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Four-Year Athletics Coming to SUNY Canton

Four-year athletics are coming to SUNY Canton.

The SUNY Canton Athletic Department has submitted an application for membership to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), with plans to implement a four-year athletic program beginning in Fall 2007. This move would include adding men's and women's cross country next year and eventually women's hockey.

The move comes shortly after announcements regarding major facility projects, including a new $1.8 million all-weather, lighted synthetic turf field that should be ready by next fall and an $18 million athletic and convocation center scheduled for completion in Fall 2008 or 2009.

"The timing of this conversion coincides perfectly with our new facilities," said President Joseph L. Kennedy. "Top-level student athletes will be attracted to SUNY Canton knowing they'll receive a great four-year education and be able to play sports for four years in our brand new state-of-the-art facilities."

SUNY Canton has applied to join the NAIA's Sunrise Conference which includes Fisher College in Boston; College of St. Joseph in Rutland, Vt.; nearby Paul Smith's College; University of Maine at Fort Kent; University of Maine at Machias; and Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center, Vt.

"By next fall, we will be offering at least 16 bachelor's degrees," said President Joseph L. Kennedy. "It makes sense as a four-year institution to compete against other four-year colleges. It will allow our athletes to play throughout their entire academic careers here, and it will enable our coaches to retain those top athletes for a longer period of time. I'm particularly pleased to tell those students that are currently juniors that they may be able to resume their athletic careers next fall."

Current SUNY Canton sports that would compete in the Sunrise Conference include men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, volleyball, softball, and baseball.

"This transition is a monumental, historic step for SUNY Canton," said SUNY Canton Athletic Director Diane Para. "It is always exciting when you can turn a page in history and be part of a new chapter. Our entire athletic staff is looking forward to forging into an era of new relationships, new pursuits and new successes. I feel very good about our impending association with the NAIA and Sunrise Conference, as they provide a great fit both philosophically and programmatically for SUNY Canton. Equally important, under certain conditions, the NAIA allows for our two-year students the chance to participate as well."

The NAIA does not currently include hockey or lacrosse. SUNY Canton hockey teams will apply to join the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). Current ACHA men's teams include SUNY Farmingdale, College of St. Rose, Hofstra, Albany State, SUNY New Paltz, Suffolk Community College, Nassau Community College, Skidmore, St. Bonaventure, Oswego, Rochester, Fordham, New Jersey IT, and Morris County. Although the Northstars hope to continue playing NJCAA hockey for another year, the college has begun preparing for the transition by competing against a handful of ACHA colleges this season.

The SUNY Canton lacrosse team would play as a club team until enough Sunrise Conference colleges add the sport to their programs. The Athletic Department is currently exploring several club lacrosse leagues for the Northstars to join.

"With a new, outdoor synthetic turf field already in the design phase, a new athletic facility approved, and the continuing emergence of our bachelor's degrees, I believe we are well suited for the move at this time," said Para.

SUNY Canton is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year and is in the midst of its highly successful SUNY Canton Centennial Campaign: Cultivating the Minds of Tomorrow. In addition to 22 associate degree programs, SUNY Canton currently offers 12 four-year degrees with plans to announce several other new programs during the next academic year. SUNY Canton also offers three unique master's degrees in conjunction with SUNYIT, Utica.

October 5, 2006

Media inquiries should be directed to Randy Sieminski, Director of Public Relations, or call 315/386-7300.

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