SIU Board Approves SIUE Athletics' Move To NCAA Division I

		Cougar Athletics	SIUE Athletics

February 28, 2007

SIU Board Approves SIUE Athletics' Move To NCAA Division I
          EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars have been given approval to apply for reclassification to NCAA Division I for all sports in the SIUE program. SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics currently participates at the NCAA Division II level.
          The SIU Board of Trustees passed the resolution today at its regular monthly meeting conducted on the SIU Carbondale campus. Commenting on today's vote by the board, SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift thanked the SIU Board of Trustees for its support. "I appreciate the board's confidence and forward thinking in this matter," Vandegrift said. "We now have several steps to follow before we apply for reclassification."
          During the board meeting, Vandegrift told board members the University must:

Immediately seek a new conference affiliation (SIUE currently is in the Great Lakes Valley Conference);
Appoint a reclassification work group during March to assist in all aspects and tasks related to reclassification;
Inform the GLVC in May of SIUE's intention to join a new conference; and
Apply to the NCAA for reclassification to Division I by June.

          "I'd also like to thank the University community and the external community for all the support of this decision," Vandegrift said. "We will continue to seek support as we move through the steps needed to become a Division I athletics program."
          The Chancellor said he formulated his recommendation for reclassification to Division I after taking into consideration the findings of the Intercollegiate Athletics Task Force (IATF)-made up of SIUE students, faculty, staff, alumni, and residents of the surrounding communities to study the future of the SIUE athletics program.
          He also said he considered information gathered from the University community and members of nearby communities, as well as comments gathered by the IATF during various open forums.
          The IATF spent 16 months analyzing the pros and cons of moving to Division I, creating a hybrid program of Division I and Division II sports, or staying within Division II. For information about the process, visit the SIUE Athletics Web site: www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC.
          Intercollegiate Athletics Director Brad Hewitt pointed out that the Cougars finished fourth overall nationally during the 2005-06 season among the NCAA Division II institutions in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup. "After the fall season we were 29th and we expect to significantly improve on that ranking position given the success of women's basketball, men's and women's indoor/outdoor track, softball and baseball.
          "I have no doubt that we can be competitive at the 'mid-major' DI level." Hewitt also said he is excited by the process. "Personally, I am very excited about this whole process," Hewitt said. "It's very assuring that the IATF's work and the SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics Committee will help guide Intercollegiate Athletics to its next step."
          SIUE has won 16 national championships in its history, including two in men's soccer (1972, 1979), seven in men's tennis (1978 through 1984), three in wrestling (1984-85-86) and four in women's tennis (1986-87-88-89). The 1979 men's soccer team won the championship as a Division I program.
                    -siue cougars-

Cougar Athletics