The total number of NCAA members reached another all-time high for 2002, but just barely.

Total membership increased by one this year, from last year's record total of 1,267 to 1, 268, but perhaps more importantly, the total number of active members in Divisions I, II and III grew significantly.

Active membership in Division I rose by four institutions (from 321 to 325), while the increase was by 10 and 14 in Divisions II and III, respectively (from 260 to 270 and from 396 to 410). The total of 1,005 active members also is an all-time high, up from the total of 977 reached in each of the last two years.

The growth was fueled by a number of provisional members completing their orientation period and becoming eligible for active membership. Also, an Association-wide membership moratorium that members approved two years ago expired in May.

A number of institutions have completed or intend to compete the reclassification process for all or part of their programs for 2002-03, pending the institution's compliance with the appropriate divisional legislation for a two-year period preceding the effective date. They are:

University of Connecticut, from Division I-AA to I-A in football.

University of Findlay, from Division II to Division I in men's and women's ice hockey.

Gardner-Webb University, from Division II to Division I-AA.

Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, from Division II to Division I-AAA.

University of North Florida, from Division II to Division I in women's swimming and diving (North Florida's men's golf program also competes at the Division I level).

Savannah State University, from Division II to Division I-AA.

Texas Lutheran University, from Division II to Division III.

Troy State University, from Division I-AA to I-A.

Westminster College (Pennsylvania), from Division II to Division III.

Two institutions -- Augusta State University (from Division II to Division I in women's golf) and Ursinus College (from Division III to Division I in field hockey) -- plan on completing their reclassifications by 2003-04.

Three institutions -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (from Division II to Division I in women's rowing), University of North Dakota (from Division II to Division I in women's ice hockey) and Stillman College (from Division III to Division II) -- plan on completing their reclassifications by 2004-05.

Provisional members

The number of provisional members decreased from 59 to 28 this year.

A total of 23 institutions currently in the fourth year of their provisional membership period will be eligible for active membership in 2003-04. They are:

Division I -- Birmingham-Southern College and Lipscomb University.

Division II -- Goldey-Beacom College; Green Mountain College; Holy Family College; North Greenville College; Nyack College; University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon; University of Puerto Rico, Cayey; University of Puerto Rico, Humacao; University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez; University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; and Wilmington College (Delaware).

Division III -- Baptist Bible College (Pennsylvania); D'Youville College; Huntingdon College; La Grange College; Louisiana College; Newbury College; New York City Technical College; Northland College; Piedmont College; and Thomas College.

Provisional members that will be eligible for active membership in 2004-05 are the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference in Division II, and Alverno College and Transylvania University in Division III. Florida Gulf Coast University is on track to be eligible for active membership in Division II in 2006-07.

In addition, eight institutions are entering an exploratory period this year to determine if they want to pursue NCAA membership. The earliest they would be eligible for active membership would be 2007-08. Those schools are:

Division II -- Berry College; Briarcliffe College; Central State University; University of Illinois at Springfield; King College; North Georgia College & State University; and Waldorf College.

Division III -- Spelman College.