South Atlantic Conference Admits Anderson University Beginning In 2010-11

ROCK HILL, SC - The South Atlantic Conference Council of Presidents has accepted an application for membership from Anderson University, the league announced today. Anderson will become the tenth conference member beginning on July 1, 2010, and will be eligible for conference championships and awards starting with the 2010-11 academic year.

"Anderson University will be a wonderful addition to the South Atlantic Conference," said Commissioner Patrick Britz. "It is an excellent academic institution with a strong history of competitive intercollegiate athletic teams. The President's Council feels Anderson is a perfect fit both academically and athletically and we are thrilled to welcome them to the South Atlantic Conference family."

Anderson University is located in Anderson, South Carolina and is currently a member of Conference Carolinas. The Trojans have won the Joby Hawn Cup, awarded to the Conference Carolinas member with the best overall finish in conference-sponsored sports, for the past two academic years. In addition, Anderson won the Messick Award, presented to the member institution that displays the best overall sportsmanship during the year, for four consecutive years from 2004-2007.

Anderson University President Dr. Evans Whitaker, left, South Atlantic Conference Commissioner Patrick Britz, and Lenoir-Rhyne University President Dr. Wayne Powell were on hand for Thursday's press conference announcing Anderson would join the SAC.

Anderson University President Dr. Evans Whitaker, left, and Anderson Director of Athletics Nancy Simpson stand next to the South Atlantic Conference backdrop.

South Atlantic Confernece Commissioner Patrick Britz announces that Anderson University will join the league in 2010, as Anderson University President Dr. Evans Whitaker looks on.

Anderson University Director of Athletics Nancy Simpson addresses the media about Anderson joining the SAC at Thursday's press conference.

"The South Atlantic Conference is excited to welcome Anderson University as a member," said Dr. Jerry McGee, president of Wingate University and chair of the president's council. "The addition of Anderson only enhances what is an already exceptional conference."

Anderson fields 13 sports sponsored by the South Atlantic Conference. The school's teams are known as the Trojans. In addition to the 13 SAC-sponsored sports, the Trojans also field teams in wrestling and men's and women's track and field.

Dr. Evans Whitaker, President of Anderson stated, "Anderson University is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the South Atlantic Conference. With a proud history of more than 30 years, the South Atlantic Conference represents an exceptionally strong geographic and philosophical fit for our institution. We look forward to competing in 2010 and forming even closer relationships with our new conference peer institutions."

Anderson will submit a formal letter of withdrawal from Conference Carolinas before May 31.

Anderson is ranked one of the best universities in the South by both U. S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review. Ranked in the Top Tier of Southern comprehensive colleges and universities by U.S. News and World Report, Anderson is emerging as one of the South's leading Christian universities and is one of the top 35 universities in the South whose graduates accumulate the least amount of educational debt. In addition, U. S. News and World Report noted in its 2009 edition of America's Best Colleges that Anderson is one of "70 Up & Coming Institutions" in the nation to watch.

Anderson University is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

Originally founded as Anderson College in 1911 by the South Carolina General Assembly, it opened its doors and operated as a four-year institution for women until 1930. Anderson became a coeducational institution in 1930.

In the spring of 2005, Anderson's Board of Trustees voted to change the institution's status to that of a university to reflect the addition of graduate programs and a reorganization of the academic divisions into colleges. On January 1, 2006, Anderson College became Anderson University.

The university had a fall 2008 enrollment of 2,064. The campus recently expanded form 68 to 271 acres. Anderson is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and holds distinguished national accreditation in business, education, music, art, graphic design, and interior design. Anderson offers almost 50 areas of academic study for undergraduates and four graduate programs.

The South Atlantic Conference is one of the premier NCAA Division II conferences in the country and strives for academic success and athletic achievement. Since becoming eligible for NCAA Division II postseason play in 1993, the league has sent representatives from all of its sponsored sports to NCAA postseason play.

The addition of Anderson will bring the membership of the South Atlantic Conference to ten. Other member institutions are: Brevard College, Brevard, N.C.; Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.; Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C.; Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, N.C.; Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tenn.; Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, N.C.; Newberry College, Newberry, S.C.; Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tenn.; and Wingate University, Wingate, N.C.