Following is a summary of Division II news for the week of January 5-9.

•         The Division II Presidents Council reached its goal of having all chancellors and presidents from active Division II institutions sign the game-environment pledge before the 2009 Convention. The signatures seem to be more than symbolic, too, since the Division II leadership is confident that the game-environment efforts in Division II are already making a difference.

•         Among leaders who think that way is Metropolitan State President Stephen Jordan who, in a two-part Q&A with The NCAA News, said creating positive game environments is a must for a division already committed to engaging a community-based constituency. In Part 1 of the Q&A, Jordan reviews Division II’s successes in 2008. Part 2 takes a look ahead at the priorities for 2009.

•         West Virginia State University announced it will move oversight of its athletics department to student affairs as a way to integrate athletics with the rest of the campus. West Virginia State Vice President for Student Affairs Bryce Casto said the move also corresponds with the school’s recent university designation it received in 2004.

•         The Division II Presidents and Management Councils face busy agendas during the upcoming NCAA Convention despite only 13 legislative proposals to be considered at the January 17 business session. Click here for a preview.

•         The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference named Gregory Moore as its new commissioner, effective January 19.

•         Northern State men’s basketball coach Don Meyer won his 902nd career game January 3, tying him with Bob Knight for the most victories in men’s basketball coaching history. Meyer can surpass Knight when the Wolves play January 10.

•         Davis and Elkins announced it will add men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s swimming for the 2009-10 academic year.