NCAA Division III
Houghton became a provisional member of Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in July 2012.
Division III is the NCAA's largest division with 444 member institiutions serving more than 170,000 student-athletes.
NCAA Division III athletics provides a well-rounded collegiate experience that involves a balance of rigorous academics, competitive athletics, and the opportunity to pursue the multitude of other co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities offered on Division III campuses. Division III encourages student-athletes to take advantage of the many opportunities available to them, both within and beyond athletics, so that they may develop their full potential as students, athletes, and citizens.
The NCAA Division III membership process is an interactive multi-year progression that prepares candidate institutions for membership as successful Division III athletics programs. The five-year process is comprised of one exploratory year of membership and four years of provisional/reclassifying membership, and includes educational and operational benchmarks that introduce institutions to the Division III philosophy and the best practices of model Division III institutions.
Learn
why Division III is the right choice for Houghton.
Visit the
Division III web site.
Houghton was accepted as a member of the Empire 8 in 2011 and began competition in the conference in 2012. Houghton will be eligible to participate in conference championship events when they become a full member of the NCAA after a four-year provisional period.
The Empire 8 membership includes Alfred Univeristy, Elmira College, Hartwick College, Utica College, Nazareth College, St John Fisher College, Ithaca College and Stevens Institute of Technology. Championships are offered in 22 sports.
The Empire 8 has been serving its membership in various forms over the past 40 years.
In 1964, Alfred University, Clarkson University, Hobart College, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence University, and Union College joined together to form the Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC). Its primary purpose was aimed at schedule making for a few major sports. Union soon dropped out to be replaced later by Ithaca College and RIT. The conference remained at seven institutions for 20 years. Hobart and William Smith merged as one member and Hartwick College entered the conference in 1991.
In 1991, the ICAC reorganized and the Empire Athletic Association (EAA) emerged as a quality conference composed of institutions with top academic and athletic reputations.
Since 1993, the EAA served as a single sport conference for Men and Women’s Basketball. Soon after the departure of Hobart/William Smith, RPI, and St. Lawrence, Elmira College, Nazareth College, and Utica College joined the EAA to maintain six members and a cohesive basketball alignment. In 1998, Alfred University and St. John Fisher became the latest of the eight official members.
In the Fall of 1999, the EAA officially became the Empire 8 which evolved into a comprehensive conference for 13 sports for men and women. The conference also employed its first full-time Commissioner. In August 2001, the conference hired its second and current Commissioner, Chuck Mitrano. In July of 2002, the conference hired its first part-time SID, Timothy Farrell. On August 7, 2002 the Presidents Council officially became part of the governance structure and a new revised Constitution was adopted. In March 2006, the Empire 8 announced that Stevens Institute of Technology would become a full member of the conference in Fall 2007.
The members of the Empire 8 are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and aspire to be regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership seeks to distinguish itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the Empire 8.
Learn more about the Empire 8.
National Christian College Athletic Association
Approximately 100 Christian colleges and universities comprise the NCCAA, involving well over 13,000 student-athletes and 850 coaches. A combined total of 24
National Championships and two Invitationals in men's and women's sports are sponsored by the NCCAA.
Houghton became an active member of the NCCAA Division I in 2012-13.
Houghton was actively involved with the NCCAA during the early years of the college's intercollegiate athletics program with Houghton teams regularly participating in NCCAA regional and national championship events. Men's soccer experienced the most success during that era, capturing three NCCAA national titles (1979, 1980, 1986).
As its affiliation with the NAIA grew in the late 80s and the 90s, Houghton remained affiliated with the NCCAA, but did not participate in its regional or national championship events. In its return to active status, Houghton now has post-season opportunities for most of its programs through NCCAA championship events and a national partner that shares the department's mission of using athletics to share the Gospel of Christ.
About the NCCAA
The National Christian College Athletic Association was formed to provide a Christian-based organization that functions uniquely as a national and international agency for the promotion of outreach and ministry, and for the maintenance, enhancement, and promotion of intercollegiate athletic competition with a Christian perspective.
The very existence of the NCCAA speaks to the need of a different game plan for college athletics in the midst of an era when the very foundations of our society are being eroded morally. The NCCAA wants to step into the gap and become a vehicle for implementing a positive and purposeful athletic experience in cooperation with member institutions and their student-athletes.
The NCCAA game plan includes: dedicated and caring leadership, national competition, international outreach and ministry through athletic teams, discipleship programs and materials for student-athletes and coaches, and conferences on current key issues.
We believe:
Athletics are a means to an end, not the end in themselves.
The process is as important as the performance.
The person (student-athlete) is more important than the program.
Learn more about the NCCAA.
