RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced that California Baptist University has been approved for the Division II membership process. The association notified Dr. Micah Parker, CBU Director of Athletics, in a phone call Monday.

"Pursuing NCAA Division II status is another building block in our long term effort to build a premiere comprehensive Christian university," said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU President. "Since 1994, the institution's enrollment has grown five-fold, revenues have increased nearly ten-fold, and the depth and breadth of our academic offerings and resource base have significantly increased as well. This has resulted in a university profile that is more similar to the majority of NCAA Division II members than it is to the majority of NAIA members. As CBU continues to grow and develop in many areas, we are excited about the opportunities and new horizons opening to us with this move to NCAA Division II."
The Lancers will remain active members within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) for the upcoming 2010-11 season while beginning the possible three-year transition. CBU has been part of the NAIA since 1969.

CBU, which has 19 intercollegiate sports (10 men and nine women), will enter what is called Candidacy Year 1 with the NCAA followed by Candidacy Year 2. Traditionally, Year 3 is known as a provisional year.

"I want to personally thank our administration and departments across campus for their help in the application process," said Parker. "One thing I've learned in my time here is that CBU is constantly moving forward. This move reflects a campus-wide pattern of growth and expansion."

CBU is also pursuing conference affiliation. There are currently three NCAA Division II conferences on the West Coast, and the Lancers need to be in a Division II conference by the end of Year 1 in order to pursue the Year 3 waiver.

At present there are 32 Division II members on the West Coast, 15 of them in California. A total of 12 schools applied by the June 1 deadline, 11 of which are NAIA schools including California State University-San Marcos. Six of the 12 are first-time applicants.

Founded in 1910, the NCAA is the governing body for more than 1,200 schools with more than 400,000 student-athletes. In 1973, the membership divided among three divisions. Currently there are 291 Division II members, including 10 independents.

"We are excited about the opportunity to start this new chapter in CBU athletics and are looking forward to continuing our mission to ‘honor Christ through excellence in athletics' with our new relationship with the NCAA," said Parker.