7.3 Active Membership.

[7.3.1 through 7.3.4 unchanged.]

7.3.5 Conferences.

[7.3.5.1 through 7.3.5.2 unchanged.]

7.3.5.3 Composition of Active Conferences. All of the members of the conference shall be active and/or provisional members of this Association. A conference with eight or more active NCAA members may accept an institution in the expedited or traditional provisional membership process (see Bylaw 7.01.10) into active conference membership (see Bylaw 7.3.5.5.1 for composition of a candidate conference).

[7.3.5.3.1 unchanged.]

7.3.5.4 New Conference Membership Requirements. A new conference of at least 10 active and/or provisional member institutions desiring to attain voting conference status and gain access to voting conference membership privileges must meet the following conditions:

[7.3.5.4-(a) unchanged.]

(b) Submit an application to the Membership Committee, to be received in the national office not later than December 1August 1. A fee, as determined by the Membership Committee, shall accompany the application. The following information must be submitted at the time of application:

[7.3.5.4-(b)-(1) through 7.3.5.4-(b)-(5) unchanged.]

[7.3.5.4-(c) unchanged.]

7.3.5.5 Minimum Size for New Active Conferences. A new conference shall be composed of at least 10 active and/or provisional member institutions prior to its approval as an active member conference. All institutions shall be located in the same geographic area. Once the conference is approved by the Membership Committee, it shall be eligible for privileges of active member conferences, except for conference sports sponsorship fund distribution [see Bylaw 7.3.5.1.3-(b)] and automatic qualification [see Bylaws 7.3.5.1.3-(c), 18.4.3.2.3, 18.5.3.1.1].

7.3.5.5.1 Candidate Conference. A candidate conference is the designation provided to a conference that consists of at least 10 institutions, but does not include at least 10 active and/or provisional member institutions, and has had their application accepted by the Division II Membership Committee. Applicant conferences that do not include at least 10 active and/or provisional member institutions may be accepted for membership by the Division II Membership Committee, provided the institutions that are not active and/or provisional member institutions have declared their intent to apply for either of the provisional membership processes at the next available opportunity. A candidate conference would have the ability to provide a bona fide invitation to an applicant institution to fulfill the requirement set forth in Bylaw 7.5.1.5.2 when making application to enter the Division II provisional membership process.

7.3.5.5.1.1 Minimum Size for Candidate Conference to Become Active Conference. Once a candidate conference includes at least 10 active and/or provisional member institutions, the candidate conference would be considered an active Division II conference (see Bylaw 7.3.5.5) and would be eligible for privileges of active member conferences (see Bylaw 7.3.5.1.3). However, a candidate conference would not have access to representation on the NCAA Division II Management Council or the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee until its second year of active Division II membership.

7.3.5.5.1.2 Length of Candidate Conference Designation. A candidate conference may retain such a designation until it is comprised of at least 10 active and/or provisional member institutions, but for a period of no more than two calendar years.

[7.3.5.6 through 7.3.5.8 unchanged.]

7.5 Provisional Membership.

7.5.1 Institutions – Change of Division Membership (All Sports).

[7.5.1.1 through 7.5.1.2 unchanged.]

7.5.1.3 Administrative Requirements for Application. An institution applying for Division II membership shall complete the following requirements (see Bylaw 7.5.1.5.1):

(a) An application signed by the institution's president or chancellor, and received in the national office not later than February 1October 1 for the three-year provisional membership process. See the Membership Committee's policies and procedures manual regarding the application deadline for the two-year expedited provisional membership process;

(b) Sponsorship by an active member institution or, conference or candidate conference; and

[7.5.1.3-(c) unchanged.]

[7.5.1.3.1 through 7.5.1.3.2 unchanged.]

[7.5.1.4 unchanged.]

7.5.1.5 Division II Membership Process. Institutions seeking to become active members of Division II in all sports must successfully complete all requirements of the Division II membership process, as specified in Bylaw 7.5 or as outlined in the Membership Committee's policies and procedures manual.

7.5.1.5.1 Administrative Requirements for Application.

7.5.1.5.1.1 Deadline for Submission of Application. An institution applying for Division II membership through the three-year provisional membership process shall complete an application, signed by the president or chancellor, and received in the national office not later than February 1October 1. See the Membership Committee's policies and procedures manual regarding the application deadline for the two-year expedited provisional membership process.

[7.5.1.5.1.2 unchanged.]

7.5.1.5.2 Administrative Requirement for Active Membership – Conference Membership. An institution must receive a bona fide invitation for membership from an active Division II conference or candidate conference before applying for Division II membership and shall maintain conference affiliation during the Division II membership process.

[7.5.1.5.3 through 7.5.1.5.4 unchanged.]

[7.5.1.6 through 7.5.1.7 unchanged.]

7.5.1.8 Election to Active Membership.

[7.5.1.8.1 unchanged.]

7.5.1.8.2 Administrative Requirements for Application. An institution applying for Division II membership shall complete the following requirements:

(a) An application signed by the institution's president or chancellor, and received in the national office not later than February 1October 1. See the Membership Committee's policies and procedures manual regarding the application deadline for the two-year expedited provisional membership process;

(b) Sponsorship by an active member institution or, conference or candidate conference; and

[7.5.1.8.2-(c) unchanged.]

[7.5.1.8.2.1 through 7.5.1.8.2.2 unchanged.]

[7.5.1.8.3 through 7.5.1.8.5 unchanged.]

[7.5.2 unchanged.]