Penn State Abington Joins Division III Ranks
from press release
Chancellor Karen Wiley Sandler announced today the NCAA has
extended a formal membership offer to the college. Penn State
Abington will become a member of Division III. This news comes on
the heels of acceptance into the North Eastern Athletic Conference
(NEAC), an NCAA Division III conference, based in Gansevort, New
York. The NCAA's offer culminates a four-year process in which Penn
State Abington grew from a program with seven sports to a varsity
program with 13 sports.
"This is an important step in our efforts to provide a strong
athletic experience and enhanced opportunities for our students
here at Penn State Abington." said Sandler. "We're right where we
want to be in our long term planning and on schedule to achieve
full NCAA Division III within a few short years."
Penn State Abington will undergo a provisional membership process
of up to four years before it becomes eligible for NCAA
championship play. However, the college intends to extend its
post-season opportunities through participation in the NEAC
conference championships as well as the ECAC Championships,
available to teams in the Northeast and MidAtlantic regions of the
country.
Director of Athletics Karen Weaver, who has overseen the college's
growth and transition the past three years, says: "Our coaching
staff and student athletes are very excited about this news. NCAA
membership further positions the college as a great choice
academically, athletically and financially in these difficult
times. With 13 sports to choose from, we believe we can be an
alternative for those who want a Penn State education but may not
want to compete in Division I."
