Utah Tech University Athletics

(DIXIE STATE INTRODUCTION TO THE WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE)
(WATCH THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT)
(OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE)

Why is Dixie State making the transition to Division I?
• Dixie State University’s strategic plan, Dixie 2020: Status to Stature, outlines six goals and a number of strategies the institution is working on in order to transition from gaining university status in 2013 to securing university stature. Specifically, Goal No. 6 calls for establishing a strong brand and identity for the university by, in part, strengthening the athletic program’s performance to improve the visibility and image of the university. While a move to Division I is not required to achieve university stature, it will assuredly elevate the university’s brand, identity, exposure, visibility, and image, and thus strengthen our stature within the state and region. The anticipated results of the transition include increased enrollment, retention, and completion rates for the institution. This transition to Division I is a natural next step in the evolution of the institution.
 
• Dixie State is the only Division II institution within the Utah System of Higher Education and one of only two Division II programs in the state, with fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) member Westminster College being the other. Transitioning to Division I and joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) will provide for the development of rivalries with in-state peer institutions such as Utah Valley (also a member of the WAC), Weber State, and Southern Utah. Other potential regional opponents within close geographic proximity include Northern Arizona and former PacWest Conference rivals Grand Canyon and California Baptist, both of whom are WAC members. While the footprint for travel within the WAC will mean teams traveling to Texas, Missouri, Illinois, and Washington each year, the increased number of opponents within a close proximity to Dixie State will help minimize our overall travel impact compared to the current travel requirements within Division II.
 
• A large portion of Dixie State’s institutional budget is tied directly to enrollment. The opportunity to increase enrollment by becoming a Division I institution may help limit tuition increases and produce the revenue necessary to enhance the quality of our academic programs, facilities, and student-support services.
 
• The transition to NCAA Division I offers long-term benefits and branding opportunities in major media markets. Dixie State teams will play WAC contests in large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Kansas City, and Chicago. This increase in visibility for Dixie State will help facilitate marketing efforts.


 
Have all major factors been carefully considered prior to making this decision?
• The transition to Division 1 has been examined thoroughly with attention given to all relevant factors and points of view. Dixie State hired a consultant to perform a feasibility study in addition to consulting athletic professionals, administrators, faculty, staff, student-athletes, trustees, alumni, boosters, sponsors, community members, and administrators at other WAC schools concerning the possibility of a move to Division I. Additionally, several focus groups and town hall meetings were held with the various stakeholder groups including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community supporters. At each of these events, the feedback was positive and there were significant expressions of support to continue the effort.  Lastly, an online survey was distributed to gather thoughts and opinions. The results showed strong support for a move to Division I.



 

Dixie State recently joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and is very successful at the Division II level. Why not continue to grow our program to be a powerful Division II program that annually competes for national championships?
• Dixie State is very appreciative of our RMAC membership. The conference is one of the most competitive and successful conferences in Division II. We feel that the success that we have seen at the Division II level, combined with our campus location and facilities, has prepared us to compete on an even larger stage – one that will give the Dixie State even greater visibility across the region and nation. DSU is one of the fastest-growing institutions in the nation, and we are advancing in all areas – academics, enrollment, facilities, and community engagement. With a transition to Division I, athletics will play a larger role in assisting the institution’s continued advancement in all these areas.



 


Why did Dixie State choose the Western Athletic Conference?
• We believe that Division I is where Dixie State belongs, given the trajectory of the university and our peer institutions within the state. An invitation from a conference is required to make the transition to NCAA Division I competition, which is usually the most difficult step to achieve. The WAC approached Dixie State leadership to gauge our interest in a move in an effort to strengthen their conference, and while researching the WAC as part of considering the offer, the university found the WAC to be a good fit. The WAC is a very storied conference with over 55 years of history, especially within the state of Utah.



 






The WAC does not have football. What does that mean for Dixie State’s football program?
• Football will compete at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level of Division I as an independent program. It will not belong to a conference. Scheduling will be an annual challenge without a conference, but one that has been thoroughly investigated. The university is comfortable with proceeding as an independent program and is confident it will not have a negative impact on the team. However, Dixie State will be actively exploring conference options for football for the future.



 
Is it realistic to think Dixie State can compete at the D-I level?
• Dixie State has incredible coaches and student-athletes, and we believe very strongly in them. We have always fielded very competitive teams. Even with the lower number of scholarships that Division II schools are able to offer, DSU has experienced recent successes in head-to-head competitions against Division I programs in men’s basketball, women’s soccer, men’s golf, and softball. The winning tradition of Trailblazer Athletics is very important and that tradition will not fade as we enter Division I.
 
• Moving to Division I will usher in change for Dixie State, similar to the transition we experienced when we moved from junior college competition to NCAA Division II in 2006. Transitions are tough, but DSU has a strong plan for this challenge, modeled after our last transition, to quickly establish ourself as a competitive program in the WAC. The first few years in the WAC are expected to be the most difficult due to the dynamics of recruitment and limits on post-season play. With each passing year of the four-year reclassification process, these challenges will lessen and DSU student-athletes will demonstrate the excellence that we are accustomed to seeing from Trailblazer Athletics.
 
