Sul Ross State University Communications and Marketing Department release

The Sul Ross State athletic department received word on Thursday, July 13 from the NCAA that it has been approved for Division II athletic competition.

The university will enter a three-year provisional period that will include one more academic year in Division III.

SRSU will join Division II competition as part of the Lone Star Conference in fall 2024 and at the end of year three, just as long as all membership criteria have been met.

"Our primary goal is to improve enrollment and retention by creating an unforgettable student experience. We know that athletic competition is a driver in the choice students make about higher education," said president Carlos Hernandez.

Athletic director Amanda Workman completed the application in January 2023, calling the student-athlete experience at SRSU the rationale for exploring the change.

"We'll be attracting more students who will be able to continue to participate in sports after high school. It makes us more competitive on the field and we believe it will increase enrollment and augment retention efforts. Ultimately, our goal is to have all student-athletes graduate with a degree from SRSU," she said.

These changes will allow SRSU to award athletic scholarships, increase regional exposure and improve the travel schedule, which will improve the academic experience for student-athletes.

The Lobos currently competes in the Division III American Southwest Conference.

SRSU was a member of the LSC from 1950-1976, when the university joined the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The university left the TIAA for the ASC in 1996.