Nearly 200 Cal State San Marcos employees, students and members of the community gathered today to celebrate CSUSM's approval for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II candidacy. The University learned Wednesday that it had been approved for NCAA Division II candidacy by the NCAA Membership Committee.Today's festivities included remarks by CSUSM President Dr. Karen Haynes, Director of Athleticsand Head Volleyball Coach"What a great day to be a Cougar," Milo said. "In 2004-2005 our department operated on a shoe string budget. We had six teams, 70 student-athletes, one athletic facility and our department had a staff of five. Athletics was on the verge of being shut down, until President Haynes arrived! With President Haynes' support and vision for what CSUSM Athletics could be, we stand here today celebrating a milestone and a conversation that began in 2002 – and that milestone is NCAA DII candidacy."President Haynes discussed the importance of eventually moving to NCAA Division II."The move to the NCAA and the CCAA conference will provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes, secure the long-term future of athletics at CSUSM and align our University with the most recognized brand in college sports," she said. "Because everyone recognizes that blue-disk NCAA logo, achieving NCAA D2 membership is a victory for the entire CSUSM community. As our University's number-one cheerleader, let me reiterate how I proud I am of our athletics department and our entire university and say….Go, Cougars!"With the successful application for NCAA DII membership, CSUSM will now enter a minimum three-year transition period before earning full NCAA status. The Cougars will remain in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) for the 2014-15 academic year. During this time, the department will work towards meeting NCAA first-year requirements.During the second year of the candidacy period, CSUSM athletic schedules would begin to include CCAA members, but the Cougars would not be eligible for postseason competition. During the third year of the transition, CSUSM would be granted provisional membership into NCAA Division II and would continue to play a CCAA conference schedule, but would still not be able to compete in the NCAA DII postseason.CSUSM would gain full NCAA Division II member status in the fall of 2017 as long as all benchmarks are met during the transition process, and be eligible to compete in the NCAA DII postseason during the 2017-18 academic year.