The NCAA posted a record number of members September 1, but by the slimmest of margins. There are 1,261 active, provisional, conference, affiliated and corresponding members in the Association, a net increase of one over the previous academic year.

The latest membership report shows a net gain of four new active members, two new voting conferences and two new non-voting conference members. Provisional membership also decreased by six, the result in part of a two-year membership moratorium that became effective in April. There also was a net decrease by one in affiliated members.

Division I membership remained the same for the new academic year, although there are a number of reclassifications from Division II to Division I on a sport-by-sport basis. Active members in Divisions II and III increased by a net of two each.

Western Oregon University and the University of Findlay completed their provisional cycle and moved to active status in Division II. In addition, Division II acquired a new active member through reclassification (University of California, San Diego, from Division III) and lost one active member in the last year.

Division III gained three new active members moving from provisional status -- Concordia University (Texas), University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Trinity College (District of Columbia). The net gain in active membership for Division III was two with the reclassification of UC San Diego.

All the other reclassifications were on a sport-by-sport basis from Division II to Division I, including the University of Alabama, Huntsville (men's ice hockey); Bemidji State University (men's and women's ice hockey); Bentley College (men's ice hockey); Le Moyne College (women's lacrosse); University of Minnesota, Mankato (women's ice hockey); Mercyhurst College (men's ice hockey); and St. Cloud State University (women's ice hockey).

Provisional status

A three-year application process for provisional members was adopted at the 1994 NCAA Convention. The provisional period was extended to four years, effective August 1, 1997. The first two years are considered educational or orientation years in which the member receives all NCAA forms, publications, mailings and general information from the national office regarding the activities of the Association, and participates in an extensive educational assessment initiative.

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

Also during the second, third and fourth years, the members may be counted by Divisions I and II members for the purpose of meeting scheduling requirements as an NCAA opponent in the division in which they are seeking active membership.

There are two new provisional members just entering the four-year path to active status, Alverno College (Division III) and Transylvania University (Division III). Both were granted exceptions to the moratorium by the Division III Management Council.

Twenty-one provisional members are in the second of the four-year cycle. They are:

Division I -- Birmingham Southern College and Lipscomb University.

Division II -- Benedict College; Goldey-Beacom College; Green Mountain College; Holy Family College; North Greenville College; University of Puerto Rico, Cayey; University of Puerto Rico, Mayaquez; University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; University of Sciences in Philadelphia; University of Virginia's College at Wise; and Wilmington College (Delaware).

Division III -- Huntingdon College; La Grange College; Louisiana College; Newbury College; New York City Mechanical College; Northland College; Piedmount College; and Thomas College.

Two Division III provisional members are entering the final year of the old three-year process. They are East Texas Baptist College and Lesley College.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is the only Division I school in the third of the four-year provisional process.

There are 20 Division II and 16 Division III provisional members in third-year status. They are:

Division II -- Bloomfield College; Caldwell College; Concordia University (Minnesota); Converse College; Dallas Baptist University; Dominican College (New York); Felician College; Georgian Court College; Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho); Nova Southeastern University; Nyack College; Ohio Valley College; Spelman College; St. Thomas Aquinas College (New York); Teikyo Post University (Connecticut); Tiffin University; University of Minnesota, Crookston; University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon; and University of Puerto Rico, Humacao.

Division III -- Baptist Bible College; Bay Path College; Becker College; Dominican University (Illinois); D'Youville College; Husson College; LeTourneau University; Medaille College; Mt. Ida College; Peace College; Pennsylvania State University, Altoona; Philadelphia College of the Bible; University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg; University of Texas-Dallas; State University of New York at Farmingdale; and. Schreiner College (entering year two of the old three-year process).

There are three new non-voting conference members. They are the Atlantic Soccer Conference (Division I), the Southern Atlantic Softball Alliance (Division I), and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (Division II). The Freedom Conference and the Commonwealth Conference are new voting conferences in Division III. The Heartland Conference in Division II moved from non-voting to voting status, and one Division II conference disbanded.

The only new affiliated member of the Association is the John Thompson Charitable Fund.