National News

 October 6, 2009

NAIA Council of Presidents Approve Four New Members

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Council of Presidents (COP) met in Kansas City last week and approved membership applications from Benedictine University at Springfield (Ill.), Central Baptist (Ark.) College, Warren Wilson (N.C.) College and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. These institutions bring total NAIA membership to 290.

Benedictine University at Springfield (Ill.) is formerly known as Springfield College in Illinois.

"The NAIA welcomes these four institutions and looks forward to working with campus leaders to advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics," said John Leavens, NAIA Senior Vice President for Membership Services. "I am confident these new members share in the long-held mission of the NAIA to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics."

NAIA national office staff works closely with member conferences to identify prospective members. NAIA conferences are highly involved throughout the evaluation process to ensure a good fit for prospective institutions at both the conference and national levels. The NAIA will continue to work with each conference to identify prospective schools for NAIA membership.

These institutions join an Association that was founded in 1937, and is a leader in the development of student-athletes. The NAIA continues to be a pioneer in implementing exceptional standards for academics, diversity and character. Those standards are evident not only on the campuses of member institutions, but also in the competitive arena.

The Association provides exclusive opportunities for more than 45,000 young men and women to achieve academically while competing for the love of the game. NAIA member institutions award millions of dollars through athletic aid to eligible student-athletes and create an environment where competitive athletics, academic excellence and character walk hand-in-hand.

To learn more about the NAIA visit www.NAIA.org.  

About Benedictine University at Springfield Benedictine University at Springfield is a progressive liberal arts university offering master-, bachelor- and associate-degree programs as well as a Ph.D. in Organization Development. Founded in 1929 by the Ursuline Sisters, Springfield's oldest institution of higher learning possesses an enduring legacy of leadership and excellence amid an exquisite campus setting with a vibrant student body. Degree programs include a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses in business; fine arts; the natural, life, and computational sciences; as well as humanities.

Benedictine University offers opportunities to excel both in the classroom and on the playing field. The Bulldogs athletic motto is simple: you are considered a student first and an athlete second. The program's philosophy is straightforward: encouraging student-athletes to reach their highest potential in their education as well as in competition. Benedictine feels that the unique opportunity to be an intercollegiate athlete provides students with valuable lifelong learning experiences that will help them in their future careers.

Benedictine currently sponsors baseball, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball and volleyball with plans to add women's golf, men's and women's cross country and men's and women's basketball. The university has applied for membership in the American Midwest Conference and will begin competing with varsity student-athletes certified eligible for NAIA competition beginning in 2010-11. NAIA postseason eligibility will first be available in 2011-12.

"Acceptance into the NAIA will offer new and exciting experiences for all our athletes as well as adding juniors and seniors to our rosters," said Steve Torricelli, Athletics Directors, Benedictine University at Springfield. "Athletes will now be able to participate all four years while earning their degree at Benedictine University at Springfield."

To learn more about Benedictine University at Springfield visit www.sci.edu