A study released last week assessing the University of California, San Diego’s (UCSD) Intercollegiate Athletics program recommended the university reclassify from the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division 2 to Division I. Initiated by the Associated Students (AS), the  student government entity on campus, the study also reviewed the potential feasibility of adding a football team and determined the campus does not have the resources to support the sport. Students will determine whether UCSD will make the transition, as the Intercollegiate Athletics program is funded by student fees. AS led the campaign during the 2009-2010 academic year to explore the possibility of adding a football team and/or moving to Division I. “The idea was introduced by students as a suggestion to improve campus life,” said Utsav Gupta, former AS president. UCSD Director of Athletics Earl Edwards said the university is aware that transitioning to Division I in a time of state budget cuts presents challenges. The study, conducted by Athletics Staffing and Consultants (ACS), recommended UCSD join Division I as a non-football sponsoring institution (I-AAA) and join the Big West Conference with similar schools like UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara.