Quote:After notifying the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of its decision to exit after 10 years, Claflin University announced Wednesday that it is joining the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) commencing July, 1, 2018.

Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, president of Claflin University, said the decision to move to the conference - headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. - was made after careful consideration of potential benefits.

“We believe this is a win-win situation for the university and our student-athletes,” Tisdale said. “The CIAA aligns with our institutional profile and the proximity of its members to Orangeburg is very attractive for our alumni and supporters.”

Claflin raised its athletic program profile when it became an NCAA Division II member in 2008 and concurrently joined the SIAC. Claflin sponsors men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, and men’s and women’s cross country.