The University of Northern Colorado has officially completed the transition to NCAA Division I athletics, approved by the organization’s Division I Management Council Membership Subcommittee.
The Bears are now eligible to compete in all postseason and conference championships beginning this fall.
The reclassification process began in 2002, and the plan has included Northern Colorado’s successful NCAA Division I certification, a comprehensive review of the department of athletics in the areas of governance and rules compliance, academic integrity, and equity and student-athlete welfare.
In 2005, the Bears were invited to become the ninth member of the Big Sky Conference, and officially joined the conference in 2006, with teams competing in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball.
