The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) and North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) have entered into a partnership to expand associate membership. The NEAC will gain associate members in the sports of baseball and women's tennis while the NAC will add members for  men's tennis and women's lacrosse.

The partnership, which impacts nearly all of the current NEAC and NAC membership, provides a conference championship opportunity for student-athletes of both geographically diverse conferences.

“The North Atlantic Conference is committed to providing equitable opportunities for our student-athletes in all sports," said Dave Wolk, President of Castleton State College and Chair of the NAC Presidents Council. "This partnership will help us meet this goal in sports where conference sponsorship is limited. Both conferences support the Division III philosophy and we welcome the opportunity to join with like-minded institutions to ensure the best possible experiences for all student-athletes.”

In the sport of baseball, NAC members Castleton, Husson, Lyndon St., Maine-Farmington and Thomas will join the NEAC as associate members. Divisional play will begin in the spring of 2010. Each division will hold a championship and the two divisional champions will meet for a three game series to determine the conference champion. The conference championship site will rotate between the WEST (hosted at either SUNY Cobleskill or SUNYIT) and the EAST (hosted by Castleton). The NEAC will maintain the automatic qualifier they currently hold to the NCAA Division III Championship.

NEAC members Cazenovia, College of St. Elizabeth, Keuka, Penn. St-Abington, Wells and Wilson will join the NAC as associate members in women's lacrosse. Medaille, a current NEAC associate member, will join the NAC as well. Divisional play will begin in the spring of 2010. Each division will hold a championship and the two divisional champions will meet for a conference champion game. The conference championship site will rotate between the EAST (hosted at either Castleton or Green Mountain) and the WEST (hosted by SUNYIT or SUNY Cobleskill). Beginning in 2010, the NAC will begin a two year waiting period to qualify for an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.

A similar divisional structure will begin for men's and women's tennis in the spring of 2010. NAC members Castleton, Johnson St., Lyndon St. and Thomas will join the NEAC as associate members in women's tennis. Divisional play for the EAST will be in the fall with a divisional champion crowned. The WEST division will compete in the spring and the two divisional champions will meet for the conference championship in the spring. The NEAC will maintain the automatic qualifier they currently hold to the NCAA Division III Championship.

In men's tennis, NEAC members Keuka, Penn St.-Abington, Penn St.-Berks, Penn St.-Harrisburg and SUNY Cobleskill will join the NAC as associate members. SUNY Oneonta, a current NEAC associate member, will join the NAC as well. Both divisions will compete in the spring with the divisional winners meeting for the conference championship. In 2010, the NAC will begin a two year waiting period to qualify for an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.

"I think this new initiative presents a great opportunity for our Conference and our student athletes," said Keuka College President Dr. Joseph G. Burke who currently serves as Chair of the NEAC President's Council. "We increase our regional exposure and our student athletes have the opportunity to play against teams that they would not normally have the opportunity to play."