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JERSEY CITY, N.J. |  (NJCU) Athletics has announced a transformative decision to join a new conference being formed that includes the eight Division III members of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC), marking a strategic expansion that will significantly enhance opportunities for Gothic Knight student-athletes while extending the university's brand into the New York City market.

After serving as a founding member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) since its inception in 1957-58, NJCU will conclude its historic 67-year membership following the 2025-26 academic year. It is also expected that NJCU will become a founding member of a new reconstituted, relaunched, and rebranded league for an anticipated start on July 1, 2027 with the league’s eight current institutions. Further league expansion is anticipated ahead of the official relaunching of the new league.

The Gothic Knights will begin competing in the CUNYAC with its conference-sponsored sports in Fall 2026 as an affiliate member in most sports during the 2026-27 academic year with full membership anticipated by July 1, 2027. The university will begin its transition by moving men's volleyball from the Skyline Conference to CUNYAC in Spring 2026. 
 

"Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers, prophetically envisioned a great city rising on the west bank of the Hudson—today's Jersey City,” said NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo. “Joining this newly formed conference represents more than an athletic conference realignment; it's a bold strategic decision that showcases our students' and athletic staff’s exceptional talent on a great regional stage while advancing NJCU's century-long legacy. As America's most diverse city, Jersey City's global character mirrors our student body and that of the current CUNYAC institutions. This partnership not only strengthens our athletic future but powerfully positions our university’s mission for its next chapter.  We’re coming and we’re bringing our Jersey grit, determination, and resilience with us."

Dr. Fernando Delgado, President of Lehman College and the current CUNYAC representative of the D3 Presidents Advisory Group and Chair of the CUNYAC Presidents, stated: “We welcome NJCU to the conference and look forward to their student-athletes participating in our student-centered competitions. For the conference, this is an important step forward as we evolve and grow."

The university's forward-thinking approach comes as athletic conference realignment continues across the collegiate landscape, with institutions increasingly seeking partnerships that maximize student-athlete opportunities while ensuring long-term stability.

"Joining this new conference is a major step forward for NJCU and our student-athletes," said Erin J. McCann, Vice President of Student Development and Community Engagement. "It reflects our commitment to providing competitive, meaningful opportunities that elevate the college experience—both on and off the field. Partnering with like-minded institutions across the region allows us to grow our reach while staying true to our mission of access, affordability, and student success. NJCU has long been a cornerstone in Jersey City, and this move underscores our unwavering dedication to providing transformative opportunities to students and families on both sides of the Hudson."

"Jersey City could very well be the sixth borough, and this move represents an exciting new chapter for NJCU Athletics," said Robert Cole, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics. "By joining the CUNYAC as affiliate members in most sports in 2026-27 and becoming a founding member of the new league the following year, we are positioning our student-athletes to compete on one of the biggest stages in the world—the New York City media market. This alignment not only extends our brand across the Hudson River, but also opens the door to shared resources, institutional partnerships with similar student populations, and access to invaluable opportunities in professional development, internships, and networking that were previously untapped. It's a transformative step for our university, our athletics program, and most importantly, our students."

The conference realignment will make NJCU the first school outside of the New York City five borough footprint to join the conference as a full-time member, with schools from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens currently represented. The current CUNYAC membership includes schools Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College of New York, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, and York College (NY). 

NJCU previously participated in the CUNYAC as an affiliate member in the sport of baseball in 2005 and reached the league’s championship game. The Gothic Knights participated as an independent in most other sports during the 2004-05 academic year during a one-year sabbatical from the NJAC.

Commissioner Dr. Kurt Patberg added: “this is the first step of several of adding Division III institutions that seek to compete in a conference that has a special emphasis on New York City and the five boroughs.”

The strategic realignment offers numerous advantages for NJCU student-athletes, including:

• Enhanced Student-Athlete Experience: Competition in New York City and exposure to one of the world's largest media markets.
• Improved Competitive Balance: Athletic competition against institutions with similar resources and student demographics.
• Expanded Recruiting Opportunities: Leveraging NJCU's one-tuition model, which offers the same tuition rate for in-state, out-of-state, and international students.
• Career Development Advantages: Access to internship and networking opportunities in the nation's business capital.
• Corporate Partnership Potential: Increased sponsorship possibilities through broader market presence.

NJCU will honor its rich legacy in the NJAC through the 2025-26 academic year while preparing for this exciting new chapter in Gothic Knight athletics.

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New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and ����tvive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social ����tv, students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally ����tvive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.

����tv the CUNYAC
The City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) is an NCAA Division III conference with eight members stretching across four of New York City’s five boroughs.  The conference, consisting of Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College of New York (CCNY), Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College and York College, sponsors championships in 18 NCAA Division III sports. Since officially coming into existence in 1987, the conference has been amongst the leaders in Division III with initiatives that focus on the student as much as the athlete in student-athlete.

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Contact: 
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301