Brandywine To Join United East Conference In 2024-25
MEDIA, Pa. -- On Thursday morning, the United East Conference Presidents Council announced that it has accepted Penn State Brandywine's application to become a full member of the league. Brandywine will become the United East's 18th core member beginning in 2024-25 with all 12 of its varsity programs competing in the conference.
"Penn State Brandywine is thrilled to accept the invitation to join the United East Conference beginning with the 2024 – 2025 academic year. We would like to thank Commissioner Stephanie Dutton and the United East Presidents Council for their confidence in Penn State Brandywine and our Athletics program," said Penn State Brandywine Chancellor Marilyn J. Wells.
"The United East Conference is an exceptional conference for Penn State Brandywine for many reasons —values alignment, geographic proximity, competitive athletic programs, competition with regional peers, and development of partnerships beyond athletics — all aimed at enhancing the student-athlete experience and value proposition of a higher education. Penn State Brandywine is excited and grateful for this next step in a long-standing aspiration."
"We are truly excited to have Penn State Brandywine become the 18th member of the United East next fall," added United East Commissioner Stephanie Dutton. "Throughout the application process, Penn State Brandywine showed tremendous commitment to its pursuit of Division III membership and the values that we embrace as a division and a conference. We look forward to welcoming their student-athletes, coaches, and staff as full members of the United East, which is a conference that remains committed to evolving and finding ways to pave a new path as the largest conference in Division III."
The move comes as part of Brandywine's transition to NCAA Division III. Brandywine is currently completing its exploratory year, the first in a four-year transition toward becoming a full member of Division III. The campus has completed its application for provisional membership with a decision expected to come from the NCAA later in the spring semester.
The largest conference in Division III, the United East currently features 17 core members: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College of Technology, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge and Wilson College.
Brandywine will be reunited with former conference mates Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg and Penn College, all of which also called the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) home prior to transitioning to Division III.
During its 56 years as a member of the PSUAC, Brandywine has captured seven Chancellors' Cups, over 300 all-conference awards, 40 league championships and a conference-high 17 scholar-athletes of the year. Brandywine will be immediately eligible to compete for United East championships and awards in 2024-25.
"Joining the United East Conference marks a new era for Brandywine Athletics and is an essential milestone in our exploratory year," remarked Director of Athletics Bobbi Caprice, a 2013 Penn State Brandywine alumna.
"We are very excited to be joining the United East Conference and extremely grateful for the invitation to join a strong group of regional public and private colleges and universities that share similar missions. We look forward to being active and engaged members within the United East Conference."
Formerly the North East Athletic Conference, the United East was founded in 2004. The league grew to 17 institutions when the Conference merged with the Colonial States Athletic Conference in July 2023.
Founded in 1967, Penn State Brandywine, known as Penn State Delaware County until 2007, offers 14 majors to its nearly 1,250 students. The campus features residence life, dozens of clubs and organizations and opportunities to complete undergraduate research and internships.