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Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was a conference of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU's) that participated in the NAIA's Division I, with member institutions in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It was founded in 1983 by several members of the defunct Southeastern Athletic Conference.

The EIAC disbanded in 2005. Barber-Scotia lost its accreditation and can no longer field athletics teams, while former members Benedict and Claflin moved up to the NCAA's Division II. The remaining members currently compete as NAIA independents.

Member schools

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Final members

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The EIAC had five final full members; all were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
Allen University Columbia, South Carolina 1870 AME Church 600 Yellow Jackets 1983 2005 NAIA Independent
(2005–16)
Appalachian (AAC)
(2016–20)
Southern (SIAC)[a]
(2020–present)
Barber–Scotia College Concord, North Carolina 1867 Presbyterian 120? Mighty Sabres 1983 2005 dropped athletics Independent
Edward Waters College[b] Jacksonville, Florida 1866 AME Church 966 Tigers 1983 2005 NAIA Independent
(2005–06)
Florida Sun
(2006–10)
Gulf Coast (GCAC)
(2010–21)
Southern (SIAC)[a]
(2021–present)
Morris College Sumter, South Carolina 1908 Baptist 871 Hornets 1983 2005 NAIA Independent/Continental
(2005–present)
Voorhees College[c] Denmark, South Carolina 1897 Episcopal Church 600 Tigers 1983 2005 NAIA Independent
(2005–13)
Gulf Coast (GCAC)
(2013–15)
NAIA Independent
(2015–present)
Notes
  1. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  2. ^ Currently known as Edward Waters University since 2021.
  3. ^ Currently known as Voorhees University since 2022.

Other members

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The EIAC had three other former full members; all were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
Benedict College Columbia, South Carolina 1870 Baptist 2,500 Tigers 1988 2002 Southern (SIAC)[a]
(2002–present)
Claflin University[b] Orangeburg, South Carolina 1869 United Methodist 1,978 Panthers 1983 2005 D-II Independent
(2005–08)
Southern (SIAC)[a]
(2008–18)
Central (CIAA)[a]
(2018–present)
Columbia College[c] Columbia, South Carolina 1854 United Methodist 1,200 Fighting Koalas 2004 2005 Southern States (SSAC)
(2005–11)
Appalachian (AAC)
(2011–present)
Notes
  1. ^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  2. ^ Formerly known as Claflin College until 1999.
  3. ^ This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports [Columbia (S.C.) since 2020–21].

Membership timeline

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Appalachian Athletic ConferenceSouthern States Athletic ConferenceColumbia College (South Carolina)Southern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceBenedict UniversityGulf Coast Athletic ConferenceVoorhees CollegeMorris CollegeSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceGulf Coast Athletic ConferenceSun ConferenceEdward Waters UniversityCentral Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceClaflin UniversityBarber–Scotia CollegeSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceAppalachian Athletic ConferenceAllen University

 Full member (non-football)