Univ. of New Orleans to remain DI

NEW ORLEANS — University of New Orleans president Peter Fos says the school will halt its transition to NCAA Division II status and instead remain in Division I.

Fos said Thursday that remaining at the highest level of college sports will help the New Orleans metropolitan area’s main public university attract more students and boost community involvement.

While UNO was part of the LSU system, budget crunches after Hurricane Katrina led to debatable decisions by former school officials to pursue a lower level of athletic competition as a means to save money, and in 2010 UNO withdrew from the Division I Sun Belt Conference.

However, UNO has since moved to the University of Louisiana system and installed new leadership, including Fos, who pledges to give UNO student-athletes the resources they need to succeed.