An announcement will be made at approximately 11 a.m. as to whether or not Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be entering the Ohio Valley Conference for the 2008-2009 academic year, according to Greg Conroy, director of public affairs at SIUE.

According to the OVC Web site, Commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. to make an announcement regarding the future of the conference.

If the Cougars join the OVC, then they will replace Samford University, which left the OVC after this school year.

SIUE is making the transition from Division II to Division I, and is working toward joining a conference.

In February of 2007, SIUE was given approval to apply for reclassification to NCAA Division I.

This transition will include all 10 sports in the Cougar Athletic Department, and take about five years.

The Cougars are currently in their exploratory period.

According to the NCAA website, “the chief executive officer, the director of athletics, the senior woman administrator, the faculty athletics representative and the compliance coordinator of the institution seeking to reclassify must attend the NCAA Convention and an NCAA regional rules seminar.”

These same individuals also have to complete an orientation session regarding Division I membership requirements. The institution was required to also submit a strategic plan that addresses the Division I philosophy statement and certification operating principles by June 1.

SIUE will have to cover some costs as well before transitioning.

The Cougars had to pay a $15,000 NCAA fee when they submitted their application, as well as pay an exit fee of $25,000 to the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The exploratory year is followed by a multi-year transition in “reclassification status,” in which the Cougars will have to comply with Division I rules and regulations.

Conroy said the teams would be able to compete at the Division I level by this fall.

“SIUE will have a Division I schedule next fall, but will not be able to compete in any NCAA Tournament,” Conroy said.

The Cougars will have to wait until the fall of 2012 to be eligible to participate in any NCAA Division I tournament championships.

“Right now the softball and men’s soccer team is on the fast track to be eligible to participate in the NCAA tournament in the 2010 and 2011 season,” Conroy said.

The men’s soccer team has won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship four times in the past 10 years.

The women’s softball team has won the GLVC championship five times in the past seven years.

Right now SIUE is deciding on which conference to join.

In order to meet the NCAA Division I schedule requirements, the Cougars must be affiliated with a conference.

Molly Clutter can be reached at 581-7944 or at mkclutter@eiu.edu.