NCAA Transition

Walsh University is proud to announce our acceptance into the NCAA membership process. An educational pamphlet that outlines our NCAA transition process is available for download in the file gallery at the right. 

Official Release

July 12, 2012

Walsh University received word from the National Collegiate Athletic Association that the institution has been approved for the provisional year (three) in the NCAA membership process.

The result moves the Cavalier athletics program a step closer to becoming a full-fledged Division II member in time for the 2013-14 academic year.

The NCAA monitored the school's progress over the past 12 months before issuing a positive recommendation for the second year in a row.

Director of Athletics Dale Howard took the phone call from the NCAA this morning. As expected, Howard was thrilled with the school reaching another milestone in what is a demanding three-year procedure.

"We are all extremely excited to be taking the next step in the process of becoming full members of the NCAA II," exclaimed Howard. "The Membership Committee has developed a very thorough process that results in institutions being ready to move into the NCAA II with all the necessary staffing, policies and procedures in place to be quality members. The decision by the committee to move us ahead to Provisional Status validates all of the hard work that the entire athletic department, the Compliance Committee, the Registrar's office and the Financial Aid office have been doing to ensure we will be as successful in the NCAA as we were in the NAIA. We will truly be proud to be sporting the NCAA logo beginning this fall, on our uniforms and around campus, that so denotes this accomplishment."

In essence, the provisional year in the NCAA membership process requires the University to function like a Division II institution. Besides maintaining the filing of necessary paperwork, the athletic department faces a key compliance audit in the fall.

Seven colleges and universities in Ohio -- Ashland, Central State, Findlay, Lake Erie, Ohio Dominican, Tiffin, and Urbana -- are active NCAA Div. II members. Cedarville and Notre Dame just completed the three-year transition process and will become full members for the 2012-13 year. Malone and Ursuline University, like Walsh, are on track for full membership in 2013-14.

Walsh University NCAA membership process timeline:

  • July 12, 2010 - Application approved for Candidacy Year 1
  • July 11, 2011 - Approval granted for Candidacy Year 2
  • July 13, 2012 - Approval granted for Provisional Year
  • July, 2013 - Potential announcement of full NCAA Division II membership

Official Release

July 12, 2010

 

Walsh University has been approved for the Division II membership process in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Cavaliers were notified by the NCAA in a phone call to University president Richard Jusseaume and Director of Athletics Dale Howard.

"Our acceptance to candidacy in NCAA II culminates more than a year of hard work to meet required criteria. We consider this the next step forward in bringing our athletic programs to a level consistent with a Catholic university of distinction," said Walsh University President Richard Jusseaume.

The Cavaliers will remain active members within the NAIA for the next two years while beginning the transition period. Walsh has been part of the association for almost 40 years.

"We are very excited about the prospect of obtaining full membership into the NCAA II. Walsh has a very proud history in the NAIA, winning national championships and numerous conference championships, and we are now poised to move our athletic program to the next level," said Walsh University Director of Athletics Dale Howard."

The Walsh athletic program, which contains eight teams for women and eight for men, will enter what is called Candidacy Year 1 with the NCAA followed by Candidacy Year 2. Year three is known as a provisional year which requires Walsh to drop its NAIA membership as it meets additional NCAA requirements.

If all goes as planned, the Cavaliers would become a full NCAA member in their fourth year of compliance which would be the 2013-14 academic year.

Only six schools in the state of Ohio are active Division II members - Ashland, Central State, Findlay, Lake Erie, Tiffin, and Urbana, who just found out on Friday that it was approved for full membership. Other schools from the state in the NCAA membership process include Cedarville, Ohio Dominican and Notre Dame College.

Walsh will remain a member of the American Mideast Conference. The Cavaliers joined the Mid-Ohio Conference in 1975-76.

NCAA.org