Officials from the Ohio Valley Conference will be visiting the University of North Alabama today, but school officials aren’t expecting to receive an invitation to join the Division I conference during the visit.

UNA athletics director Mark Linder confirmed OVC representatitives will be on campus. Those representatives likely will tour the campus and look at the school’s athletic facilities.

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Early Tuesday, Linder said he was not sure how big of a travel party to expect. The visit is expected to be a short one, lasting no more than a few hours.

It’s the first time OVC officials have conducted a site visit to UNA.

On Monday, the OVC office declined to confirm the visit, saying in an email that it is against conference policy to discuss schools who are not members of the Ohio Valley Conference.

UNA is attempting to move from Division II to Division I, and the proximity of the OVC makes it an attractive option. The OVC currently has nine football playing members.

Under NCAA guidelines, UNA can not make the transition to Division I without an invitation to join a conference. There also is an application fee.

Presidents of the OVC must vote to extend an invitation to any prospective member. Earlier this year, the conference added Belmont University, a non-football playing school.

By Gregg Dewalt, Times Daily
http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110817/SPORTS40/110819820/1167/sports40?Title=UNA-gets-visit-from-OVC