Abstract
At the highest level of intercollegiate athletics, successful programs have the potential to enhance public perception, increase visibility, and enrich prestige for an institution (Beyer & Hannah, 2000; Goff, 2000). Due to these potential benefits, university officials are willing to invest tremendous amounts of energy and capital, in the form of a division reclassification, just for the opportunity to compete at this level. This transition, however, is a complex process with substantial consequences for a university and its stakeholders. Employing a mixed methodology, this case study investigated the previous management decisions and current stakeholder perceptions of an institution’s recent reclassification from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II to Division I. The results paralleled previous reclassification research (Roy, Graeff, & Harmon, 2008; Tomasini, 2005), and provided insightful information with regard to stakeholder perceptions of the athletic department, the transition to Division I, and the institution’s overall brand of academic quality. For the benefit of university and athletic administrators considering reclassification, vital opportunities, threats, limitations, and the potential for future research related to the topic are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Dwyer, Brendan; Eddy, Terry; Harvard, Cody; and Braa, Lori
(2010)
"Stakeholder Perceptions of an Athletic Program’s Reclassification from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I (FCS) Membership: A Case Study,"
Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics: Vol. 3, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/jiia/vol3/iss1/5