Shawnee State, currently a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, was approved by the Division II Membership Committee on Tuesday to enter the expedited provisional membership process beginning Sept. 1.
The two-year process was established in 2024 and provides schools with an opportunity to complete their transition to Division II in two years, provided they meet all requirements.
To be considered for the expedited process, schools must apply by Oct. 1 of the preceding academic year and secure an invitation from an active Division II conference. The application includes extensive documentation demonstrating the school's readiness, including sports sponsorship, financial aid plans, athletics strategic plan and athletics department policies.
Once accepted, schools enter a two-year provisional period, during which they must meet annual benchmarks in areas such as compliance with NCAA legislation, financial aid commitments and institutional leadership engagement. The process includes on-campus evaluations, conference membership participation and attendance at key NCAA events like the NCAA Convention and Regional Rules Seminar.
Schools that successfully fulfill these requirements within the two-year time frame will be recommended for full NCAA Division II membership. If further development is needed, an additional year may be required.
