Identifier

etd-06282014-112233

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Kinesiology

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Scholars have argued that athletics are utilized by universities to advertise their school to all individuals (Collins, 2012; Dwyer, Eddy, Havard, & Braa, 2010; Toma & Cross, 1998; Washington & Ventresca, 2004; Weaver, 2010). Expectedly, university officials are willing to contribute resources in order to develop an effective athletics program to establish an institution’s legitimacy among other universities (Collins, 2012; Toma & Cross, 1998; Washington & Ventresca, 2004). One tactic employed by schools focuses on the process of athletic association reclassification into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from other member associations (e.g., National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics). Officials consider this move due to the NCAA’s identity as the premiere intercollegiate athletic association. As such, studies on college movement recognized that universities are more likely to move to the NCAA if other universities with shared characteristics have reclassified in order to become legitimate among peers (Smith, Williams, Soebbing, & Washington, 2013; Washington, 2004; 2004-05). However, research has not been conducted to estimate the quantity and duration of a potential 'reclassification' effect. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine if a change in athletic association will increase the number of application receives after reclassification. The dissertation analyzes this phenomenon through the movement of former NAIA member schools from 1959 to 2012 to the NCAA.

Date

2014

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Seifried, Chad

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.3018

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Kinesiology Commons

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