SALT LAKE CITY – Westminster College has successfully completed the transition to NCAA II active membership status after three years as a provisional member. The NCAA Division II Membership Committee voted this week to advance Westminster to full membership – making Griffins eligible to compete in conference and NCAA post-season championships. 
 
The NCAA Division II Management Council will review and approve the Membership Committee's decision during its July meetings, and if no further action is taken, the membership change will take effect Sept. 1. The first game as full NCAA DII members will be Sept. 1 at noon when the Griffins women's volleyball team hosts Truman State University in the Westminster Invitational.
 
"Being an active member of the NCAA reflects the talents of our student-athletes and the importance of athletics to the entire Westminster College experience," said Westminster President Beth Dobkin, Ph.D. "We have a generous, supportive community that has elevated our athletic program to where it is today, and we are grateful to all those who have contributed to this achievement."
 
As an official DII member, Westminster is now allowed to vote at the NCAA Convention. NCAA teams and student-athletes that qualify will be eligible to compete in post-season conferences and NCAA DII championships. Student-athletes will also be eligible to receive NCAA awards, honors and other association benefits. The Griffins are members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), which sponsors 22 NCAA Division II sports and comprises 16 member institutions located in the states of Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota and Utah.
 
The NCAA Division II membership process is a multiyear endeavor that prepares institutions for membership as successful Division II athletics programs. The process includes opportunities for education, assessment and growth as institutions integrate the Division II philosophy, strategic-positioning platform and best practices to be a model Division II institution.
 
 "After years of hard work and perseverance, this acceptance marks a historic milestone for Westminster," said Shay Wyatt, Westminster's director of athletics. "This accomplishment would not have been possible without the efforts of key staff and departments along with the support of our donors, alumni, trustees, presidents, faculty, coaches, staff, student-athletes and the RMAC. While it's been a long, arduous road to get to where we are today, we are excited for this new association and the benefits and experiences it will afford our institution and our student-athletes."
 
Westminster athletics has experienced both regional and national success over the years, with national tournament appearances, conference titles, All-Conference and All-American academic and athletic honors. The athletics program has a storied history dating back to 1928. After a hiatus with intercollegiate athletics in the late 1970s, Westminster has seen its athletics program reemerge from only a few sports in the 1980s to the current 22 sports teams today — and more than 300 student-athletes enrolled annually.
 
Since joining the RMAC in 2015, 59 Westminster student-athletes have received All-RMAC honors: one Player of the Year, two Freshman of the Year, 11 First Team All-RMAC, 24 Second Team All-RMAC and 21 Honorable Mention All-RMAC. Additionally, 286 student-athletes have received All-Academic honors:  19 All-Academic First Team and 267 All-Academic Honor-Roll.
 
Westminster currently has 17 athletic teams that will be eligible to compete in the NCAA, including men's and women's basketball, soccer, alpine skiing, cross country, golf, lacrosse, indoor and outdoor track & field and women's volleyball.

About NCAA Division II:
NCAA Division II is one of the three membership divisions at the National Collegiate Athletic Association, an organization comprising more than 1,200 institutions, conferences and affiliated organizations. Division II is a group of institutions and conferences that serve almost 90,000 student-athletes nationwide, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The emphasis for the student-athlete experience in Division II is a comprehensive program of learning and development. The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletic competition and the development of societal attitudes in service to the community. The balance and integration of these different areas of learning provide Division II student-athletes with a path to graduation while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead. For additional information on Division II efforts, visit ncaa.org.

About Westminster:
Westminster is a private, independent and comprehensive college in Salt Lake City, Utah. Students experience the liberal arts blended with professional programs in an atmosphere dedicated to civic engagement. With the goal of enabling its graduates to live vibrant, just and successful lives, Westminster provides transformational learning experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students in a truly student-centered environment. Faculty focus on teaching, learning and developing distinctive, innovative programs, while students thrive on Westminster's urban Sugar House campus within minutes of the Rocky Mountains. For more information, visit www.westminstercollege.edu or follow WestminsterSLC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 
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