Last revised - June 21st with inclusion of GSC admittance.

NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans is presently in the process of becoming a member of the NCAA Division II classification. This page will become the one-stop shop for getting information regarding this move.

WHAT IS DIVISION II?

Division II is high-level NCAA competition with an emphasis on “Life in the Balance”.

Per the NCAA, "Division II relies on a partial-scholarship model to administer athletics-based financial aid. Most Division II student-athletes finance their education through a combination of scholarship money, grants, student loans and employment earnings."

The official NCAA Division II web site has plenty of information regarding the classification.

UNO TIMELINE FOR DIVISION II RECLASSIFICATION

Feb. 1, 2011 - UNO Provost Joe King submitted the Division II proposal to the LSU Board of Supervisors. (Story)

Feb. 3, 2011 - The 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. (Story)

Apr. 20, 2011 - The NCAA Division II Membership Committee approved UNO's application for membership. (Story)

Apr. 29, 2011 - The Gulf South Conference extends a membership invitation to UNO. (Story)

June 21, 2011 - The Gulf South Conference admits UNO for league membership. (Story)

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 Division II

NCAA CLARIFIES UNO STATUS FOR '11-12 CALENDAR YEAR

According to the NCAA - UNO will count as both a Division I and Division II counter during the 2011-2012 school year.

Though all of UNO athletic teams will count as a Division I counter, contests against the Privateers will not count towards the Division I Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) in the sports where RPI is factored (i.e. volleyball, M/W basketball and baseball).

This is the case as the aforementioned sports will not meet Division I scheduling parameters as part of the requirements by the NCAA to show progress towards Division II scheduling guidelines. In sports where RPI factors in, UNO will play full Gulf South Conference (GSC) schedules in volleyball and baseball. Both basketball programs project playing at least 8-12 games against Division II competition.

Remaining a Division I counter will allow schools that compete against UNO to utilize the contest towards meeting their own Division I scheduling requirements. By also being a Division II counter, this allows opponents at the level to count UNO towards Division II scheduling requirements and formulas utilized to determine postseason participants.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIVISION II

A power point presentation from the 2011 UNO Spring Athletic Open House is now available.

"Regionalization" is a critical aspect of Division II competition. Competing against and defeating teams within your region are important in securing post-season at-large bids to NCAA competition. The current regionalization map provided by the NCAA.

UNO ANTICIPATES SPONSORING 10 SPORTS IN FALL '11

With the Apr. 20, 2011 announcement of cross country and women's golf (Story) - the University of New Orleans sponsors seven sports. In order to meet Division II requirements, the institution must sponsor 10 sports of which at least five must be female.

These sports offerings must include one male and female sport in each of the three NCAA trimesters (fall, winter and spring) while also featuring two male and two female team sports.

Women's Sports
Fall - Volleyball (team sport), Cross Country
Winter - Basketball (team sport)
Spring - Tennis, Golf

Men's Sports
Fall -    Cross Country
Winter -  Basketball (team sport)
Spring - Tennis, Golf, Baseball (team sport)

FUNDRAISING & NEW SPORTS BEYOND 2011 EFFORTS

The 'Drive for 55' allows the UNO community to help assist the athletic department's efforts to become fully-funded by 2012-13 and add additional sports to the department's sports offerings!

Privateer fans and supporters can also join the Privateer Athletic Foundation.  For more information on how to give and corporate matching programs, click on the PAF link.age.

BECOME A STUDENT-ATHLETE!
Individual interested in becoming a student-athlete are asked to fill out the recruiting questionnaires available on UNOPrivateers.com or contacting the coach of their desired sport (a listing is available on the staff directory page)