20.6 Change of Division Membership.

20.6.1 Eligibility for Reclassification.

20.6.1.1 Division II Member. A member of Division II may petition to change its membership to Division I subject to the following prerequisites:

(a) The institution shall have been an active Division II member for the preceding five years;

(b) The institution shall be in compliance with all Division I minimum sports sponsorship and financial aid membership requirements; and

(c) The institution shall have received a bona fide offer of membership from an active Division I multisport conference.

20.6.1.2 Division III Member. A member of Division III may petition to change its membership to Division I subject to the following prerequisites:

(a) The institution shall have been an active Division III member for the preceding five years;

(b) The institution shall be in compliance with all Division I minimum sports sponsorship requirements and shall demonstrate an intent to comply with minimum Division I financial aid membership requirements during the first year of the reclassification process; and

(c) The institution shall have received a bona fide offer of membership from an active Division I multisport conference.

20.6.2 Prerequisites for Bona Fide Offer of Division I Conference Membership. Prior to extending a bona fide offer of membership to a member of Division II or Division III, an active Division I multisport conference must confirm the applicant institution meets the following prerequisites:

(a) Applicant institution is above the 10th percentile of Division I members in one of the following academic measures;

(1) Academic Progress Rate (APR);

(2) Graduation Success Rate (GSR); or

(3) The federal graduation rate difference between student-athletes and the general student body.

(b) Applicant institution’s operating budget (excluding scholarships) is above the 10th percentile of the Division I multisport conference's existing members.

20.6.3 Requesting Reclassification. In order to petition to change its membership to Division I, the institution and its sponsoring conference shall complete an application and submit it to the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee on a form approved by the committee.

20.6.3.1 Deadline for Submission of Application. The application shall be received in the national office (by mail or electronic transmission) not later than June 1 prior to the academic year in which the institution is seeking to begin its first year of the reclassification process. Any application received after that date shall be postmarked not later than May 25.

20.6.3.2 Application Fee. A fee shall accompany the application. The amount of the fee shall be determined each year based on the estimated annual average value of direct benefits through distributions and championships made available to Division I members. If an institution withdraws from the reclassification process, the application fee shall be refunded to the institution on a prorated basis -- 75 percent through year one, 50 percent through year two, 30 percent through year three and no refund thereafter.

20.6.3.3 Initial Strategic Plan. The institution's application shall include an initial strategic plan that addresses the Division I philosophy statement (see Bylaw 20.9.2) and the requirements set forth by the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee. The initial strategic plan must be approved by the sponsoring conference.

20.6.3.4 Notification of Infractions Matters. The institution's application shall include notification whether it is, at the time of application, involved in an investigation of potential rules violations, an infractions case or is on probation for rules violations.

20.6.3.5 Compliance With Criteria. The Strategic Vision and Planning Committee shall monitor the institution's progress and compliance with the criteria of the reclassification process. The committee shall have the authority to deny advancement to the next year of the process if it determines that deficiencies warrant a requirement that the institution repeat a particular year. If the institution has met the reclassification criteria of this article and has complied for the four required number of years preceding June 1 with all other requirements set forth in this bylaw, the committee shall refer the institution's request for active Division I membership to the Board of Directors for election effective August 1 following such election. However, the committee may deny referral of a reclassifying institution to the Board of Directors for advancement to active Division I status if any of the institution's sport programs are subject to penalties pursuant to the Division I Academic Performance Program. An institution shall not be elected to active membership in Division I if it is subject to an Academic Performance Program penalty or fails to satisfy the financial aid minimums specified in Bylaw 20.6.4.

20.6.3.5.1 First Year. During the first year of reclassification, an institution shall satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Attendance at an orientation session conducted by the national office staff related to basic Division I operating rules and membership requirements. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator;

(b) Attendance at the NCAA Convention Division I issues forum and business session. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator;

(c) Attendance at the Regional Rules Seminar conducted by the NCAA. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator;

(d) Apply all Division I legislation, including core guarantees and attestation requirements, except scheduling requirements and continuing eligibility requirements (e.g., progress-toward-degree, five-year rule) for student-athletes who are completing their final season of competition and were enrolled at the institution at least one year prior to the institution entering year one of the reclassification process;

(e) Satisfactory completion of an academic review conducted by the national office staff.

(f) Process institutional and individual student-athlete violations of Division I legislation through Division I infractions and student-athlete reinstatement processes. The institution shall be subject to any and all sanctions for violations of Division I legislation; and

(g) Submit an annual report and a strategic plan by June 1. The institution shall report all violations as part of the annual report and provide notice whether it is involved in an investigation of potential rules violations, an infractions case or is on probation for rules violations.

