Point Park invited to join Mountain East Conference, will pursue NCAA Division II

PITTSBURGH, PA – Point Park University has received a formal invitation to join the Mountain East Conference (MEC), a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II league, beginning in Fall 2024.

"We will, of course, pursue this incredible opportunity by taking the next step, which is to apply for membership into the NCAA," said Dr. Chris W. Brussalis, President of Point Park. "Joining the NCAA would undoubtedly raise the profile of Point Park, attaching an additional layer of prominence to both our University and its athletic programs."

Pending Point Park's acceptance into the NCAA Division II membership process, the Pioneers will officially become members of the MEC in July 2024. Point Park would participate in 15 of the MEC's 23 sponsored sports, with plans to add four additional MEC sports over the next two years.

"We are thrilled to extend an invitation of membership to Point Park University, to return the MEC to 12 full-time members in the 2024-25 season," MEC Commissioner Reid Amos said. "As we worked with our MEC Membership Committee this fall, Point Park continued to emerge as an outstanding fit, with an athletic department that we believe will be highly competitive in the MEC. The strategic vision for Point Park's academic and athletic future, led by President Brussalis, gives us great confidence that Point Park is well-positioned to successfully transition to NCAA Division II and to become a valued member of the Mountain East Conference."

Making this move will improve the level of competition and create a better experience for Point Park's student-athletes. Joining the MEC will reduce average travel times by 65 percent.

"The MEC is one of the most respected NCAA Division II conferences in the country," Brussalis said. "We would give the conference a Pennsylvania member and all of our conference opponents would be much closer to our campus."

The MEC currently has 11 member schools, with nine in West Virginia, one in Ohio and one in Maryland.

"Pursuing NCAA membership is a complex and rigorous process that will continue throughout the Spring semester and into the summer," Brussalis said. "As part of that process, we will assess our programs and operations and develop plans to improve what we do and how we serve our student-athletes."

Point Park currently is a member of the Rivers States Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

RELATED LINK:

Mountain East Conference Release