The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is exploring a pilot program which would allow cross-border schools to apply for Division II membership.

Delise O’Meally, director of NCAA membership services, said the parameters of the project still need to be finalized, but said “there is a possibility that Canadian schools can begin the provisional membership process as early as September.”

According to O’Meally six Canadian institutions have expressed interest in the possibility of entering the NCAA.

They include: Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, Lakehead University, Ryerson University, and St. Clair College in Windsor, Ont.

The BC universities appear among the most likely candidates to leave the CIS in favour of the NCAA for financial reasons: changing to the US conference would help minimize travel costs for them.  Similarly, several Canadian schools who already have much of their competition within reasonable travel distance may choose to remain in the CIS to avoid the burden and expense of increased travel.

If you were waiting for one more reason to explore university in BC (because falling enrollments, recruitment of out-of-province students, removal of provincial examinations as an admissions criteria weren’t enough) then I think this might be the sign. 

Above and beyond the dollars provided by universities, there is substantial additional scholarship money available for student-athletes who pursue their education in Canada from other sources such as Sport Canada, Swimming Canada, Canada Basketball, the Canadian Hockey League and many other organizations who recognize the value of staying in Canada for education and athletics.

So, before assuming that the only way to fund your athletic child’s post-secondary education is to fly south of the border, check out this list of Ontario CIS schools with contact info, where you can also find a comprehensive list of all CIS schools in Canada sorted alphabetically, by region or by sport.