OREM — Utah Valley State College has taken a step toward becoming the first school to jump straight from junior college status to NCAA Division I status.
The NCAA has given UVSC permission to conduct the exploratory year of athletics that precedes a six-year provisional request to become a Division I member.
In a letter dated July 17, the NCAA granted UVSC a seven-year provisional membership period starting this fall. UVSC will not begin playing Division I competition until the 2003-04 season, and this year will continue to compete in the NJCAA's Region 18.
"I don't think you expect anything like that," said Mike Jacobsen, UVSC athletic director. "In all reality it's never happened before when someone made a move from the NJCAA to Division I. If we're able to do it, it's going to be a tremendous thing for us. We hope to put it together."
Jacobsen said that during the exploratory year, the NCAA will investigate the college and determine how well prepared it is for the six-year provisional period.
UVSC fields only 13 teams and will have to add one sport to its program by fall of 2003. UVSC spokesman Derek Hall said the school is trying to decide between wrestling and men's volleyball.
"Right now, it seems like men's volleyball has the upper hand, though, because we already have such an active club volleyball program," he said.
Jacobsen said the key issue facing UVSC is increasing athletic funding. He said UVSC's current athletic budget is $1.4 million. By the end of the six years, the budget has to be at $2 million. Student fees currently fund 60 percent of the school's athletic budget, he said.
UVSC recently hired a second director of fund raising and also will seek support from the state, private donations and sponsorships. However, the school expects to depend primarily on student fees to raise the athletic budget to Division I levels.