WHY DIVISION II?
Philosophy
The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and development of positive societal attitudes in service to community. The balance and integration of these different areas of learning provide Division II student-athletes a path to graduation while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead.
A member of Division II believes in a set of common features, which assist in defining the division. Such features include exceptional teacher-to-student ratios that provide student-athletes with a quality education, a unique model of staffing in which coaches provide additional services such as teaching and mentoring, and the development of community partnerships and student-athlete participation in community engagement activities.
History of Division II
Division II was officially christened in 1973 when NCAA members at a Special Convention that summer voted to establish three divisions for athletics competition. Before then, NCAA schools were classified as either “university” or “college” to distinguish between the larger and smaller athletics programs, but the three-division structure adopted in 1973 gave NCAA members a more varied menu for which to classify their programs.
In 2005, Division II launched an ambitious and unique identity campaign to more clearly define what the division represented for its members. At the time, Division II was starting to be defined as the “middle division” or a classification that was “neither Division I nor Division III.” Not satisfied with that distinction, Division II members assembled a promotional campaign that emphasized Division II as a chosen destination for student-athletes who experience a “Life in the Balance” in which they excel athletically, academically, and as citizens in their communities.
Today, the Division II experience continues to emphasize the attributes of learning, balance, passion, sportsmanship, service and resourcefulness. Member schools provide the “Life in the Balance” experience for more than 90,000 student-athletes who achieve on the fields and courts, in the classrooms and in the community.
Life in the Balance
The phrase “Life in the Balance” shows up frequently in Division II materials. It’s not just a mantra, but a way of life for Division II members who believe that a balanced approach is the best for the student-athlete college experience.
“Life in the Balance” defines the philosophical foundation that represents the Division II story. It captures multiple facets of the Division II student-athlete experience: comprehensive learning and academic development, high-level athletics competition, and community engagement.
Make It Yours Video
Division II Facts and Figures
*Information taken from NCAA.org.
