NCAA -- Davenport University and Purdue University Northwest have showed exceptional progress on their journeys to obtaining full NCAA Division II membership with the NCAA Division II Membership Committee's approval on Friday (July 13) of the athletic department's advancement to the third and final year of the membership process. Davenport and Purdue Northwest (PNW) both recently completed their first full year competing as members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
"This is an important achievement," said PNW Chancellor Thomas L. Keon. "It clearly demonstrates that here at Purdue Northwest, we balance high quality academics with a highly regarded and competitive athletics program. We are extremely grateful to our entire university community for all the support of our student-athletes, as well as dedication and hard work shown throughout this process."
"We are excited to be taking the final step in our transition towards NCAA Division II active membership status," said Dr. Richard Pappas, president of Davenport University. "Competing in the GLIAC and NCAA aligns with our Vision 2020 and gives our coaches and student-athletes the opportunity to compete at one of the highest levels in college athletics."
Davenport and Purdue Northwest each received notification from the NCAA Division II Membership Committee that the programs have successfully completed candidacy year two in 2017-18 and were recommended to advance to candidacy year three.
"This is amazing news! The Pride student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, administration and PNW community worked very hard to achieve this milestone," said Director of Athletics Rick Costello. "On behalf of PNW, I would like to thank the NCAA membership committee for advancing the Pride to the final year. We are excited for this next step in the evolution of PNW athletics. Go Pride!"
"Moving to year three of the NCAA Division II membership process is great news for Davenport University and our athletic department," said Paul Lowden, Davenport's director of athletics. "This is the final step before we become active members. The commitment from our campus community within and outside athletics has been phenomenal and I appreciate all the collaborative work that has gone into this process. Competing at the NCAA Division II level and in the GLIAC is an awesome experience for our student-athletes and coaching staff."
Full membership in NCAA Division II is a three-year process with the Panthers and Pride participating in candidacy year three during the upcoming 2018–19 athletic year. If Davenport and Purdue Northwest can successfully complete the NCAA Division II membership process in 2018–19, both institutions will become eligible for NCAA postseason play beginning in 2019-20.