Courtesy of Purdue Northwest's Sports Information Department
Hammond, Ind. & Westville, Ind. – Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is honored and excited to announce that on Friday, July 12, the PNW Pride was accepted as a full member of NCAA Division II, as determined by the NCAA Division II Membership Committee.
“This is a momentous achievement that benefits our university and our community,” said PNW Chancellor Thomas L. Keon. “PNW balances high quality academics with highly regarded and competitive athletic programs. The dedication and hard work of our campus community throughout this process have demonstrated our commitment to NCAA Division II and our student-athletes.”
After advancing though the three-year process as a provisional member, PNW is delighted to enter full NCAA membership for the 2019-2020 season and be eligible to compete in all conference, regional and national postseason competitions.
“On behalf of the PNW Pride, I would like to give our sincere thanks to the NCAA for accepting PNW as a full member,” said Director of Athletics Rick Costello. “This is an amazing milestone for our institution and athletic program. Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, alumni and the Northwest Indiana community for making this significant achievement possible. We are excited for what the future holds for PNW Athletics. Go Pride!”
Purdue Northwest will be entering its third year of competition in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) this fall alongside fellow members Ashland, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Northwood, Saginaw Valley State, Wayne State, and Wisconsin-Parkside.
“Purdue University Northwest has been an outstanding addition to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,” said GLIAC Commissioner Kris Dunbar. “Their dedicated athletic staff has worked tirelessly to become full NCAA Division II members. We are excited to be a part of their journey as they continue to grow with the NCAA.”
Read the full NCAA Release: https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/dii-set-add-four-members
About NCAA Division II
Founded in 1906, the NCAA conducts 90 championships in 24 sports across Divisions I, II and III.
NCAA Division II is one of the three membership divisions at the National Collegiate Athletic Association, an organization comprising more than 1,200 institutions, conferences and affiliated organizations. Division II is a group of institutions and conferences that serves almost 90,000 student-athletes nationwide, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The emphasis for the student-athlete experience in Division II is a comprehensive program of learning and development.
The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletic competition and the development of societal attitudes in service to the community. The balance and integration of these different areas of learning provide Division II student-athletes with a path to graduation while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead. For additional information on Division II efforts, visit ncaa.org.