Panthers look to join SCIAC

All-American Brian Rauh could be pitching in the SCIAC if Chapman's application to the conference is accepted this April. Chapman athetics photo

Chapman, one of the last independent DIII schools in the West Region, applied to join the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Sept. 30. Their application will be reviewed by the conference's Membership Committee in the coming months. The SCIAC Presidents Council is scheduled to convene in April to reach a decision regarding the application.

"I am confident that Chapman's admittance to the SCIAC would strengthen the conference and further its goal of encouraging the highest ideals of amateur sports in an environment of high academic standards," said Chapman president Jim Doti.

Chapman has been an independent member of NCAA Division III since 1994. Upon transitioning from Division II to Division III, Chapman immediately aligned itself with its neighboring members in the SCIAC; partnering in intercollegiate scheduling, abiding by conference bylaws and sharing in the same small, private school Division III student athlete philosophies.

"Joining the SCIAC would give Chapman University the opportunity to join a conference that is nationally respected both academically and athletically," said Chapman athletic director David Currey. "Chapman fits the SCIAC in numerous ways. The small, liberal arts college aspect is consistent with the conference's core values. Geographically we are less than 50 miles from all but one school. And the wide range of success we've experienced athletically we hope will add to the competitive balance of the conference."

The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was established in 1915. If accepted, Chapman would become the ninth member of the conference. The league is currently comprised of eight private colleges and universities in Southern California including Caltech, Cal Lutheran, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, La Verne, Occidental, Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands, and Whittier.