The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Affiliation introduced on Friday that Saint Augustine’s College might be suspended from all sports activities competitions efficient instantly and lasting by the tip of the 2024-25 tutorial yr. This choice follows the college’s failure to satisfy needed convention compliance necessities and ongoing challenges in fulfilling NCAA sports activities sponsorship and scheduling requirements for the upcoming season.
The CIAA Board of Administrators made this choice after thorough deliberation, emphasizing the significance of sustaining a good and equitable surroundings for all member establishments. “Whereas it’s disheartening to decide of this magnitude that impacts one among our member establishments, the choice was guided by a good, deliberate, and considerate course of in efforts to find out what was greatest for the convention whereas additionally defending the wellbeing and holistic expertise of the student-athletes,” acknowledged Board Chair Aminta Breaux.
As a result of this suspension, if Saint Augustine’s chooses to proceed taking part in sports activities throughout this era, these competitions is not going to depend in direction of CIAA standings and seeding, and the college is not going to be eligible for championship participation.
The college has determined to not sponsor softball for the spring of 2024 and soccer and volleyball for the autumn of 2024. In line with CIAA requirements, every DII member establishment should sponsor and full at the very least ten sports activities every tutorial yr. SAU faces questions on its capability to meet these obligations for the remaining sports activities packages, significantly its males’s and ladies’s cross-country groups.
“Saint Augustine’s College has been a member of this convention for over 80 years. Their directors, coaches, college students, student-athletes, alumni, and the SAU group are essential and valued as a part of the CIAA legacy,” remarked CIAA Commissioner McWilliams Parker. “The CIAA will proceed to assist and rally across the Falcon household and President Burgess as they put together to return for the 2025-26 season.”
