Cairn University Athletics programs are now a member of the United East Conference.

Following an initial announcement of an intent to merge in December, the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) and the United East Conference will officially merge and begin operating as one entity, effective July 1, 2023.

Completion of the merger provides added stability and sustainability to both current leagues. With 10 institutions from the CSAC and seven from the United East, the conference will boast 17 full member institutions. The new United East Conference will solidify competitive opportunities for its student-athletes, expand its sport sponsorship, and provide financial stability for the conference.

Cairn President, Dr. Todd Williams, who will chair the newly merged conference for the next two-year term, stated, "The merger of these two athletic conferences has been a gratifying process. All who have been a part of this process believe it will benefit our student-athletes and institutions tremendously. The spirit of cooperation and shared vision, as well as the wisdom and practical insight that has been brought to the table by both groups, can serve as an example for others to follow."

Athletic Director David Babb shared his thoughts on the merger: "Cairn University Athletic Department is looking forward to the new configuration of the United East Conference. The merger of the two conferences solves the long-standing issue of stability and viability for both conferences. While we believe this is a necessary step for our conference, we recognize that it will mean a change for our university's athletic programs. Our ability to be flexible during the upcoming transition year will help facilitate a positive outcome for our student athletes, coaches, and staff members."

The conference will sponsor 20 sports in the 2023-24 academic year, which will serve as a transition year as the two current conferences work towards full integration. Conference leaders agreed to utilize previously approved league schedules for widely sponsored sports with the following sports playing in a divisional model: men's soccer, women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, and women's tennis. The aforementioned sports will play a regular season schedule in divisions that are composed of former conference members before crowning a division champion. The division champions will meet in a crossover championship to determine the recipient of the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.

The remaining sports will compete in a unified structure, playing all institutions that sponsor the sport during the regular season en route to a postseason tournament that determines the conference champion. These sports include field hockey, men's volleyball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and men's tennis. Men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, and men's golf will all participate in a conference-wide championship at the end of their respective seasons.

With the assistance of the 3 Fold Group, a national consulting firm specializing in NCAA Division III planning, the conference will be developing its long-term scheduling philosophy and championship structures over the next academic year for 2024-25 and beyond.

More details and the complete official announcement can be found at gounitedeast.com.
 

Beginning July 1, the United East will boast 17 NCAA Division III member institutions which include: 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, 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.
 

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