General | 8/11/2023 11:50:00 AM

DENTON, Texas (August 11, 2023) –  On August 6, 1973, NCAA members voted to reorganize into three divisions at a special convention – thus NCAA Division II was founded. 

Once the split occurred, 193 schools in 13 conferences chose to be founding members of Division II. 

Texas Woman's University officially became a Division II institution in 1982. Today, TWU sponsors five NCAA Division II sports, two NCAA Division II Emerging Sports for Women and two club sports. 

The Pioneers have been proud members of NCAA Division II for 41 years, and TWU Athletics prides itself in offering student-athletes a uniquely balanced experience in Division II. 

"Life In the Balance" stands as the motto of Division II, which defines the "philosophical foundation" and "captures the multiple facets of the Division II student-athlete experience: comprehensive learning and academic development, high-level athletics competition, and community engagement."

TWU adopts the Life In the Balance philosophy by cultivating an environment where student-athletes can excel in sport, in academics and in life. 

To further describe the Division II student-athlete experience, the Division identified a Distinguishing Dozen,  which identifies the unique attributes of life within Division II for student-athletes. One of the Distinguishing Dozen is Make It Yours – a commonly identifiable phrase used to describe the Division II experience. 

Make It Yours embodies the balanced purpose of Division II, because it empowers student-athletes to experience true success not only in athletics but in their future careers, in leadership and in service to others. 

This year, the NCAA and TWU are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Division II. The celebration began with a social media blitz on Monday, August 7. The NCAA also created an anniversary logo, which "includes two gold stroke lines in the "50" that are symbolic of the "II" in Division II, as well as the Make It Yours brand phrase. Additionally, the logo includes 12 stars for the division's Distinguishing Dozen characteristics."

Today, TWU created its own department-wide social media blitz to share our department's passion for Division II. Staff and student-athletes will be sharing photos and comments on why they love competing and working in Division II. The social media blitz today will usher us into a full year of celebrating 50 years of Division II. 

We are proud members of Division II, and we look forward to continuing to pioneer excellence in athletics, academics, service and in life.