Lindenwood University announced today that its Athletics Department has accepted an invitation to join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The MIAA extended an invitation to Lindenwood and the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Friday afternoon.

“Today is a significant day for the Lindenwood athletics department as it makes the move to NCAA Division II,” said Lindenwood President James D. Evans, Ph.D. “The MIAA is recognized throughout the nation as one of the premier conferences at the Division II level.

Lindenwood will join the MIAA for the 2012-13 academic year along with Nebraska-Kearney, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Northeastern State University (Okla.). The addition of those four schools will make the MIAA a 16-team conference made up of schools from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Current members of the conference are: University of Central Missouri, Emporia State University (Kan.), Fort Hays State University (Kan.), Lincoln University (Mo.), Missouri Southern State University, Missouri Western State University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Northwest Missouri State University, Pittsburg State University (Kan.), Southwest Baptist University (Mo.), Truman State University (Mo.), and Washburn University (Kan.).

The MIAA currently sponsors conference championships in 17 sports. On the men's side, championships are awarded in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. Women's championship are in the sports of basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and volleyball.

Lindenwood was accepted into NCAA Division II candidacy over the summer. The athletics department is expected to enter into a provisional year in the NCAA in 2012-13, and then become a full member during the 2013-14 school year. Lindenwood will have 26 sports at the NCAA level and will compete in all 17 sports that the MIAA currently sponsors. 

Official MIAA release available here