NEWARK, N.J. Thursday, Nov. 21, 1996 -- New Jersey Institute of Technology plans to move its intercollegiate athletic program from NCAA Division III to Division II starting in September 1997, University President Saul K. Fenster announced during a news conference this afternoon.
NJIT has already been unanimously accepted to play in the 12-college New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC). Founded in 1989, NYCAC has grown into one of the most successful NCAA Division II conferences in the country. NYCAC members include Adelphi University, C.W. Post College, Concordia College, Dowling College, Mercy College, Molloy College, New York Institute of Technology, Pace University, Philadelphia Textile, Queens College, College of Saint Rose, and Southampton College.
The move makes the NJIT Highlanders the only New Jersey university or college competing on the NCAA Division II level.
"During the past decade, NJIT has experienced substantial growth and development in areas such as the curriculum, sponsored research, and campus facilities. Today the university is nationally recognized for its instructional and research programs," said Saul K. Fenster, university president. "During this same period, our athletic program has experienced success on the playing field and in the classroom. Today, our athletic program takes a major step forward as we announce our intention to move to a higher level of competition: NCAA Division II."
NJIT plans to compete at the NCAA Division II level in September 1997.
"The move to Division II presents a tremendous challenge for our coaching staff and student athletes," said James Catalano, director of physical education and athletics and head men's basketball coach. "At the same time, we believe the opportunities for recruiting and championship competition will be outstanding. NJIT has always attracted outstanding student/athletes and this move to Division II and the NYCAC will increase the pool of student athletes interested in an NJIT education."
By moving to Division II, NJIT will be able to offer student athletes full and partial athletic scholarships.
"We will have a limited number of athletic scholarships available for student athletes entering next fall," said Catalano.
NJIT currently sponsors teams in 13 intercollegiate sports: men's and women's basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis and track and field; men's baseball, fencing, and volleyball; and women's swimming.
NJIT will terminate membership in three NCAA Division III conferences at the end of the Spring 1997 season: Independent Athletic Conference (IAC), Skyline Athletic Conference, and Women's Independent Athletic Conference (WIAC).
The NYCAC sponsors championships in 13 sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball. Winners of the men's and women's post season basketball tournaments earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II championship tournaments. Last year, NYCAC teams competed in the NCAA Division II playoffs in men's and women's basketball, baseball, and women's volleyball with the College of Saint Rose advancing to the Elite Eight in men's basketball and Adelphi University advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championship in baseball.
NJIT is a public research university enrolling nearly 7,900 bachelor's, master's and doctoral students in 67 degree programs through its five colleges: Newark College of Engineering, School of Architecture, College of Science and Liberal Arts, the School of Industrial Management and the Albert Dorman Honors College. Research initiatives include manufacturing, microelectronics, transportation, computer science, environmental engineering and science, and architecture and building science. U.S. News and World Report's 1996 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges ranked NJIT among the second quartile (58-114) of 229 national universities. Money Magazine's Money Guide: Best College Buys 1996 rated NJIT as the third best value among U.S. science and technology schools and 54th among the Top 100 U.S. higher education institutions.
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11/21/96
For more information contact: The Office of Public Relations, (973) 596-3434
Release number: 3189b