PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania – The United States Collegiate Athletic Association and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the addition of six new members: Berea College, Bryant & Stratton College (Syracuse, NY), Davis College, Illinois Institute of Technology, Great Bay Community College, and Florida National University.
Berea College
A longtime member of the NAIA’s KIAC conference, the Mountaineers of Berea, Kentucky will join the USCAA in 2014-15. Founded in 1855, Berea was the first interracial and coeducational college in the south. Students at Berea are required to work at least 10 hours per week in campus and service jobs, providing opportunities for students to earn money for their rooms, books, and board.
The institution has a full-time student enrollment of 1,600 and offers 16 sports; men’s and women’s baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field.
“Berea College is pleased and excited to be accepted as a member in the USCAA. We feel that the mission and philosophy of the USCAA aligns extremely well with Berea. As a previous Athletic Director at a USCAA member college in the early 2000’s, I have followed the tremendous progress and growth of the association. Berea College looks forward to being proud member and contributor to the USCAA.” stated Athletic Director, Mark Cartmill.
Bryant & Stratton (Syracuse, NY)
Former NJCAA institution Bryant & Stratton College (Syracuse, NY) has joined the USCAA. Bryant & Stratton College has campuses in New York, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, and an online campus, offering two year programs at all campuses and four-year programs at selected campuses.
Its Syracuse affiliate has 710 full-time students and one of the few that offer on campus housing and athletics. The Bobcats’ athletic program aims to promote the physical and emotional well-being and social development of its student-athletes in four sports; men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s soccer.
“As a private career college, Bryant & Stratton College has enjoyed a history of athletic accomplishments including winning the 2001 NJCAA Men’s National Soccer Championship. We are very pleased to take this rich tradition of student athletic success, both on the field and in the classroom, to the USCAA”, said Campus Director, Michael Sattler.
Davis College
Also joining the USCAA for the upcoming year will be Davis College, from Johnson City, New York. Founded in 1900, Davis College is a bible-centered institution of higher education that is committed to making an impact upon the world of Jesus Christ by foster Christian character and equipping its students with the knowledge, competencies, and skills needed for leadership within the church and society.
Already a regular on many of the USCAA’s Pennsylvania and New York members’ schedules, Davis College offers four varsity sports in women’s volleyball, men’s soccer, and men’s and women’s basketball. On joining the USCAA next year, Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Dan Rathmell, stated:
“Davis College is excited to become a member of the USCAA. This is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to compete on a national stage in a well-organized association. Our goal is to take all of our athletic programs to a higher level and partnering with the USCAA will help make that possible.”
Illinois Institute of Technology
From the Midwest, Illinois Institute of Technology joins the USCAA for the coming season. Established in 1890, Illinois Tech is a private university located in Chicago, Illinois with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law.
An NCAA Division III provision member, the Scarlet Hawks offer thirteen sports for its student-athletes and will be competing in eight of the USCAA’s sports beginning this upcoming fall – men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball.
“The Illinois Tech athletic department is very excited about being accepted as full-time members into the USCAA. Joining the USCAA provides our student-athletes opportunities for post-season tournament opportunities and academic and athletic recognition,” said Co-Director of Athletics Marc Colwell.
Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College of Portsmouth, New Hampshire is the sixth new member of the USCAA for 2014-15, serving as a provisional member next season. Great Bay Community College provides accessible, student-centered, quality higher education programs for a diverse population of students. The college serves as the public community college serving the Rockingham and Strafford counties in New Hampshire.
Coming from the same community college system as current USCAA members NHTI, and Nashua Community College, Great Bay offers men’s golf and bowling, with plans to expand its athletic offerings to men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball in 2015-16.
"As a small college, we were looking for a national affiliation that recognizes the role that intercollegiate athletics can play in building enrollment and community; we found that with the USCAA. For our students, joining the USCAA allows them an opportunity to experience a variety of national tournaments. For the college it allows us to utilize athletics to grow enrollment both through recruitment and retention of student athletics“, said Director of Athletics Michael Fischer. “ The combination of joining the USCAA and the building of our new student success center will allow us to offer our students a first class experience that will enhance their education. We are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the Yankee Small College Conference and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association."
Florida National University
After spending a year as an exploratory member of the USCAA, Florida National University was elevated to full membership status by the USCAA Board of Directors earlier today. With men’s basketball as its only current sport offering, Florida National University will become a Division I member of USCAA basketball.
“On behalf of Florida National University we are very pleased to become full-time members of the USCAA. The USCAA has established a first class organization that helped us transition into starting an Athletic Department here at FNU. The customer service and non-stop support throughout all of the newly implemented procedures in originating this Athletic entity were more than appreciated. The origination of FNU Conquistador Athletics would not have been possible without the structure and interpersonal communication from the USCAA. I want to thank Mr. Casto, Mr. Simms, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Ehrie, Mr. Wegman, Mr. Heath, Mr. Liebowitz and the entire USCAA for helping expand awareness and helping build in what we expect to be a tradition of excellence with Conquistador Athletics here at Florida National University”, said Athletic Director Scott Schmidt.
“We are excited to welcome our six new member institutions for next year,” states USCAA Chief Operating Officer Matt Simms. “The USCAA is a unique organization, one that consists of accredited institutions of higher learning, each of whom provide a wide variation of programs and experience. The common thread that ties us together is that we are small colleges who seek the opportunity to compete against like institutions for national championships and student athlete recognition. Each of these institutions fits that mission and we look forward to serving them.”
The United States Collegiate Athletic Association is a national organization that exists to provide quality athletic competition on a regional and national level. The USCAA focuses specifically on smaller institutions of higher learning and their student-athletes. The association believes that all athletes and programs deserve the same national opportunities as larger institutions.
-USCAA