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The ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½, this week declared exploratory status with the National Collegiate Athletic Association for possible reclassification from Division II to Division I status.

The deadline for declaring the 2002-03 academic year as an institution's exploratory year is Dec. 1.

Under new "one plus four" legislation adopted by the NCAA earlier this year, institutions seeking possible reclassification must declare an exploratory year before officially applying for a move to a new division. Four years of provisional status follows the exploratory year, should a school decide on reclassification.

"More discussion will continue on campus regarding a possible move to the Big West Conference and NCAA Division I," said ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef. "Declaring the exploratory year is a necessary step for that discussion to go forward and is another step in the process. Discussions will occur with faculty, staff, students and others to ensure that the campus is in position to make an informed decision regarding the move."

ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ has until June 1, 2003, to decide whether or not it will apply for a move to NCAA Division I. The exploratory year has no competitive effect on the Aggies' 25 intercollegiate athletic teams during the 2002-03 year. It is simply an official declaration to the NCAA that ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ is discussing a possible move to Division I status.

Undergraduate students passed the Campus Expansion Initiative last week, a portion of which asked students whether they would financially support a move by ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ to the Big West Conference and Division I.