Starting Monday, students at UC San Diego can vote on a proposal to move its athletic program to NCAA Division I.
Currently, UCSD competes at the Division II level in the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference.
Online voting was delayed Monday when the university's digital system for voting stopped working, according to UCSD Associated Students President Dominick Suvonnasupa. Students were not able to cast votes in person. Whatever time is lost online will be added on for voting next week.
Similar Division I proposals were rejected by students in 2004 and 2012, but student leaders believe a new generation of students on campus should weigh in.
In January, UCSD's Associated Students Council voted unanimously to put the referendum on the spring ballot.
A "yes" vote would increase student athletic fees by $480 a year. The increase would be phased in over three years.
The increase would give the school enough money for needed scholarships and staff members to move to NCAA Division I.
If approved, UC San Diego would look for an invitation from the Big West Conference, currently home to four other University of California schools.
A football team would not be part of the transition to Division I.
UC San Diego Proposed Athletic Fee Increase
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total | |
| Quarterly Increase | $60 | $55 | $45 | $160 |
| Yearly Increase | $180 | $165 | $135 | $480 |
