Seeking to stop the exodus of colleges and universities from Division II athletics, chancellors and presidents from more than 150 Division II institutions gathered here over the weekend to discuss new revenue opportunities and ways to get more exposure for their neglected athletics programs.

About a dozen Division II colleges have switched to Division I play in the past five years -- the largest shift ever, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association -- and at least nine of the remaining 281 Division II institutions are considering a transfer.

Several college presidents at the two-day conference organized by the NCAA said they were worried that if more colleges switched to Division I, those left behind could face increased costs, as teams would have to travel farther for games. Athletes also might miss more classes if they have to be on the road more often.

While many colleges make the move for the prestige and a shot at the revenue shared by the top teams, the reality is that moving to Division I also carries enormous financial implications, according to a report released at the meeting (The Chronicle, June 24). Colleges and universities that move up incur shortfalls of about $3-million a year, said the report, which was based on a study of 20 Division II institutions that switched to Division I in one or more sports from 1994 to 2002.

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