 The University of North Dakota Athletics will soon be reunited with the other Dakota schools. According to sources, UND has verbally agreed to join the Summit League in the fall of 2018 for most of its athletic programs. Along with the move to the Summit League, the University is also finalizing a move to the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The same league as North Dakota State, South Dakota and South Dakota State. And once the move to the MVFC is finalized, UND will sign the contract to join the Summit League, officially leaving the Big Sky. Well, this conversation of a sort has been going on for well over two plus months now. So it's pretty much the situation we've been in, in terms of ongoing discussions, process to be worked through. We think we're close, but it's not done yet. And obviously we're not in a position to comment something that's not done, but a lot of moving parts that have to get addressed before this is finished. And UND will play its final season as a full member of the Big Sky Conference in the 2017-18 season. They wouldn't join the MVFC though until 2020. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.