UND's hope of finding a Division I athletics home in the Summit League has taken its first step forward.
At a meeting of Summit League presidents on Monday in Chicago, the presidents agreed to move forward with the evaluation process of UND in regards to the school's potential admission into the league.
"That's the direction the president's council has agreed to go in," Summit League commissioner Tom Douple said. "It's the beginning of a multi-step process."
Douple spoke with UND President Robert Kelley and athletic director Brian Faison Tuesday morning to inform them of Monday's happenings.
UND, which just completed its second season of Division I athletics, currently competes in the Great West Conference in a majority of its sports. The GWC, essentially based upon a scheduling alliance of Division I independents, doesn't advance an automatic qualifier to postseason tournaments.
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The Summit League, a 10-member conference, has automatic qualifying status and would reunite UND with former North Central Conference rivals North Dakota State, South Dakota State and South Dakota.
"Obviously we're pleased to be a part of the process and to be considered for membership," Faison said. "We're looking forward to providing the Summit League with the necessary information."
Douple said there's potential for UND to receive a site visit "for the end of 2010."
If the Summit continues to move forward with its admission of UND, it's unclear when the school would begin competition in the league. The University of South Dakota, which was accepted into the league in April 2009, will begin play in the Summit in the 2011-12 school year.
Although Douple said UND wasn't the only school the Summit presidents discussed in regards to expansion, it is the only school the league is proceeding with at this time.
The first step in the evaluation process is for UND to submit a collection of institutional information for the Summit League to assess.
"We have a whole list of profile questions we want to review," said Douple, who said he expects that information by October. "(We want to know) how they're set up academically, what kind of support systems there are, fiscally how they're structured and how they plan to attack the future."
Douple also said the presidents were satisfied with the direction of the retirement of UND's nickname and logo. The league had previously stated it would not consider UND for membership until the school had resolved its Fighting Sioux nickname issue. The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education has since directed UND to begin retiring the nickname.
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"It seems that (UND) is headed in that direction," Douple said.
Douple added he has been impressed with his interactions with UND officials.
"I've got to know president Kelley, and I've been extremely pleased with his leadership," Douple said. "We've had some great conversations. When you have a strong leader at the top -- and with Brian Faison as AD -- it's a very good starting point to move forward."
Miller reports on sports. Reach him at (701) 780-1121; (800) 477-6572, ext. 121; or send e-mail to tmiller@gfherald.com .
