Four New Members are Announced for the 2022-23 Academic Year
PITTSBURGH, PA -- The United States Collegiate Athletic Association and its Board of Directors have announced the addition of four new full members for the 2022-23 academic year: Atlantis University, Salem University, Shaw University and Southeastern Illinois College.
Atlantis University
Atlantis University is located in Miami, Florida and has a full-time enrollment of 350 students, encompassing both graduate and undergraduate students. The undergraduate population is approximately 200 students. They currently offer the varsity sports of Men’s & Women’s Soccer, Men’s Basketball, Baseball, and Men’s & Women’s Tennis with football competing at the club level.
"On behalf of the athletic department and Atlantis University we look forward to being part of an organization that brings small colleges together that share our common goals and perspectives for many years to come", says Athletic Director, Paul Godoy. Competing without any national or regional affiliation last season in their inaugural year, they look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead this season.
Atlantis University is a unique institution in that it is situated in a downtown metropolitan area and is housed in a professional office building. Despite its corporate feel, the campus offers a modern design with open, collaborative spaces for students, faculty and staff to engage. It also includes a variety of classroom styles to meet the demands of the curriculum for each of their career fields (Business, Computer Science, Healthcare, Engineering, Education, Language). Additionally, they offer creative spaces such as a green room for media design and a podcast studio.
"Atlantis is a young program." says Chief Operating Officer, BJ Bertges. "With the USCAA providing guidance and structure to their department, I know they will continue to grow and be great stewards of the USCAA mission and vision".
Salem University
Salem University is located in Salem, West Virginia and has a full-time enrollment of approximately 400 students on campus and an additional 600 students who attend online in a mix of undergraduate and graduate programs. They currently offer the varsity sports of Baseball, Men’s & Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field, Swimming, Men’s & Women's Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo, all of which compete at the NCAA Division II level without conference affiliation with the exceptions of Swimming and Water Polo.
"We wish to express our thanks to the USCAA and its member institutions for the opportunity to join this impressive organization", says Athletic Director, Alexander Joseph. "We are excited about our future as a USCAA member. The USCAA provides expanded opportunities for postseason play and offers another outlet for our student-athletes to receive recognition for their standout performances both in athletics and in the classroom".
The campus is well established with buildings dedicated to academics including science labs, a learning resource center, a student center, a gymnasium, complete with an athletic training rehab center and full-size swimming pool, as well as outdoor facilities for Tennis. They support soccer, baseball, and softball at local off campus facilities where they have great relationships with the community and are given free or discounted access in exchange for youth community programming on a sport-by-sport basis.
"Salem supports athletics from the top down with the focus being on student-athlete experience, academic success and opportunity", says USCAA Chief Operating Officer, BJ Bertges. "Salem is looking to continue to enhance their programs through dual membership with the USCAA and sees themselves as long term members of the Association. The opportunity for recognition and postseason play will provide an additional avenue for them to continue to rebuild their storied athletic history and continue to enhance their footprint in the local community".
Shaw University
Shaw University, located in Raleigh, N.C., is the first historically black university in the Southern United States. Shaw is a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the Baptist Church and among the oldest HBCU’s in the nation. Founded in 1865, the University has a rich history steeped in tradition, activism, and service. They were the first college in North Carolina to offer a four-year medical school; the first institution of higher learning established for freedmen after the Civil War and the first historically Black College in the nation to open its doors to women.
Shaw serves just over 1,000 students, a third of which are student-athletes. They currently offer the varsity sports of Football, Men’s & Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Track & Field, Cross Country, Softball, Women’s Bowling, Men’s & Women’s Basketball, and Tennis, with a five-year goal to explore the addition of Men’s Track & Field, Lacrosse and Beach Volleyball, all of which compete at the NCAA Division II level with most recognized as conference sports within the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). For those without conference affiliation, like the Men's & Women's Soccer programs, the USCAA provides those student-athletes an opportunity for postseason play.
Shaw's Athletic Director, George Knox, says, "Joining forces with the USCAA is a complete game-changer for our program and University. We believe we have found a strong, solid conference for both of our Men’s and Women’s soccer programs that will help eliminate the hardships of being an independent competitor while also building new roads to championships for our department”.
USCAA Chief Operating Officer, BJ Bertges, echoes the sentiment. "Providing outstanding student-athlete experience is something that the USCAA prides itself on. Being able to fill a void and provide recognition for not just the soccer programs, but all student-athletes at Shaw is exciting and I look forward to their growth and membership for years to come".
Southeastern Illinois College
Southeastern Illinois College is located in Harrisburg, IL and has a full-time enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. The college also services approximately 1,000 part-time students and community non-credit courses. The Men’s Basketball team will be the pilot sport to participate in the USCAA with others hopeful to follow in years to come as they are dual members with the NJCAA. Athletic Director, Jeremy Irlbeck, had this to stay on their membership, “We are looking forward to moving our Men’s Basketball team to the USCAA Organization. We are very excited for the direction of the USCAA with their mission and focus. It will strongly align with the vision and direction of our Institution and Men’s Basketball program”.
The campus is well established with several academic buildings, an art gallery, a gymnasium and facilities for their trade program offerings including a diesel mechanic garage. Despite its classification of a community college, the campus provides the feel of many four-year institutions given its physical size. The campus also houses baseball and softball fields as well as a firing range, archery center and disc golf course.
The institution has established four main priorities: teaching and learning, service to community, accessibility, and accountability. They are committed to lifelong learning, as demonstrated by their course offerings (full-time, part-time, non-credit) and accessibility to the community. They also have strong roots in their community and routinely collaborate with stakeholders to promote economic growth, workforce development, and community enrichment. Finally, they prioritize sound stewardship by ensuring their actions faithfully serve the best interests of the students and community.
"I am excited to see what Southeastern Illinois College brings to the USCAA", says COO, BJ Bertges. "Not unlike some of our other community college members, they provide both traditional and trade academic programs while supporting athletics at a high level. I expect them to make their presence known right away with the Association and look forward to all of their sports competing for USCAA National Championships".
About the USCAA
The primary goal of the USCAA is to provide members with an Association that is devoted to the growth, vision, and values of their institutions. The USCAA’s focus is to enhance member institutions through athletics. The association intends to achieve this goal by providing opportunities for small colleges to compete on an equal level of competition with schools of similar size and athletic programs. The USCAA conducts 15 National Championships, names All-Americans, recognizes scholar athletes, and promotes USCAA member schools in various ways. The USCAA believes that the integrity and credibility of the Association and its members are paramount in accomplishing its goal.