• Per NCAA rules, Dixie State will not be eligible for NCAA Division I postseason play until the 2024-25 season, which will mark the end of our transition period. However, DSU teams will be able to win regular season WAC conference championships right away, and individual sports (cross country, swimming, indoor/outdoor track, and golf) will be eligible to compete for conference championships right away as well. Golf’s participation in conference championships during the transition period will be limited to only as individuals with no team scoring.
 
• It is important to understand the subdivisions that define Division I athletics. There are two football playing tiers of Division I: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS – formerly Division I-AA). FCS institutions tend to be smaller than FBS institutions and have more limited athletic budgets, providing the right fit for DSU. At the same time, the transition to Division I opens the door for the University to compete against FBS schools (such as those in the Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences) on a selective basis to gain national exposure and generate revenue for Dixie State.


 
Will DSU be able to sustain the increase in costs of Division I athletics without harming the University as a whole?
• As we have done as a Division II program, Dixie State will continue to closely monitor athletic expenses in order to promote the academic mission of the institution. A financial pro forma has been created by DSU that demonstrates this commitment while outlining a plan for reaching financial milestones necessary to make the transition (available at https://dixiestateathletics.com/documents/2018/10/11/DSU_Feasibility_Study_10_1.pdf).


 
Will the move to Division I require new athletic facilities?
• The move to Division I will not require the construction of new athletic facilities, as Dixie State already has excellent facilities that will need only normal renovations, regardless of NCAA classification. In fact, DSU’s facilities are more closely aligned with other FCS Division I facilities than they are with Division II facilities.
 
• As a result of the transition to Division I, the amount of private giving to Dixie State is likely to
increase significantly. In fact, financial support for DSU Athletics has already started to increase as reports of the move to the WAC have gone public. Through donor gifts, DSU will be able to make greater progress on these facility upgrades than it would otherwise have been able to do.


 
Will Dixie State be required to increase the number of sponsored sports as a result of this transition?
• Dixie State currently meets the minimum number of sports required by the NCAA to be Division I, but because the WAC does not sponsor football, DSU does not meet the minimum number of men’s sports required for the conference. A men’s sport would need to be added for the start of the 2020-21 year in order to meet WAC minimums. The chosen sport will be identified as soon as possible to begin recruiting and other necessary planning.


 
Will travel increase for our athletic programs?
• Dixie State understands that the WAC is more geographically spread out than the RMAC and thus will require trips of longer distance. However, due to the distance, teams will fly to most conference locations rather than riding on busses for long periods of time, which currently is the common practice in the RMAC. While it will be a slight increase in expense for this travel, it will assuredly be a safer mode of transportation. On the flip side, the travel for non-conference contests should decrease significantly with the increased number of Division I opponents located within easy driving distance from DSU.


 

What effect does this move to Division I have on DSU’s enrollment and academic profile?
• The move to Division I is expected to have a positive impact on Dixie State’s academic profile and enrollment. Division I FCS institutions compare favorably to Division II institutions with regard to admission standards and other academic indicators. Additionally, a 2016 study indicates that institutions making the transition from Division II to Division I experience an average enrollment growth of 10-15%.
 
• Division I academic standards ensure student-athletes take appropriate steps to earn their degrees and include specific GPA and credit hour requirements among other stipulations. The Academic Progress Rate (APR) is a term-by-term measure of eligibility and retention for Division I student-athletes. The NCAA uses APR to hold institutions accountable for the academic progress of their student-athletes. Division II has no similar model in place to hold member institutions accountable. Division I institutions that fall below APR standards may face penalties handed down by the NCAA. Penalties may include reductions in practice hours, reductions in competitions, coach suspensions, and possible loss of NCAA postseason eligibility. 


 
How will this transition benefit Dixie State alumni?
• The transition to Division I will benefit all Dixie State alumni. The higher classification will enrich the value of the degree for all graduates as media coverage, and thus, brand awareness, of the University increases with Division I attention. Having a national stage to tell our story, share about our academic offerings, and detail the quality of a DSU degree will further strengthen the entire institution.


 
What impact will this transition to Division I have on our local community?
• The transition to Division I is more about institutional identity than athletics. Increased institutional brand awareness will significantly benefit the Southern Utah region. As St. George, which the U.S. Census Bureau recognized as the No. 1 fastest-growing metro area in the nation in 2018, continues to grow, enhancing DSU’s brand will support this growth by attracting fans to the area.

• The move to Division I will allow Dixie State to rekindle historic rivalries with peer schools in our state and region, which will translate into more visiting fans coming into our area. Additionally, from time to time, high-profile programs from the Pac-12 and Mountain West Conferences, among others, will be willing to come to St. George for contests against Dixie State in selected sports. The net impact of these developments will be greater excitement and fan interest that will translate into increased economic support for the Southern Utah region.