Columbia International University Athletics

The CIU Athletic Department took another major step forward in their year-long pursuit of membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Appalachian Athletics Conference (AAC).   On February 15, CIU president Mark Smith and athletics director James Whitaker received word that the AAC Council of Presidents had voted unanimously to accept CIU into full membership in the conference beginning with the 2018-19 school year.  CIU's membership in the AAC is contingent on being accepted as full members of the NAIA at the annual NAIA Convention in April.  At that time, the NAIA Council of Presidents will vote on whether to accept CIU into NAIA membership.

Should the NAIA approve CIU for membership in April, CIU would become the 15^th full member of the AAC.  This would also be the first time that CIU has been part of a conference since beginning athletics in 2012.  Starting with the 2018-19 school year, the Rams would play a full conference schedule against other AAC schools and have the ability to compete immediately for conference championships and earn AAC awards and recognitions.

When asked about what this means for CIU athletics, CIU AD James Whitaker said:  "This is another significant step for CIU Athletics as we continue to grow.  The AAC is the best conference in the NAIA with an outstanding group of like-minded schools and great leadership from Commissioner John Sullivan and the other presidents and ADs in the conference.  This is a great opportunity for us and for our student-athletes, and we look forward to competing in the AAC next year!"

Currently the Rams sponsor eleven intercollegiate sports. In the AAC, CIU will compete in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, women's softball, and men's golf.

Currently, the conference has full time members in six southeastern states. Full time members of the AAC include: Allen University, Bluefield College, Brenau University, Bryan College, Columbia College, Milligan College, Montreat College, Point University, Reinhardt University, SCAD Atlanta, St. Andrews University, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Truett-McConnell University, and Union College. The AAC also has four part time members.