GRAND FORKS, N.D. ? University of North Dakota Athletic Director Tom Buning said today that UND President Charles E. Kupchella submitted a formal application to the NCAA last week to move all of its athletic programs to Division I, with football moving to the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (formerly referred to as I-AA).
 
Included with the application was the payment of a $15,000 application fee to the NCAA that is required as part of the reclassificaion process, Buning said.
 
The application means UND will officially begin its exploratory year in the 2007-08 academic year.
 
During 2007-08, all of UND's Division II programs and student-athletes will continue to compete for North Central Conference championships and individual awards along with NCAA Division II championships and individual awards.
 
After the 2007-08 exploratory year, UND's eighteen Division II programs will join men's and women's hockey in competing at the Division I level in 2008-09.
 
After four years of the transition, UND's former Division II programs will become eligible ? like men's and women's hockey ? to compete for NCAA Division I and Football Championship Subdivision championships in the 2012-13 year.