20.6.3.5.2 Second Year. During the second year of reclassification, an institution shall satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Full compliance with all Division I legislation and membership requirements, including core guarantees and attestation requirements;

(b) Attendance at the NCAA Convention Division I issues forum and business session. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator.

(c) Attendance at a Regional Rules Seminar conducted by the NCAA. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator;

(d) Completion of a compliance review conducted by the national office and submission of a report with an institutional response to the findings and recommendations;

(e) For an institution reclassifying from Division II, initiate an NCAA self-study program as established by the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee;

(e f) Process institutional and individual student-athlete violations of Division I legislation through the Division I infractions and student-athlete reinstatement processes. The institution shall be subject to any and all sanctions for violations of Division I legislation; and

(f g) Submit an annual report and an updated strategic plan by June 1 based on feedback related to the previous year's plan. The institution shall report all violations as part of the annual report and provide notice whether it is involved in an investigation of potential rules violations, an infractions case or is on probation for rules violation.

20.6.3.5.3 Third Year. During the third year of reclassification, an institution shall satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Full compliance with all Division I legislation and membership requirements, including core guarantees and attestation requirements;

(1) For an institution reclassifying from Division II, submit a report demonstrating institution's compliance with core guarantees requirements.

(a b) Attendance at the NCAA Convention Division I issues forum and business session. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator;

(b c) Attendance at a Regional Rules Seminar conducted by the NCAA. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator;

(c d) For an institution reclassifying from Division II, Completion of complete an NCAA self-study program as established by the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee;

(e) For an institution reclassifying from Division III, initiate an NCAA self-study program as established by the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee;

(d f) Process institutional and individual student-athlete violations of Division I legislation through Division I infractions and student-athlete reinstatement processes. The institution shall be subject to any and all sanctions for violations of Division I legislation; and

(e g) Submit an annual report and an updated strategic plan by June 1 based on feedback related to the previous year's plan. The institution shall report all violations as part of the annual report and provide notice whether it is involved in an investigation of potential rules violations, an infractions case or is on probation for rules violations.

20.6.3.5.4 Fourth Year. During the fourth year of reclassification, an institution reclassifying from Division III shall satisfy the following requirements:

(a) Full compliance with all Division I legislation and membership requirements, including core guarantees and attestation requirements;

(1) Submit a report demonstrating institution's compliance with core guarantees requirements.

(a b) Successfully complete an NCAA self-study program as established by the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee;

(b c) Attendance at the NCAA Convention Division I issues forum and business session. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator;

(c d) Attendance at a Regional Rules Seminar conducted by the NCAA. Institutional representatives required to attend are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor or president with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the senior compliance administrator;

(e) Complete an NCAA self-study program as established by the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee;

(d f) Process institutional and individual student-athlete violations of Division I legislation through the Division I infractions and student-athlete reinstatement processes. The institution shall be subject to any and all sanctions for violations of Division I legislation; and

(e g) Submit an annual report and an updated strategic plan by June 1 based on feedback related to the previous year's plan. The institution shall report all violations as part of the annual report and provide notice whether it is involved in an investigation of potential rules violations, an infractions case or is on probation for rules violations.

20.6.4 Exit Benchmarks. Before advancing to active Division I membership, a reclassifying institution must meet the following requirements:

(a) Award either total scholarships or total equivalencies that exceed the 10th percentile of active Division I members;

(b) Provide half its teams used to meet sports sponsorship requirements with at least 50 percent of the permissible maximum number of overall grants-in-aid per sport (see Bylaw 15.5); and

(c) Each team shall present at least a 930 multiyear Academic Progress Rate based on its most recent APR data submission.

20.6.45 Timing of Monetary Distributions. The institution shall qualify to begin receiving revenue distributions related to sports sponsorship and grants-in-aid after its third academic year as an active Division I member. The institution shall qualify to receive the Student Assistance Fund, Academic Enhancement Fund, Academic Performance Fund, Basketball Performance Fund and Equal Conference Distribution Fund, as determined by its sponsoring conference, beginning with the first year of active membership.

20.6.56 Championships Eligibility. To be eligible for NCAA championships in Division I as of the effective August 1 following election to active membership, the institution shall comply with all championships eligibility requirements, as prescribed by Bylaw 31, and otherwise shall be eligible for participation in those championships. In addition, a member of Division I shall comply with the provisions of Bylaw 18.4.2.