Indianapolis, Indiana- On Thursday afternoon, The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Membership Committee informed Edward Waters University (EWU) that it has validated the University's second year of Division II provisional status and has given the approval for the University to begin its THIRD AND FINAL provisional year, effective immediately.
The approval by the NCAA is based on a series of reports submitted by EWU to the NCAA, outlining the measures put in place parallel to the NCAA move, and after a virtual site visit by an NCAA consulting group that met with EWU President/Chief Executive Officer Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr., Associate Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Dr. Ivana M. Rich, and many other members of the University's administration and athletics' team.
"We were absolutely ecstatic to have learned earlier today that Edward Waters University (EWU) has been approved by the NCAA to move to our third and final year of the provisional membership process" said President Faison.
"I would also be remised to not acknowledge the tremendous leadership and superlative work of EWU Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Dr. Ivana Rich, and the collective EWU Athletics administration, coaches, student-athletes, our faculty athletics representative, and the entire academic community for their continuing collaborative diligence towards guiding our program through this historic transformational growth opportunity for the university".
Year two for EWU saw the institution under full immersion into the NCAA Division II landscape in terms of governance, compliance, and of course, competitive schedule, competing as a full member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The NCAA noted that Edward Waters continued to successfully measure proper progress towards degree checkmarks, as well as financial aid and admissions protocols, as well.
Additionally, during year two of transition, the EWU women's volleyball team claimed the 2022 SIAC East Division Regular Season Championship and Tournament Runner Up, the men's volleyball team completed an undefeated conference regular season, claiming the 2023 SIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, and the Lady Tiger softball team won the 2023 SIAC East Division and Tournament Championships.
"We are so appreciative and forever grateful to the NCAA for their assistance and support enabling us to advance to the third year of provisional membership", stated Dr. Rich. "Today is such a great day for EWU Athletics made possible by the invaluable support from Strategic Edge Athletic Consulting and our campus partners."
The program is looking forward to provisional year three in more ways the one. Year three will see EWU Athletics staffers attending the NCAA Convention as well Regional Rules seminars as they normally do, and the NCAA consulting team will once again be visiting the campus to assess EWU's progress during the provisional window.
Successful transition through year three will see Edward Waters become a full member of the NCAA Division II and will be eligible for national championships beginning in 2024-25.
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