's cross country); and University of South Alabama (women's golf).