News

Cape Cod, Mass. - Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Rudy Keeling and ECAC President Dan Mara have announced that Lyndon State College, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Pennsylvania State University at Abington, Salem International University, and Virginia Commonwealth University have been voted into membership in the Eastern College Athletic Conference for the 2009-10 academic year.

The institutions have all been voted in by the ECAC Board of Directors. With the addition of those five schools, the ECAC's membership increases to 297 colleges from Maine to North Carolina. The conference has 90 members in Division I, 18 members in Division II, and 189 members in Division III.

"We are excited we are still expanding, and that colleges and universities see the value of our services. The ECAC continues to deliver an enormous return to its members - providing championship opportunities, officiating services, and award recognition through our player of the week and all-star programs," said Commissioner Keeling.

Located in Lyndonville, Vermont, Lyndon State College offers quality education in liberal arts and professional programs to 1,490 students, that develop creative and critical thinking for success in today's global society. Twenty-three academic majors and nine associate degree programs are offered to students on the Lyndon State campus. The Division III institution competes in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC). The Hornets are comprised of 12 athletic teams, including men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis, women's volleyball, and men's lacrosse. Chris Ummer is the director of athletics for the Hornets.

Founded in 1886, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is home to more than 3,200 undergraduates and more than 300 graduate students. Located in the town of Princess Anne, the institution is a land-grant, historically black college that started life as the Delaware Conference Academy. The campus has had several name changes and governing bodies over the years. It was known as Maryland State College from 1948 until 1970, when it became one of the five campuses that formed the University of Maryland. It currently has more than 85 buildings with several others on line. Academically, UMES specializes in the arts and sciences, agriculture, and business. The Hawks participate in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) as a Division I institution. UMES has 15 intercollegiate programs including baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's bowling, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track, men's and women's tennis, softball, and women's volleyball. Keith Davidson is the director of athletics for UMES.    

Penn State Abington is a commonwealth campus of the Pennsylvania State University, located approximately 15 miles north of Center City Philadelphia in the Rydal section of Abington, Pennsylvania. The 3,250 undergraduate students are taught by a full-time faculty staff of 107 professors. Penn State Abington offers 15 baccalaureate degrees and two associate degrees. Students may also complete the first two years of any of 160 Penn State baccalaureate programs at the Abington campus, and then change assignment to the University Park campus of Penn State to complete their degree.  The Lions offer 13 intercollegiate teams including women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, softball, and men's and women's tennis. The Division III school competes in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC). Karen Weaver is the Director of Athletics for PSU Abington.

Established in 1888 as Salem College, Salem International University has a tradition of academic and sports excellence and innovation. Nestled in the mountains of West Virginia, SIU offers associate, bachelor and graduate degrees in high demand fields such as business, education, information technology, and criminal justice. Salem International is a Division II school that offers 10 intercollegiate athletic programs including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's water polo, baseball and women's softball. The Tigers are in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Keith Bullion is the athletic director for the Tigers.

Virginia Commonwealth University, centered in the city of Richmond, enrolled 32,000 undergraduate, graduate and health professional students on its two campuses during the 2008 fall term. VCU offers 62 baccalaureate degrees, 69 master's degrees and 31 doctoral degrees, as well as first professional de­grees in dentistry, pharmacy and medicine. The Division I school competes within the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Rams offer 16 intercollegiate sports including baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, and women's volleyball. Norwood Teague is the director of athletics at VCU.

About the ECAC®
The ECAC is the nation's largest athletic and the only multi-divisional conference in the country with approximately 300 Division I, II, and III colleges and universities. The ECAC membership covers 16 states and stretches from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Illinois. Established in 1938, the ECAC, a non-profit service organization, sponsors nearly 100 championships in 37 men's and women's sports and assigns more than 4,400 officials in 12 sports. The ECAC also administers nine affiliate sports organizations and six playing leagues. Through the public relations arm of the conference, more than 2,000 student-athletes are recognized. Finally, the ECAC serves as the primary conference for select members in the sports of men's ice hockey, women's ice hockey, and men's lacrosse.