BAY CITY, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) is excited to officially welcome Davenport University and Purdue University Northwest as provisional members to the conference as the calendar turns over to the 2017-18 membership year beginning on July 1st.

The Pride of Purdue University Northwest hail from two campuses 35 miles apart in Hammond and Westville, Indiana just outside the Chicago metropolitan area. The Panthers of Davenport University are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Davenport and Purdue Northwest's GLIAC membership privileges are contigent upon continuing to excel through the NCAA Division II membership program, a three-year endeavor that prepares institutions for membership as successful Division II athletics programs. Although they will compete in the GLIAC starting with the 2017-18 season, both programs will be ineligible for NCAA postseason play until becoming full members in 2019-20. DU and PNW will however be eligible for regular-season GLIAC championships and be able to participate in conference tournament action immediately.

ABOUT DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY

School: Davenport University
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Founded: 1866
Enrollment: 3,174 at Main Campus
Nickname: Panthers
Colors: Red, Black & White
President: Richard J. Pappas
Director of Athletics: Paul Lowden
Athletics Website: www.dupanthers.com
Sponsored Sports (20): Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Football, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Men's Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field, Wrestling, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field, Womens' Volleyball 

ABOUT PURDUE UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

School: Purdue University Northwest
Location: Hammond, Ind. & Westville, Ind. (two campuses)
Founded: 2016
Enrollment: 15,000
Nickname: Pride
Colors: Gold and Black
Chancellor: Dr. Thomas Keon
Director of Athletics: Rick Costello
Athletics Website: www.pnwathletics.com
Sponsored Sports (13): Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Womens' Volleyball

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will feature 12 member institutions from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana sponsoring 21 NCAA Division II sports beginning in 2017-18. Founded in 1972, the GLIAC has developed into one of the most nationally competitive athletic conferences, both on the field and in the classroom. With Davenport and Purdue Northwest scheduled to compete in the GLIAC starting with the 2017-18 academic year, the conference will consist of Ashland University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, Northwood University, Saginaw Valley State University, Tiffin University and Wayne State University.