MIAA to Retain Membership at 12 Institutions

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's governing bodies have voted to retain the conference's membership at 12 schools.

The MIAA's 33-member Institutional Representatives Council had recommended to the Chief Executive Officers that the league adopt a "philosophy" to retain membership at 12 institutions. The recommendation was adopted by the MIAA's CEOs at the group's annual spring meeting held on July 1.

The vote essentially made Rockhurst University's recent application for admission to the MIAA moot. The CEO Council did subsequently vote to not accept Rockhurst's application based on its previous action to remain at 12 institutions.

"It is very important to state up front that the rejection of Rockhurst University's application for admission to the MIAA is in no way a reflection on the institution," MIAA Commissioner Jim Johnson said. "Rockhurst is a quality institution with outstanding leadership. Rockhurst officials have been very helpful in this process, and the MIAA certainly appreciates Rockhurst's interest to pursue joining our conference. At this time, however, the MIAA CEO Council believes that a membership of 12 schools is the best option for our conference."

In January, the MIAA's CEO Council approved the admission of Lincoln University of Missouri into the conference beginning in 2010-11, raising the membership total of the league to 12 institutions. The MIAA is currently comprised of 11 member institutions from the states of Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

In a related action, the CEO Council also voted to discontinue the exception put in place in 2008 that allowed conference member Southwest Baptist University to play an independent schedule in the sport of football. The exception will "sunset" after the 2012 football season. SBU will resume playing a full MIAA football schedule beginning with the 2013 season.

The MIAA will play a 10-game conference schedule for two years (2011 & 2012) after Lincoln begins competition in the 2011 season. Lincoln begins competition in all other sports in the fall of 2010. The conference will play an 11-game conference football schedule beginning in 2013.