Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin University, Houston Baptist University (beginning in 2013), University of the Incarnate Word (beginning in 2013), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi University, Oral Roberts University, Lamar University, Central Arkansas University, McNeese State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana State University, University of New Orleans (beginning in 2013) and Nicholls State University.
Abilene Christian was a founding member of the Southland in 1963 and remained in the conference through 1972-73. At the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, the Southland is the best geographic option and the only FCS-affiliated conference in which ACU could effectively manage travel and operating costs, and missed class time for student-athletes.
The Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Pennsylvania, Brown) is a FCS conference. Examples of other FCS members are North Dakota State University (Missouri Valley Conference), Villanova University (Colonial Athletic Association), Stony Brook University (Big South Conference), Grambling State University (Southwestern Athletic Conference) and Bucknell University (Patriot League).
A move to Division I strengthens ACU's ability to attract student-athletes who more closely reflect the academic composition of the overall student body. The academic profile of incoming student-athletes would increase dramatically because of the more rigorous eligibility rules and built-in accountability structures present in Division I. The eligibility requirements of Division I mirror ACU's admissions standards more closely than Division II.
Division I requires a minimum of 14 sports. ACU currently offers 16, a similar number to those offered by other universities in the Southland. Women's golf is the only sport not offered at ACU that is a championship sport for the Southland, but we will not be required to add it.
There are no facility needs tied to a move to Division I. Regardless of our national affiliation, we have a significant need to address some deficiencies of an aging track and field facility. Shotwell Stadium, which is owned by the Abilene Independent School District, would provide a suitable location for football. While an on-campus stadium is a possibility at some point down the road and the subject of some preliminary planning work, it is not a requirement for a move to Division I.
Yes, we initially looked at that as a viable option. Participation in Division I athletics requires 14 sports. We currently offer 16 and therefore could eliminate two sports. However, after further examination, we determined that would actually result in a loss of net revenue because reduction of expenses would be more than offset by a loss of tuition revenue.
There is a four-year transition process; ACU would not be eligible for national championship opportunities until the 2017-18 school year, when it would become an active and postseason-eligible Division I member. ACU is immediately eligible to win regular-season conference championships in every sport. But it is not eligible for Southland Conference post-season competition for any sport in which the winner is the league's automatic qualifier for an NCAA championship (baseball, men's basketball, wo men's basketball, football, women's soccer, softball, men's tennis, women's tennis and volleyball). ACU will be eligible for cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field conference championships beginning in 2013-14 and can participate in the conference golf tournament in 2014, but only as unattached entries. ACU will not be eligible for the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA national golf tournament.
In NCAA Division I, the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) has a national playoff system much like Division II. In fact, Southland member Sam Houston State played in the 2011 national championship game (losing 17-6 to North Dakota State). Only Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams qualify for traditional bowl games at the end of their season. However, many FBS-level football teams regularly schedule non-conference games with FCS-member teams.