Conferences inviting Division II and III schools to join Division I must confirm the school meets academic requirements, including being above the 10th percentile of Division I members in the Academic Progress Rate, Graduation Success Rate, or the difference between the federal graduation rates for student-athletes and for the general student body.
Reclassifying schools also must participate in an academic review, satisfy all Division I core guarantees and attestation requirements, complete an NCAA self-study program and meet new financial aid requirements, such as a scholarship offering that exceeds the 10th percentile of active Division I members.
In addition:
Reclassification period is reduced to three years for new ex-D-II schools; four years for ex-D-III schools.
Clarified the single-sport conference application and membership process to limit single-sport conferences to one sport and one gender. An entity may operate multiple single-sport conferences, but each new sport added under the entity's umbrella would be considered a new single-sport conference for the purpose of NCAA rules. The conference must be active for two years before it is eligible for an automatic bid to the NCAA-sponsored championship.
