Inspire, Summer 2012

yellowjackets.cedarville.edu It’s Official! On July 12, 2012, Cedarville received the long-anticipated phone call. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) notified the University that the Yellow Jackets are now active Division II members. This announcement signals the end of a rigorous three-year approval process and the beginning of Cedarville’s formal NCAA affiliation. “With our status affirmed by the NCAA, Cedarville is positioned athletically to help the University achieve its vision of becoming one of the most influential Christ-centered universities in the country,” said President Bill Brown. “This is a significant day in the life of Cedarville University.” The NCAA closely monitored Cedarville’s progress since it approved the school’s application in 2009. Cedarville’s athletic director, Dr. Alan Geist ’83, managed the details of the membership process. “Obviously, we are excited about this announcement,” said Geist. “The NCAA complimented our efforts leading up to this point and said Cedarville had been one of the most enjoyable institutions they had worked with.” Geist emphasized that this new affiliation will not change Cedarville’s mission. “We desire to be at the forefront in the NCAA, glorifying God through excellence in education, individual growth, and leadership development,” he said. The provisional year in the NCAA membership process required the Yellow Jackets to function like a Division II institution without the benefits of possible postseason competition. Key requirements that had to be met during the 2011–12 academic year included the following: • The NCAA conducted a compliance audit of the athletics program in November 2011. • The University attended a meeting for provisional institutions at the NCAA convention in January 2012. • Cedarville completed the annual report/Institutional Self Study Guide (ISSG) on June 1, 2012, addressing issues raised in the audit. The Yellow Jackets can now devote their full attention to aiding the development of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) — the newest NCAA Division II league in the country. Cedarville is a charter member along with local rivals Central State University and Urbana University as well as Kentucky Wesleyan College, Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.), and Ursuline College (Ohio). The G-MAC also features provisional members Georgetown College (Ky.) and The University of Virginia’s College at Wise as part of its expansion project. The league will sponsor 12 championship sports in 2012–13 with the intention to begin competition as an active NCAA Division II member conference in 2013–14. Cedarville will retain its longtime membership with the National Christian College Athletic Association. The NCCAA affiliation provides additional postseason opportunities for the Yellow Jackets, who claimed 2012 national titles in men’s basketball and women’s indoor track and field. NCAA Membership Time Line March 23, 2009 Application for NCAA membership July 10, 2009 Approved for candidacy year 1 July 9, 2010 Approved for candidacy year 2 July 8, 2011 Approved for provisional year July 12, 2012 Approved as active NCAA Division II members September 1, 2012 NCAA membership becomes effective Congratulations, Cedarville, on your move into the NCAA! As a Cedarville graduate immersed in collegiate athletics, I know you will not waste time or momentum to begin making a national impact in this new arena. Your facilities are state-of-the-art, you are committed to excellence, your coaches have the correct leadership directive, and most importantly, the school has a mission and a vision. The largest school, the one with the most of everything, is not always the one that wins in the end. If you consistently do the right things right, the right things do come! That is what I have witnessed at Baylor University, and I believe Cedarville is exhibiting this same leadership. I wish you well and congratulate you for taking this bold step. Tom Hill ’87, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Baylor University NCAA Division I 6 SUMMER 2012 campus news