The NCAA News - News and Features

September 15, 1997

Number of active members at all-time high

Despite a three percent increase in the number of active members to an all-time high of 933, total Association membership fell for the first time in 12 years.

Effective September 1, there are 1,200 active, provisional, conference, affiliated and corresponding members in the NCAA -- down three from last year's total.

All of the growth in active membership was the result of provisional members graduating to active status. There were 31 provisional members that became active in either Division II or III.

The total number of provisional members decreased by 40 from 93 to 53. Because of the moratorium on new members, no colleges or universities were added to the provisional ranks.

Although there was one new conference member added, the Deep South Lacrosse Conference, the conference membership total dropped from 108 to 107. Affiliated membership stayed the same and corresponding members grew by seven.

A three-year application process for provisional members was adopted at the 1994 NCAA Convention. The first year is considered an educational or orientation year in which the member receives all NCAA forms, publications, mailings and general information from the national office regarding the activities of the Association.

Provisional members are expected to be in full compliance with the Association's legislation during the second and third years. They also are required to administer their athletics programs under the rules of their preferred divisions.

Also during the second and third years, the members may be counted for the purpose of meeting scheduling requirements as an NCAA opponent in the division in which they are seeking active membership. However, no waiver opportunities are available other than those related to circumstances beyond the school's control.

Forty of the 53 current provisional members are entering their third year of provisional status, and 13 are entering their second year.

Ten provisional colleges and universities became active members in Division II, effective September 1: the University of Arkansas, Monticello; Arkansas Tech University; Clayton State College; Columbia Union College; Harding University; Midwestern State University; University of Montevallo; Ouachita Baptist University; Southern Arkansas University; and West Virginia State College.

The 21 provisional members that became active in Division III are Austin College, Centenary College (New Jersey), Chatham College, Chowan College, Clarke College, Concordia University (Wisconsin), University of Dallas, Greenville College, Johnson and Wales University, Lake Erie College, La Roche College, Marian College (Wisconsin), McMurry University, University of New England, Rivier College, St. Joseph's College (New York), Southern Vermont College, Stephens College, Sul Ross State University, Wilson College, and Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Three new affiliated organizations were added to the membership rolls in the last year. They are the U.S. Team Handball Federation; Lowcountry Amateur Athletics, Inc.; and Affiliated Boards of Officials.

New corresponding members are Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Western Oregon University; Georgia Southwestern State University; University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon; University of Puerto Rico, Mayaquez; and Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi.

NCAA membership breakdown Division I-A -- Division -- I-AA -- Division I-AAA -- Total -- Division II -- Division III -- District Total -- Grand Total

District One -- 1 -- 14 -- 3 -- 18 -- 16 -- 67 101

District Two -- 8 -- 33 17 -- 58 -- 49 118 225

District Three -- 30 -- 33 -- 20 -- 83 -- 80 -- 51 -- 214

District Four -- 23 -- 8 -- 12 -- 43 -- 28 -- 94 -- 165 --

District Five -- 9 -- 6 -- 6 -- 21 -- 27 -- 20 -- 68

District Six -- 14 -- 13 -- 6 -- 33 -- 19 -- 9 -- 61

District Seven -- 12 -- 7 -- 1 -- 20 -- 15 -- 1 -- 36

District Eight -- 14 -- 6 -- 10 -- 30 -- 20 -- 13 -- 63

Active -- 111 -- 120 -- 75 -- 306 -- 254 -- 373 -- -- 933

Provisional -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- 2 -- 27 -- 24 -- -- 53

Conference

Voting -- 10 -- 11 -- 11 -- 32 -- 21 -- 32 -- -- 85

Other -- 0 -- 2 -- 8 -- 10 -- 5 -- 7 -- -- 22

Affiliated -- 72

Corresponding -- 35

Grand Total -- 1,200