BATON ROUGE, La. - The LSU Board of Supervisors authorized the University of New Orleans to reclassify its athletic department to NCAA Division II at the governing body's regularly-scheduled meeting on Friday afternoon.
The decision allows Acting Chancellor and Provost Dr. Joe King to work in-conjunction with Intercollegiate Athletic Director Amy Champion to execute the steps necessary for UNO to obtain NCAA Division II membership.
The immediate objective for the University is to submit the required documentation to the NCAA Division II Membership Committee. UNO intends to accomplish the task before the end of the month with the Committee expected to make a decision in mid-to-late April.
The University has competed at the NCAA Division I level since 1975. Prior to the school's participation as a NCAA Division I institution, UNO competed in the NCAA Division II classification from 1969 until 1975.
UNO TIMELINE FOR DIVISION II RECLASSIFICATION
Feb. 1, 2011 - UNO Provost Joe King submitted the Division II proposal to the LSU Board of Supervisors.
Feb. 3, 2011 - NCAA and the Gulf South Conference visit campus
Mar. 4, 2011 - The LSU Board of Supervisors approves the UNO Division II plan, allowing Acting Chancellor and Provost Dr. Joe King to execute the steps necessary for the University to obtain membership in Division II.
Mid-to-late Apr. 2011 - The NCAA Division II Membership Committee will vote on UNO's application for membership.
2011-12 - The department fields teams with scholarship student-athletes per NCAA Division II procedures and spends the year getting in compliance with NCAA Division II standards.
2012-13 -UNO begins competition in all sports as a full championship-eligible member of the Division II Gulf South Conference.
