The Spring Hill College athletic program is close to becoming members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II.

Since 2012, SHC has aspired to ascend from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level of athletics to the next level: NCAA. With SHC’s growing athletic program, an upgrade in their competition level would be ideal; but there are still requirements to be met so Badgers may be members before the start of the fall semester.

This past fall semester and current spring semester, SHC completed the final few steps of the NCAA process. First, SHC was tasked with removing its probation--which it achieved--by the regional accrediting agency: the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. SHC was placed on probation due to financial instability, but in December of 2017, SACSCOC reaffirmed its accreditation and removed its probation.

Next, SHC was tasked with successfully completing an NCAA Compliance Blueprint Review. And finally, SHC was tasked with completing an all-required membership annual report by June 1.

SHC Athletic Director Jim Hall explained that SHC was able to take care of the accreditation status and the Compliance Blueprint Review, and passed both. Now, all that is left to do is submit the annual report by June 1, and SHC should receive news of advancement to active membership status in July. Hall is expecting a notification from the NCAA Division II Membership Committee by mid-July.

He stated, “It is very exciting to finally be so close to completing this process. We’ve been working on this for six years now, and it will be thrilling to finally experience the culmination of all that work on the part of so many people across campus. I can’t wait to start watching our student athletes compete for conference and NCAA Championships.” SHC student athletes are also excited.

Dwight Harris, SHC varsity basketball starting point guard, said with much excitement, “I can’t wait to be fully NCAA eligible. I love the playoff atmosphere, and I know that our team will do very well if granted the opportunity to participate.”

SHC faculty and staff are looking forward to what is to come.