MINOT, N.D. – Officials at Minot State University were informed Friday afternoon the university was granted NCAA Division II Provisional member status by the governing body during a conference call.

MSU will spend this year as a provisional member of the NCAA and looks to complete the four-year process sometime in July 2012. MSU will be an NCAA Division II independent for the upcoming school year, but has been selected as a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference beginning in the 2012-13 school year.

“We are excited to be moving on to our final year in the transition to NCAA Division II. The NCAA personnel that called today indicated that they view Minot State University as a very solid DII institution,” said MSU Athletic Director Rick Hedberg. “That's exciting to hear because our entire campus has worked very hard at this process. Our coaches, student-athletes and everyone across campus have done a wonderful job of embracing this move. Their attention to the requirements of the NCAA during this transition has been outstanding and the committee was very aware of that. ”

The university began the transition to NCAA Division II rules and regulations during its second year of candidacy, but will now be required to meet all regulations and abide by all rules during the provisional status. MSU will be also required to submit any violations to the Northern Sun office. The university will go through a compliance blue print review this fall, serving as a follow-up to the NCAA membership committee site visit that took place in April.

“This is one more step toward Minot State University realizing our goals within Vision 2013 on becoming a premier institution in the Great Plains,” Hedberg said. “This is an exciting final step in our transition.”