Since the Google Cloud Academic All-America® program was created in 1952, it has honored thousands of deserving student-athletes from numerous sports across all divisions. As the program has grown, more teams have been added as CoSIDA and the Academic All-America® committee are devoted to changes that increase opportunity to spotlight the best and brightest student-athletes.
Through the years, opportunities have been created through the addition of sports, including the at-large program, and also by adding divisions. In 1970, after years of a single team, the first split was made to create University and College divisions. In 2011-12, the program was expanded to four divisions with stand-alone teams for NCAA Division II and III. This year, the NAIA has its own division and is no longer part of the College Division.
For non-NCAA and NAIA institutions, this means new opportunity with the new College Division format that will be selected for the first time this spring.
CoSIDA Executive Director Doug Vance believes this will only continue to foster more involvement in CoSIDA and the Academic All-America® program.
“We are always looking for ways to enhance the Academic All-America® program and felt this was a way to encourage more involvement and engagement from our members in NAIA, U Sports and two-year colleges,” said Vance. “We had discussions with all three groups and received support to move forward. Hopefully, this will make the honor more meaningful for all three groups and provide greater opportunities for student-athletes.”
The national coordinator of the new College Division is Candice Kelm, sports information specialist at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. Kelm has been a part of the Academic All-America® committee since 2014. Kelm is also the treasurer for 2ySIDA, a group that formed in 2014 that consists of SIDs from two-year institutions. Kelm believes this additional contest could help foster increased participation in the Academic All-America® program.
“2ySIDA is working to increase our membership and the number of two-year SIDs within CoSIDA and this is a great selling point,” said Kelm. “We are starting small, with one national team per year, but we are hoping that with increases in membership and participation that we can expand the number of contests within the division as we move forward.”
Important Details
Who is included in the College Division?
Two-year colleges, U Sports (Canada) institutions, and any other institutions with national affiliations other than the NCAA or NAIA, such as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) or the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA).
What if I have dual affiliation?
Typically, you will nominate in the division in which that sport competes for a conference and/or national championship. For example, if your women’s basketball team plays in an NAIA conference, and/or competes for the NAIA championship, you would nominate women’s basketball student-athletes in the NAIA division, which begins in January. If your women’s basketball team competes for a championship in another affiliation, you would nominate women’s basketball student-athletes in the College Division at-large contest in May.
I’m at an NAIA school that is also affiliated with the NCCAA, can I nominate in both divisions?
No. You can nominate a student-athlete in either the NAIA or the College Division. You can’t nominate the same individual in both divisions.
What sports are eligible?
The College Division will be one at-large contest that will take place in the spring. Student-athletes from all the sponsored Academic All-America® sports are eligible. See AcademicAllAmerica.com for a full list.
No Academic All-District® team will be selected.
Winners will be named to the College Division Google Cloud Academic All-America® Team, with an announcement scheduled for Monday, June 17.
When do I nominate and vote for the College Division At-Large team?
Nominations are open Tuesday, May 7, at 9 p.m. through Tuesday, May 14, at 9 p.m. Voting is scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 21, and will conclude on Wednesday, May 29, at 9 p.m. (All times Eastern).
If I’m not a CoSIDA member can I still nominate?
No. Only current dues-paying CoSIDA members can nominate/vote for Google Cloud Academic All-America®. Memberships can be purchased at CoSIDA.com/membership.
Important! Update Your Profile at CoSIDA.com
SIDs from College Division institutions should make sure their organization and individual profiles are up to date to ensure they are placed in the correct division for nominating and voting.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the division in which you should nominate, contact committee members:
Mark Beckenbach, Ohio Wesleyan (chair) mlbecken@owu.edu
Kevin Lanke, Rose Hulman (vice chair) lanke@rose-hulman.edu
Craig Hicks, Denison (operations coordinator) hicksc@denison.edu