ncaa-manual

20.2.5.3.5 Rejection of Waiver Request. If the Administration Cabinet votes to reject the institution’srequest, the institution’s membership (or its sport per Bylaw 20.4): (Revised: 4/24/03 effective 8/1/03, 11/1/07effective 8/1/08)(a) Shall be reassigned to a division for which it qualifies;(b) Shall be placed in the restricted membership category, if it does not qualify for any division (seeBylaw 20.2.5.1); or(c) Shall be required to repeat the membership process. (Adopted: 4/24/03 effective 8/1/03)20.4 Multidivision Classification/Reclassification of Football Subdivision.20.4.1 Multidivision Classification. A member of Division II or Division III may have a sport classifiedin Division I, provided the sport was so classified during the 2010-11 academic year. Such a classification shallcontinue until the institution fails to conduct the sport in Division I in any following academic year. (Revised:8/9/07, 1/15/11 effective 8/1/11)20.4.1.1 Reclassification of a Sport of the Opposite Gender. A member of Division II or Division IIIthat had one sport classified in Division I during the 2010-11 academic year may petition to have one sport ofthe opposite gender, other than football or basketball, classified in Division I, provided the original sport remainsclassified in Division I. (Adopted: 10/27/11; process to begin with applications received by 6/1/12)20.4.1.1.1 Notification/Application Requirement. An institution’s chancellor or president shall submitto the national office written notice of the institution’s intention to reclassify and a completed application.The notice and application shall be received in the national office (by mail or electronic transmission)not later than June 1 two years prior to August 1 of the year the institution intends to reclassify the applicablesport. Any form received after June 1 shall be postmarked not later than May 25. The notice and applicationshall be accompanied by a $10,000 fee and a strategic plan that addresses the Division I philosophystatement (see Bylaw 20.9.2) and the institutional performance program operating principles (see Bylaw22). If the institution fails to meet the requirements of reclassification, the application fee shall be refunded,less any expenditure for educational costs related to the reclassification process. (Adopted: 10/27/11; processto begin with applications received by 6/1/12, Revised: 1/19/13)20.4.1.1.2 Compliance With Criteria. The Administration Cabinet shall monitor the institution’sprogress and compliance with the criteria of the reclassification process. The cabinet shall have the authorityto deny advancement to the next year of the process if it determines that deficiencies warrant a requirementthat the institution repeat the first year. If the institution meets all applicable division membership criteriaof this article (other than scheduling requirements during the first year of reclassification) and complies forthe two years preceding June 1 of the year the institution intends to reclassify the applicable sport with allother bylaw requirements as they pertain to the sport in question, the Administration Cabinet shall referthe institution’s request for participation in the division in that sport to the Board of Directors for electioneffective August 1 of the year that the institution selects as its effective date. (Adopted: 10/27/11; process tobegin with applications received by 6/1/12, Revised: 7/22/13)20.4.1.1.3 Reclassification Requirements.20.4.1.1.3.1 First Year. During the first year of reclassification, an institution shall satisfy the followingrequirements: (Adopted: 10/27/11; process to begin with applications received by 6/1/12)(a) Attend an orientation session conducted by the national office staff related to the application ofDivision I membership requirements. Institutional representatives required to attend the orientationsession are the chancellor or president (or an individual appointed by the chancellor orpresident with executive status at the institution), the director of athletics representative and thesenior compliance administrator;(b) Submit an annual report and updated strategic plan by June 1 at the end of the first academicyear based on feedback received from the previous year’s report; and(c) Report all violations to the Administration Cabinet as part of the required annual report.20.4.1.1.3.2 Second Year. During the second year of reclassification, an institution shall satisfy thefollowing requirements: (Adopted: 10/27/11; process to begin with applications received by 6/1/12)(a) Full compliance with all Division I legislation and membership requirements; and(b) Submit an annual report and updated strategic plan confirming compliance with all Division Ilegislation and membership requirements; and(c) Report all violations to the Administration Cabinet as part of the required annual report.20.4.1.1.3.3 Compliance Review Requirement. The institution must engage in a compliancereview (at the institution’s expense) during the multidivision reclassification period. The review mustbe conducted by an authority outside the athletics department (e.g., multisport conference, outsideconsultant), subject to approval by the Administration Cabinet. A copy of the report of the compliancereview must be kept on file at the institution and a copy must be submitted to the AdministrationCabinet. (Adopted: 10/27/11; process to begin with applications received by 6/1/12)20Division Membership339