I know schools that change classifications do it over a 3 year period but what do the schools usually do with their scholarship players? I realize scholarships are one year contracts but do most schools honor their commitments to the student athletics or do they just say see ya?
If they don't honor them, why do they have to wait 3 years?
It takes four years to move to Division III and there is an exploratory year usually needed before that so it is often five years. Sometimes schools can get the final two years combined into one. How its set up, everyone would use the four years of scholarship before the school would be a full Division III member. Going into Division II only takes three years.
And the reason why it takes four years is that there is more to being a Division III member than simply not giving out athletic scholarships, and the NCAA wants to make sure schools are in compliance with all of those.