The following information and procedures have been established to assist groups with their pursuit of establishing an intercollegiate team at Northern Illinois University. Northern Illinois University is committed to the principles of Title IX and supports a gender equitable, broad-based athletics program. Please call the Athletic Director in the Department of Athletics with your intent before gathering support documents. You may receive definitions and guidance which will assist you prior to your investment of time and effort into the procedures.

I. The establishment of an Intercollegiate Team may be considered by the Northern Illinois University Athletic Department and the Athletic Board if the following criteria are met:

A. An unmet interest is demonstrated through all or some of the following data:

1. A periodic survey implemented by NIU demonstrates an unmet interest in the particular sport for the under represented gender.
2. A petition is prepared and signed by a significant number of participants who are interested in and would participate in the proposed sport.
3. Data from High School Associations of regional states indicates a strong interest and participation in the sport at the high school level, assuring a continuous flow of high school recruits.
4. Letters of support from high school coaches in the region indicating that they would communicate with their players and advocate their enrollment and participation on a Northern Illinois University team.
5. An interest forum on campus is well attended with future athletes who will support the team and follow all athletic rules and criteria for the establishment of a team.
6. Regional competitors at the club and varsity team level indicate that they would schedule with the NIU team if the team were established.

B. The team members demonstrate that they have the athletic skill to compete at the Division I level by organizing and competing for one year as a recognized club sport against competitive teams.
C. The team members have the ability to meet NCAA and NIU eligibility standards.
D. The team members are able to obtain club funding for a minimum of one year and maintain organizational, fiscal, and competitive commitment to their sport and season.

II. The Athletic Department will consider the following before requesting consideration for a new sport from the Athletic Board:

A. Documentation which supports the criteria in Section I of this document.

7. Interest data.
8. The club sport file from the Student Association (SA) with all SA required documents.

B. The impact of adding the new sport on university legal issues such as Title IX compliance.
C. The ability of the athletic department to commit the appropriate time, financial, and physical resources to support the new sport.
D. Sufficient competitive opportunities exist, within the conference or within Illinois and its adjacent states, to participate in a minimum number of contests equal to 75% of the NCAA maximum number of contests.
E. The impact of adding the new sport on conference status.
F. The ability to hire the appropriate staff to support the new sport
G. The recruiting pool within the region is sufficient in number and ability to produce a minimum of 80% of the NCAA average squad size.

III. The Athletic Board will consider the addition of a new sport at the request of the Athletic Department:

A. The request from the Athletic Department will be submitted as an agenda item for Board consideration.
B. The Chair may defer action until subcommittees such as Gender Equity and Budget analyze the impact of the program and report back to the Board as a whole.
C. The Athletic Board is an advisory committee to the President of the university and will make recommendations on the proposal in an advisory capacity.
D. Upon final approval as a new NIU sport from the President=s Office and Board of Trustees, the Athletic Department will take responsibility for resources, equipment, staffing, recruiting, facilities and other services required of all Division 1 teams.