United Athletic Conference

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. - California Baptist University has accepted an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference effective July 1, 2018, CBU and WAC officials announced today at a joint news conference. The invitation is contingent upon CBU completing the reclassification process from NCAA Division II to Division I. The Lancers will begin WAC regular season competition during the 2018-19 school year.

“Several factors make California Baptist University a great fit for the WAC,” Commissioner Jeff Hurd said. “Commitment to quality academics and athletics programs, along the extraordinary vision provided by President Ellis, are at the top of the list. There is no doubt that CBU will make a smooth transition to Division I and to the WAC.”

•	Since becoming a Division II member, has 820 All-Academic honorees and has led the PacWest in All-Academic selections in each of the last three years with 475.
•	Had a 3.241 department GPA in 2015-16.
•	Earned the NCAA Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence for four-year Academic Success Rate of 90 percent or higher.
•	Finished fourth in the 2015-16 NCAA Division II Learfield Directors' Cup standings.
•	Its 2014-15 women's basketball team was NCAA Division II Runner-up.
•	Since 2013-14, 65 percent of eligible teams have qualified for NCAA postseason play.
•	Has won 27 PacWest Championships in five years, claiming the Commissioner's Cup in four of its five years of membership. Also won five RMAC titles as an affiliate.
•	Annual Food Drive - Every year CBU Athletics hosts a Thanksgiving food drive as a way of giving back to the community. This year, student-athletes from all 20 Lancer teams collected more than 6,000 cans.
•	Team IMPACT - CBU's men's volleyball team signed Davis Galluzzo to the team as part of Team IMPACT, an organization with a mission to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Galluzzo joined the Lancers where he taught the team how to overcome its own adversity.
•	Special Olympics Clinics - Men's basketball head coach Rick Croy and his team host an annual Special Olympics clinic for the community, teaching athletes dribbling skills, shooting techniques, defensive moves and how to compete while having fun. More than 300 athletes have come through the clinics, ranging in age from seven to 70 years old.

The Lancers, which last year placed fourth in the NCAA Division II Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, recently earned the Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence for four-year Academic Success Rates of 90 percent or higher.

“On behalf of my fellow WAC Presidents and Chancellors, I am delighted to welcome California Baptist University as a Western Athletic Conference member institution,” said one of the Dr. Horace Mitchell, President of California State University, Bakersfield, and Chairman of the WAC's Board of Directors. “Utah Valley President Matthew Holland, Grand Canyon President Brian Mueller, WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd and I made a visit to CBU in early October. We were impressed by the university's academic programs, its commitment to transitioning its athletics program to NCAA Division I and its strong desire to join the WAC.

“In addition, CBU President Ronald Ellis made a compelling case for membership in the WAC when he met with the full WAC Board in Denver in November. Welcome Lancers!”

CBU will become the ninth member of the conference in 2018-19, joining Cal State University, Bakersfield, Chicago State University, Grand Canyon University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, New Mexico State University, Seattle University; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; and Utah Valley University.

CBU will not be eligible for WAC postseason competition in any sport in which the winner is the league's automatic qualifier for an NCAA championship (baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's soccer, softball, men's tennis, women's tennis and volleyball). CBU will be eligible for cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field conference championships beginning in 2018-19. CBU may participate individually in the WAC Men's and Women's Golf Championships beginning in 2019, but only as unattached entries. In the sport of golf, CBU will not be eligible for the league's automatic team or individual qualifier to the NCAA Division I Men's or Women's Championship. In addition, CBU will be immediately eligible to win regular-season titles in all sports sponsored by the WAC.