Maryville (Mo.) has received permission from the NCAA to reclassify from Division III to Division II, effective Sept. 1, 2008.

The timeline to reclassify to NCAA Division II is a three-year process. After successful completion of the two-year exploratory period, Maryville must be invited to enter the provisional year and Maryville’s readiness to become an active member will continue to be evaluated. At the conclusion of three-year process, Maryville would be invited to active Division II membership.

The NCAA has tried to encourage schools to reclassify from Division III to Division II in order to ease the crowding in Division III. In recent years, Chestnut Hill, Lake Erie and Lincoln have done so.

"This is an exciting move for our institution," said Nina Caldwell, vice president for student life and dean of students. “NCAA Division II places a strong emphasis on academics and developing the whole person which mirrors our philosophy at Maryville. Moving to Division II will greatly enhance the overall collegiate experience for both our student‐athletes and non‐student athletes on many levels."

Maryville has been a member of NCAA Division III since 1978, and 2008‐09 will be its final year of affiliation with the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Extensive research was compiled through the athletics department and the athletics task force. Athletic director Tony Duckworth formally presented the data to the president’s advisory council in December 2007 and to the Board of Trustees in January 2008. Throughout the spring, meetings were held with various groups on campus and in March, Maryville submitted application to the NCAA for reclassification to NCAA Division II.