Participation in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship tournament is strictly limited to institutions that hold full active Division I status. Schools competing in Division II, Division III, or the NAIA operate under entirely separate organizational governance structures, conduct distinct postseason national championship tournaments of their own, and are ineligible to participate in March Madness. Furthermore, new Division I programs transitioning from lower divisions must complete a mandatory multi-year reclassification period before becoming fully eligible to receive automatic or at-large bids to the tournament.