Jul 20, 2010 9:59:59 AM

The Division I Leadership Council elected Central Arkansas and Cal State Bakersfield to Division I membership for the 2010-11 academic year. Both institutions reclassified from Division II through the traditional five-year transition process.

In 2007, the Division I Board of Directors placed a moratorium on new Division I members, but that decision did not affect schools already in the reclassification process.

Central Arkansas joined the Southland Conference, the league in which most of the Bears' sports competed recently. In fact, Central Arkansas' football team won the league last year but was ineligible for postseason play.

"We are thrilled and relieved to receive the news of our approval of active membership status at the NCAA Division I level," said Athletics Director Brad Teague. "This has been a long process that has strengthened our awareness and implementation of Division I rules on governance, academics, diversity, and student-athlete well-being. These are all key principles of Division I athletics.

"We look forward to our active membership status and the opportunity to participate in postseason competition on the conference and NCAA level. This is an exciting time for our student-athletes and coaches."

Cal State Bakersfield is interested in joining the Big West Conference. The Roadrunners recently reinstated several sports after budget cuts forced the elimination of men's and women's golf, women's tennis, and wrestling. A fundraising drive raised enough money to save the endangered teams.