Emory & Henry Accepted Into Full NCAA Division II Membership
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Emory & Henry College will be a full NCAA Division II member in the upcoming 2024-25 academic year, NCAA officials announced Thursday afternoon. The announcement was made following the completion of annual reporting by E&H and deliberation by the membership committee. College officials learned of the news on Thursday morning during a conference call with the NCAA.
RELATED – NCAA Division II Membership Committee Release
"The news that we have been fully admitted to Division II status is the result of great teamwork and in particular the efforts of Dr. Anne Crutchfield and the rest of the athletics administration," commented Dr. John W. Wells, President of the College. "Moving to Division II elevates the entire institution. This is another great day at Emory & Henry."
Over the past three years of realignment from Division III to Division II, Emory & Henry has seen historic growth as an institution. Enrollment has reached unprecedented heights at both the undergraduate and graduate levels including significant increases in campus diversity. E&H has also made investments in its infrastructure with the construction and renovations of several residence halls, the renovation of Carriger Hall as the home of the School of Business and the construction of the Food City Sports Complex at Interstate 81.
"We are ecstatic that Emory & Henry is now a full member of NCAA Division II," said Director of Athletics Kyle Sensabaugh. "The work we did in this process over the past three years made us examine everything we do in the Department of Athletics and in several other offices on campus. Now that we can compete in Division II national tournaments, our sights are set on earning our first bid to the postseason."
As a full Division II member, Emory & Henry will be eligible to receive automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament as the champion of the South Atlantic Conference or an at-large berth based on season-long competition as part of the Southeast Region. Additionally, E&H is now able to vote on Division II legislation and is eligible for Division II grants and programming.
E&H is one of four new Division II institutions to receive approval as Allen University, Edward Waters University and Westmont College were also accepted by the membership committee at their meeting this week. Division II will be comprised of 293 colleges and universities in 2024-25.
"On behalf of the South Atlantic Conference, I would like to congratulate Emory & Henry on its completion of the transition to NCAA Division II," noted South Atlantic Conference Commissioner Patrick Britz. "Emory & Henry has been a great addition to our conference. The leaders on campus have done a tremendous job navigating through the process to become a full member of Division II."
The 2024-25 academic year will see another major change for Southwest Virginia's oldest institution of higher education with the transition to Emory & Henry University on August 1. Along with this change, Dr. Lou Fincher, Senior Vice President and founding dean of the School of Health Sciences has been chosen to serve as Interim President of the University for the upcoming year.
"Emory & Henry is on the move with the transition to university and full membership in NCAA Division II athletics," said Dr. Fincher. "These are exciting times in the history of the institution, and we look forward to watching our student-athletes compete and win in the SAC and beyond."
Emory & Henry will welcome its student-athletes back to campus in the coming weeks with the first contest as NCAA Division II Emory & Henry University set for Saturday, August 31 as the football team hosts Glenville State College.
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PROJECTED TIMELINE OF EMORY & HENRY'S REALIGNMENT
FROM NCAA DIVISION III TO NCAA DIVISION II
November 2020 - Approval from E&H Board of Trustees to pursue membership in NCAA Division II -- COMPLETED
November 2020 - Invitation received from the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) to become a member -- COMPLETED
January 2021 - Submit formal application to the NCAA for realignment to NCAA Division II -- COMPLETED
July 2021 - Decision from the NCAA regarding application for realignment -- COMPLETED
August 2021 - Start of NCAA Division II provisional year one -- COMPLETED
July 2022 - Start of South Atlantic Conference membership -- COMPLETED
August 2022 - Start of NCAA Division II provisional year two -- COMPLETED
August 2023 - Start of NCAA Division II provisional year three & eligibility for SAC postseason play -- COMPLETED
July 11, 2024 - NCAA Division II Membership Committee announcement
September 1, 2024 - Full NCAA Division II membership and eligibility for NCAA postseason play