SIU Board of Trustees approve resolution for Edwardsville

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University officials approved a resolution Wednesday that allows the athletics program at its Edwardsville campus to seek a promotion to NCAA Division I.

The reclassification would take five years. During that time, SIUE would have to seek a conference affiliation and raise money to cover the larger budget needed for staffing, recruiting and facilities.

The SIU Board of Trustees passed a resolution approving the application for reclassification Wednesday during its regular monthly meeting in Carbondale.

SIUE has 16 sports programs. The move to Division I would require an additional $1.8 to $2 million, which would amount to a $150 increase in annual student fees.

Vandegrift said SIUE must inform the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the Division II conference it's belonged to since 1967, of its intention to join a new conference in May. The school must also apply to the NCAA by June 1 for reclassification to Division I.

-- AP