HADDONFIELD, N.J. – The four remaining core members of the Atlantic East Conference are excited to announce that they will join the United East Conference following the 2026-27 season. This move will result in the dissolution of the Atlantic East Conference.
In March, the Atlantic East and the United East athletic conferences signed a letter of intent to explore the creation of a multi-conference structure to improve access to competitive play for their student-athletes while mitigating the risk of falling below NCAA minimums for postseason play eligibility.
Since that time, leadership from both conferences have engaged in an assessment of the various ways to optimize the student-athlete experience, including access to NCAA Automatic Qualifiers (AQ) status for national postseason play, especially for sports at risk of falling below the NCAA minimum requirements.
After careful review, it became clear that having all athletic programs competing within one conference provides the strongest and most stable environment for the student-athletes of member institutions. As such Centenary University, Gwynedd Mercy University, Immaculata University, and Marymount University will join the United East effective July 1, 2027.
The Atlantic East began with seven members in 2018. The conference has offered incredible opportunities for student-athletes over the years. The AEC was the first NCAA conference to offer women’s flag football as a championship sport and continues to be an advocate for opportunities for student-athletes. The conference has had both an NCAA National Champion in 2019 with Cabrini Men’s Lacrosse as well as an NCAA Individual National Champion when Luke Schwenk won the 50 Freestyle in 2025. Additionally, the AEC hosted numerous professional development events throughout its time and mentored undergraduate interns looking to continue in collegiate athletics. In 2022, AEC member Gwynedd Mercy University partnered with the NCAA to create a waiver process that enables students with intellectual disabilities to participate in DIII sports nationwide. We are grateful for and celebrate the many accomplishments of our amazing student-athletes during the past eight years.
In its final academic year, the Atlantic East will remain committed to offering a great experience for its student-athletes, including partnering with the United East in select sports to ensure student-athletes have access to competitive play. In addition, the Atlantic East will work with the United East to explore a divisional structure within the United East.
Partnered sports for the upcoming year include Field Hockey, Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving, Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Volleyball, and Women’s Lacrosse. Men’s Lacrosse will join the list of partnered sports for Spring 2027 with the top team from each conference competing in a crossover championship for the Atlantic East automatic qualifier.
ABOUT ATLANTIC EAST
The Atlantic East Conference is a member of NCAA Division III comprising six institutions in a four-state area - Gwynedd Mercy and Immaculata Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary and Saint Elizabeth Universities in New Jersey, Marymount University in Virginia, and Pratt Institute in New York.
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