YHC granted candidacy for NCAA Division II membership

With information from wire reports

According to a press release from Young Harris College, YHC President Cathy Cox has announced today that the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA has formally accepted YHC as a candidate for Division II membership.

After three prior applications, YHC will begin the NCAA membership process.

In the press release Cox said, “Our athletic department has worked diligently in leading this endeavor, and this achievement is a significant milestone in our on-going transformation to a four-year college. We know that NCAA membership will attract many talented student-athletes to Young Harris College.”

Randy Dunn, director of YHC Athletics, said in the release that he is also looking forward to the College’s acceptance.

“I am very pleased that the NCAA membership committee considered YHC a worthy institution for provisional membership. Obtaining full membership will be a three-year process, and if everything goes well, YHC should receive full NCAA membership in 2014-2015.”

During YHC’s first year under provisional membership, the College will comply with NCAA’s rules and policies as well as create Division II athletic schedules.

Following the first provisional year, the NCAA membership committee will send representatives to review YHC’s transition; the membership committee will then decide if YHC is ready for the next level in the membership process.

Along with working to gain NCAA membership,  Dunn is working to complete membership into the Peach Belt Conference.

“The next step for Young Harris College is to immediately begin work to complete the process for membership in the Peach Belt Conference, which is one of the strongest and most prestigious Division II conferences in the country.”

If accepted in the Peach Belt Conference, YHC would join other institutions such as Columbus State University, Georgia College & State University and the University of North Carolina—Pembroke.