Purdue University Northwest won an appeal Tuesday (9/27) that overturns a July decision denying membership into NCAA Division II.
The successful appeal paves the way for Purdue Northwest’s 13-team athletic program to begin competition as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division II (NCAA II) and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2017-18 athletic year effective next fall.
‘Great day for Purdue Northwest’ “It’s a great day for Purdue Northwest; we are so excited to be joining the NCAA and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,” PNW Athletic Director Rick Costello said. “I’m thrilled for our student-athletes, coaches, faculty, support staff and everyone else who contributed to today’s successful appeal.”
Following denial of its membership application by the NCAA II Membership Committee in mid-July, Purdue Northwest weighed its options and decided to appeal the decision.
The process culminated with Costello, PNW Chancellor Thomas Keon and Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Regina Biddings-Muro representing Purdue Northwest in a hearing by conference phone call Tuesday afternoon (9/27) with the NCAA II Management Council Sub-Committee.
Good fit “Today’s ruling on our appeal is exciting news as we can now prepare to align our intercollegiate athletics program to be consistent with our university in size, philosophy and commitment to overall student success,” Chancellor Keon said. “The academic and athletic achievement embraced by NCAA Division II and the GLIAC resonates as an outstanding opportunity we are eager to experience and provide to our student-athletes and the greater Northwest Indiana community.”
Throughout the current 2016-17 athletic year, Purdue Northwest will conclude its membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The NCAA is comprised of nearly 1,100 colleges and universities that compete athletically at one of three divisional levels.
“In NCAA Division II, we strike a balance between athletics and academics,” Interim GLIAC Commissioner Jeff Ligney said. “We have highly competitive teams composed of well-rounded student athletes.”
First Indiana member of the GLIAC When Purdue Northwest begins competing as an NCAA Division II institution in 2017, it will become the first Indiana member of the GLIAC, whose membership also includes nine Michigan institutions and two from Ohio.
“We want to thank the NCAA for providing the opportunity of this appeal process,” Biddings-Muro said. “Institutionally, we look forward to being a proud, positive and contributing member of the NCAA and GLIAC. The hard work of our entire campus community demonstrates our track record of commitment.”
As a member of the NCAA II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Purdue Northwest and another recent new member, Davenport (Mich.) University, will join the likes of Ashland (Ohio), Ferris State (Mich.), Grand Valley State (Mich.), Lake Superior State (Mich.), Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Northwood (Mich.), Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), Tiffin (Ohio) and Wayne State (Mich.) in 2017-18, bringing the conference’s total to 12 teams.
The GLIAC was founded in 1972 and sponsors 22 total sports, including baseball, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, football, men’s golf, men’s soccer, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, men’s indoor/outdoor track and field, men’s wrestling, softball, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, women’s swimming and diving, women’s tennis, women’s indoor/outdoor track and field, and women’s volleyball.
As an NCAA II and GLIAC member, Purdue Northwest will compete in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, softball and women’s volleyball.
About NCAA Division II Courtesy of NCAA.org NCAA Division II is a collection of more than 300 colleges and universities that provide thousands of student-athletes with the opportunity to compete at a high level of scholarship athletics while excelling in the classroom and fully engaging in the broader campus experience. This balance, in which student-athletes are recognized for their academic success, athletics contributions and campus/community involvement, is at the heart of the Division II philosophy.
The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and a focus on service to the community. The balance and integration of these different areas of learning provide Division II student-athletes with a path to graduation while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life after college.
For more on NCAA Division II, visit http://www.ncaa.org/d2
