The South Dakota Board of Regents unanimously supported the University of South Dakota's planned move to Divison IAA in football and IA in all other sports Thursday.
USD will compete in the North Central Conference through the 2007-2008 season, although it will be an exploratory year as the university searches for a conference and extra funds to support the expected $2 million increase in the Athletic Department's budget annually.
The regents' 9-0 vote carried the same stipulations put on South Dakota State University four years ago when it made the same switch from Division II to Division I.
Those requirements apply to things like scholarships, joining an athletic conference and finding the money for the estimated $2 million more it will cost at the DI level.
Support for intercollegiate athletics from the student general activity fee may only increase at the annual rate of inflation set by the regents, and state general fund dollars for salaries, benefits, or operational expenses may only increase at rates equivalent to what is otherwise appropriated for the universities' base budgets, the regents said in a statement.
"This provision limits increases in student fees and state funding to the regular, ongoing costs of operating the institutions, regardless of athletic classification," said Regents President Harvey Jewett.
No one spoke out against the move when the regents held a public hearing on it Monday.
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