Transylvania University Joins Heartland Conference
By Wes Frahm, HCAC SIDJanuary 24, 2001
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Transylvania University, a liberal arts college with 1,075 students, has become the eighth member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Transylvania joins a conference currently comprised of four schools in Indiana (Anderson University, Franklin College, Hanover College and Manchester College) and three in Ohio (Bluffton College, Defiance College and the College of Mount St. Joseph).
Transylvania is currently a provisional member of the NCAA Division III and boasts 15 varsity sports, including baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis.
"Joining the Heartland Conference is an important step in our transition to NCAA Division III status," said Transylvania President Dr. Charles Shearer. "This is a highly competitive small college conference. The location of those schools in Indiana and Ohio will allow us to establish many new rivalries that I know our students, fans and alumni will enjoy."
Beginning in the fall of 2001, the Pioneers will vie for Heartland Conference Championships. They will not compete in tournaments that determine automatic qualifications into NCAA championships until they are granted full NCAA Division III membership in the fall of 2004.
"The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference is very pleased to announce the addition of Transylvania University to its membership," said HCAC commissioner Tom Bohlsen. "Our seven member schools readily recognized that Transylvania is similarly dedicated to high academic and ethical expectations for all of their students and warmly welcomed them into our conference. We feel certain that Transylvania will enhance the high level of athletic competition that we already enjoy and, equally important, know that they bring the same strong dedication to the highest standards of ethics and sportsmanship that exist in all of our sports rivalries."
The admission of Transylvania into the HCAC comes after several meetings between President Shearer, Athletic Director Brian Austin and other members of the Transylvania staff along with members of the HCAC's Council of Presidents, Faculty Athletics Representatives Council and Athletic Administrators Council. After a presentation at the NCAA Convention earlier this month, the faculty athletics representatives highly recommended to their presidents that Transylvania become a conference member. The presidents from each member school then unanimously voted to formally accept Transylvania.
"This is not a quick decision on either of our parts. We examined each other very carefully. In the end, it was clear that we share the same commitment to educational values and Division III principles," Athletic Director Austin said. "After years as an independent, I'm certain that our athletes and coaches will be very impressed by the many benefits of membership in the Heartland Conference. It has a great tradition and we look forward to becoming a part of that."
