ROCKLIN, Calif. – Announced Thursday morning by the National Collegiate Athletics Association's (NCAA) membership committee, Jessup University's application for membership into NCAA Division II is officially approved. This news, the most momentous in Jessup Athletics' history, ensures the University begins NCAA competition in Fall 2024.
 
Jessup will play out the remainder of the 2023-24 season as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) while transitioning to an NCAA member, effective immediately. Jessup already accepted an invitation to join the PacWest Conference upon its arrival in NCAA Division II.
 
"Jessup is a place where dreams become reality," stated Dr. John Jackson, Jessup's President. "We celebrate the accomplishments of our student-athletes and believe that joining NCAA Division II is another step towards establishing the premier Northern California University we are called to build."
 
The sentiments were reiterated by Lance Von Vogt, Jessup's Vice President of Athletics: "The NCAA is the gold standard of collegiate athletics. For us to join and be a member of not only the NCAA but the esteemed PacWest Conference speaks volumes to what our university and our department have been able to accomplish over the past decade."
 
Jessup University becomes the latest Golden State Athletic Conference member to ascend to the PacWest and NCAA Division II. Westmont College will compete in its first NCAA season this fall. Others from the GSAC receiving their notice of acceptance today are Vanguard University and Menlo College. 
 
Former GSAC schools Azusa Pacific University, Biola University, Concordia-University Irvine, Fresno Pacific University, and Point Loma Nazarene University currently call the PacWest home as well.
 
Von Vogt also noted that, like other GSAC schools to make the transition, the move to NCAA Division II could be a major stepping stone for the University: "This may or may not be our final space. You look at Cal Baptist and what they did in short order, moving from the GSAC to the PacWest and from the PacWest to NCAA Division I. I believe that if things continue to go the way they are, there's nothing saying we couldn't become a University that makes the double jump from the NAIA into Division II. And then, if and when the time is right, up to Division I."
 
Conversations regarding a move to NCAA Division II began in Fall 2019, with Jessup's Vice President of Athletics, Lance Von Vogt, bringing the topic to Jessup's board of trustees in 2022—who unanimously approved the move. Throughout the process, members of the PacWest and NCAA membership committee visited Jessup's Rocklin campus and surrounding athletic facilities, meeting with Dr. Jackson, Von Vogt, and additional staff.
 
Jessup's NCAA application, related documents, and these site visits led to the committee's decision this week to approve the University's membership request.
 
Fall 2023 begins a three-year transitionary period for Jessup, starting with the Warriors' final competition season in the NAIA. Jessup will still be eligible for all conference and national championship events until the end of the 2024 spring season. During the first two NCAA seasons of competition, the University will be ineligible for national championship events.
 
Jessup will immediately be eligible for PacWest postseason appearances starting in Fall 2024 with the fall of 2026 serving as Jessup's first season of eligibility to compete for a national championship.
 
During Jessup's first two competition seasons in the NCAA, the University plans to compete within the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), allowing student-athletes to continue competing on a national level. This allows Jessup to qualify for postseason contests outside of NCAA while still competing in their full PacWest-sponsored schedule.
 
The move to NCAA Division II is one centered on growth for the University. On the potential growth of this move, Von Vogt noted, "The growth our University has experienced over the past 15 years since relocating to Rocklin is tremendous. For Jessup Athletics to be part of that journey and growth is something special. The move to NCAA indicates the maturity of our athletic program and quality of student-athletes."
 
Jessup would like to thank the NCAA membership committee for their time and diligence during the application process. The University also extends a thank you to the various staff members who worked tirelessly in the process of applying for NCAA Division II status.
     
Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).