Post by northalaspectator on Jan 25, 2021 10:18:09 GMT -6
ASUN CONFERENCE EXPANSION
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
When will UCA, EKU and JSU join the ASUN?
All three schools will begin full membership effective July 1, 2021, and compete in all sports in the 2021-22 academic year.
With these additions, will the ASUN be adding football?
Yes. The ASUN will begin sponsorship of FCS scholarship football. ASUN policy will permit members to declare their own status on football. No member will be compelled to change its sports sponsorship. Liberty will remain an FBS independent. Stetson will remain a member of the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League (PFL). No ASUN member has plans to add football.
Will the ASUN immediately have an automatic qualification (AQ) for the NCAA FCS Football Playoffs?
Yes. Through our existing and developing conference partnerships, and future expansion plans, all ASUN FCS scholarship football schools will have immediate and ongoing annual access to automatic qualification (AQ) the FCS playoffs.
When will U. North Alabama as an NCAA member reclassifying to Division I become eligible for the ASUN Football AQ?
Currently, reclassifying schools are not eligible for NCAA postseason play in any of the school’s four-year reclassification period. Under this rule, UNA will be eligible to earn an AQ (football and all other AQ sports) in 2022-23 when the school will have completed its four-year reclassification period and will become an active member of Division I. However, we fully support a National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (NCAA SAAC) proposal that will allow reclassifying schools to be eligible for an AQ beginning in year three of the process. If that proposal passes this spring, then UNA would be eligible for the AQ in football and every other sport in the coming 2021-22 year. We stand hopeful that this proposal, initiated by the ASUN, will prevail and allow deserving student-athletes the right to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. If the proposal passes, Bellarmine will become eligible for AQ in 2022-23 instead of 2024-25.
Do you anticipate any other ASUN membership changes?
Only if it involves further expansion. All twelve members for 2021-22 are fully committed to the ongoing RISE of the ASUN. The ASUN expansion plans received unanimous support when the plan was launched in November 2019, and unanimous support when officially approved to activate this stage of the plan. The ASUN move into football was made only with the condition that there will be no reduction in focus, support, promotion, and emphasis on basketball success. All sports will become stronger through this expansion. The ASUN plays in divisions this year as a result of COVID influence on travel, safety and costs. With 12 members, the ASUN will continue divisional play in 2021-22.
What is the ASUN process for accepting new members?
ASUN membership applications are only considered if the invitation to apply is issued by the ASUN Presidents’ Council. Any invited application received requires approval from at least 75% of the active Council members in good standing at the time of the vote. With nine active members, seven votes of approval are required to extend new membership. Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State each received unanimous support from the Council.
Do Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State hold equal membership with the rest of the ASUN institutions?
All three schools (Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky & Jacksonville State) receive immediate rights to ASUN voting on any policy going into effect after July 1, 2021. After July 1, 2021, the expansion schools and their student-athletes enjoy all privileges of ASUN membership. The new members will participate fully in all ASUN regular season and postseason play as earned. The only special circumstance involves ASUN Revenue Sharing. The new schools have a phase-in period for sharing in basketball performance units. They will share in all other ASUN revenue distributions.
What plans does the ASUN have for further expansion?
The primary focus of our next expansion phase will be to move to six (6) football members that play scholarship FCS football. This will allow the ASUN to qualify for an FCS playoff spot without relying on a conference partnership. The ASUN intends to continue its conference partnerships in any case, but reaching a sixth football member is first. The ASUN Futures Committee remains extremely confident that it will have options in the next expansion phase. The Futures Committee is the Presidents’ Council subcommittee that guides expansion activity. It is made up of four presidents and one AD. All expansion decisions will continue to be fully vetted by the ASUN Presidents’ Council. The ASUN is a CEO driven conference and prides itself as the most innovative, adaptive and forward-thinking conference in Division I.
What schools are current ASUN expansion targets?
As noted in public statements during the most recent expansion phase, the ASUN does not make public statements on any membership activity. Membership is always a topic of examination and continues to be now. As noted, the ASUN Futures Committee remains confident that attractive options will permit the conference to expand on its own terms. The ASUN will build from strength. Any further expansion must provide added value to the current membership.
