SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio, July 13 -- Notre Dame College learned on Friday, July 8, that it has been approved for provisional status in the NCAA membership process.

Being approved for a provisional year advances Falcon athletic programs one step closer to becoming a full-fledged NCAA Division II member in time for the 2012-13 academic year.

Notre Dame President Dr. Andrew P. Roth and Acting Director of Athletics Brian Emerson received a phone call from the NCAA, with the body that oversees 88 championships in 23 sports issuing a positive recommendation for a second year in a row.

“Becoming a provisional member of the NCAA is another exciting step for Notre Dame College and its student-athletes,” said Roth, who has served president of the College since 2003. “Many in the NDC community have contributed greatly toward the end goal of becoming a full NCAA-II member, and their efforts are appreciated. We look forward to this upcoming year, to continuing the journey to full approval next summer by rigorously adhering to all NCAA rules, regulations and values. Working within the NCAA value-structure will enhance the intercollegiate experience for all of our student-athletes.”

NDC initiated application for NCAA membership in 2008 and has since been following a prescribed timeline for full DII membership. Year three in that timeline (2011-12) is known as a Provisional Year, which requires NDC to drop its NAIA membership as it meets all NCAA legislation. In the next academic year (2011-12), the process requires the College to function like a Division II institution. Besides maintaining the filing of necessary paperwork as it has up to this point, the athletic department faces an important compliance audit in the fall.

The NCAA administers athletic programs for more than 400,000 student-athletes competing in three divisions at over 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and Central America.

Upon becoming a full member, Notre Dame would join the following Ohio institutions affiliated as NCAA Division II: Ashland University (Ashland), Central State University (Wilberforce), University of Findlay (Findlay), Lake Erie College (Painesville), and Tiffin University (Tiffin). Ohio Dominican University (Columbus) and Urbana University (Urbana) are currently NCAA-II members with provisional status. On Friday, one other Ohio institution -- Cedarville University -- also learned it had been approved for provisional status in the membership process.