Transition for Moving All Athletic Programs to Division I
The University of North Dakota decided in June 2006 to move all of its athletic programs to Division I. The reclassification process was initiated by the University’s strategic plan, which asked for UND to evaluate whether the University was properly classified. The plan calls for “the University of North Dakota [to] rise to a ranking well within the Top 100 (top 15 percent of all) doctoral/research universities in the United States—by every measure—and do so in a sustainable way that will enable future leaders to ultimately move it into the top 50.”
The NCAA-mandated exploratory year will begin with the 2007-08 academic year. A UND Task Force on Classification completed its report in May 2006; the report is available at
http://www.und.edu/president/taskforce.html. This paper was developed to help answer a few of the questions that might arise during the transition.
The Classification study revealed the following:
- All of the colleges and universities identified as “similar” to UND in a recent study commissioned by our Legislature calling for the identification of 15 peer institutions operate all of their athletic programs at the Division I level. Of the nation’s flagship institutions, only the flagships of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Alaska play at the Division II level.
- Increasingly, schools moving into Division II from Division III and from the NAIA are much different than UND. We play at the top of Division II and Division I. In some ways we have outgrown D-II; some would say that, in effect, Division II has moved, or is moving, away from UND. We believe that in order to keep the superb athletic tradition we have at UND, we will have to make the move sooner or later. Sometimes change is necessary in order to stay at the top.
- Our budget for athletics already places us in the range of Division I institutions.
- Our athletic program staff and many facilities are already comparable to those of other Division I institutions.
- Our strategic plan calls for UND to be moved securely into the top 100 colleges and universities by all measures. This would logically include athletics, which we have long considered a co-curricular set of activities for our student-athletes.
- We believe we have sufficient alumni endorsement to support a Division I budget.
- We know how to do it. We have long played at the top of Division I in men’s hockey with a large national following and sold-out crowds. We have been in the process of establishing Division I women’s hockey for the past several years.
- There may well be some positive increase in visibility—even though we have long been, and still are, a national Division I power in hockey. Any increase in visibility will help illuminate the academic and research excellence already established at UND.
- The North Central Conference has been dwindling to the point that it will soon have to be recast. Other NCC schools have actively been considering a move to Division I. Some—UND included—believe that ultimately something very much like the NCC may appear as an Upper Midwest Division I conference.
Q. Why make the move to Division I now?
A. The landscape of intercollegiate athletics has changed and evolved over the past five years. All of the colleges and universities identified as “similar” to UND in a very recent study (commissioned by our Legislature and calling for the identification of 15 peer institutions) operate all of their athletic programs at the Division I level. UND needs to align itself more closely—academically and athletically—with other universities that are similar in scope and size. Numerous schools that previously were in a lower NCAA classification, or even in a NAIA classification, are now aspiring to be in Division II. As a result, their funding is such that they cannot afford to offer a full complement of Division II scholarships, so as a group they are attempting to reduce the number of scholarships that can be offered to “even” or “level” the playing field.
Q. How will a move to Division I in athletics enhance the rest of the university community?
A. Division I athletics will give the University of North Dakota a broader national platform in which to showcase its entire academic and research programs. UND already has numerous programs that are consistently ranked among the best in the country.
Q. How many years will it be until UND is a full-fledged Division I program?
A. UND will be eligible for all Division I championships in 2012–13.
Q. Will the move mean UND must add sports or eliminate some?
A. UND plans to continue to offer all of the 20 sports that are being offered at the present time.
Q. What is the biggest negative about the move to Division I?
A. Additional annual costs associated with operational expenses (travel, scholarships, etc.) and not being eligible for national competitions in the short term.
Q. How many scholarships (grants-in-aid) will be required for the move?
A.A fiscally responsible plan for phasing in an increasing complement of scholarships will be implemented over the next six years. Many Division I athletic programs aren’t fully funded with the maximum number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA.
Q. UND has a tradition of producing excellent athletes who are also excellent students. Will the move mean academic achievement will be given less importance?
A. No. The impact on the academic quality of the recruited athletes should not change significantly for admission to the University. UND currently follows many D-I academic guidelines for recruiting. The intent is to continue the programs that have allowed UND athletes to excel in the classroom. Study tables will be continued, requirements to attend class and meet class deadlines will be continued, and progress toward degrees will continue to be tracked.
Q. How will the move to Division I affect gender equity issues?
A. UND will comply with all federal, state, and NCAA regulations and ensure that all student-athletes enjoy the same high quality experience.
Q. What are the conference choices?
A. There are many options, and the one with which UND may ultimately be affiliated may not even exist today. The UND athletics department will continue to pursue various opportunities.
Q. How much more will our athletics teams travel to play?
A. Travel will be a major factor in our budgeting. The amount of time UND student-athletes will be out of the classroom will depend on the ultimate conference affiliation and respective sport schedules.
Q. In the short-to mid-term, how can UND both raise money for the move to Division 1 as well as the money needed to upgrade the various athletic facilities?
A.Any growth-oriented enterprise must fund expansion. UND is no different, and the planning is being addressed by the
business plan sub-committee of the Division I Commission. The needs in athletics will also be addressed in the University-wide capital campaign.
Q. How will UND reach out to a regional and national base of alumni for financial support?
A. The fundraising sub-committee is developing a strategy that will address the regional and national alumni base for financial support. This strategy is part of the greater University plan for a major capital campaign. During our exploratory period, we will come up with a business plan, including a fund-raising plan which will be part of an overall effort to raise a $500 million or larger endowment for UND.
Q. How will that differ from what will be asked of the local fan base?
A. A regional and national development campaign will allow the UND athletic program to build an endowment that will support UND athletics in perpetuity and help keep the pressure of higher costs more evenly distributed and not be placed only on the backs of ticket holders and students.
Q. Will student fees go up to support this move?
A. UND will look at every option to increase its revenue base. Student fees are one option. Other funding sources include fundraising, ticket revenue, sponsorships, and game guarantees.
Did You Know Facts about Division I Athletics
Average Undergraduate Enrollment
Div. I school: 10,792
Div. II school: 3,897
UND: 10,370 (Fall 06)
Average Number of Student-Athletes/Institution
Men Women
Div. I school: 268 217
Div. II school: 169 114
UND: (Fall 06) 280 185
Average Number of Scholarship Equivalencies
Men Women
Div. I-A 80 60
Div. II (w/football) 42 25
UND (2005-06) 75 55
Average Number of Teams/Institution (Sports Only)
Men Women
Div. I 8.8 10.2
Div. II 6.5 7.3
UND: (Fall 06) 9 11
Average Expenses/Institution
Men Women
Div. I-AA $3,460,000 $2,240,000
Div. II (w/football) $1,340,000 $ 800,000
UND (2005-06) $3,650,000 $2,159,000
*SOURCE: 2005-2006 NCAA Division II Membership Report
Revised 12/13/06 |
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