LATHAM, N.Y. — The Atlantic East Conference and United East Conference have signed a letter of intent to pursue a strategic partnership, aiming to strengthen both leagues without merging them, according to an announcement released March 18, 2026.
Presidential leaders and commissioners from the two NCAA Division III conferences finalized the agreement to explore collaborative options in the coming months. If a definitive deal is reached, implementation would start in the 2026-27 academic year, with full effects expected by fall 2027.
The partnership focuses on sustaining two independent yet robust conferences amid shifts in higher education and college athletics. Officials highlight benefits including preserved access to NCAA automatic qualifiers for heavily sponsored sports, stabilized AQ access for sports nearing NCAA minimum sponsorship thresholds, and improved championship events through larger fields that benefit athletes and fans.
Additional advantages include potential operational efficiencies, freeing up resources for enhanced student-athlete experiences during challenging times for many institutions.
This initiative follows presidential guidance and involves ongoing work by a joint leadership group targeting completion of partnership terms by summer 2026. Further details will be released publicly before the 2026-27 academic year begins.
The announcement underscores a commitment to innovative collaboration that eases membership and sponsorship pressures, ultimately delivering better competitive opportunities for student-athletes.
Signatories include President Deanne D’Emilio of Gwynedd Mercy University (Atlantic East), President Wes Fugate of Wilson College (United East), President Barbara Lettiere of Immaculata University (Atlantic East), and President Michael Reed of Pennsylvania College of Technology (United East).
Both conferences operate primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region, with member institutions spanning Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and nearby states. The Atlantic East includes schools such as Immaculata University, Gwynedd Mercy University, and others focused on competitive Division III programs. The United East, formerly the North Eastern Athletic Conference before its 2021 rebrand, features members like Pennsylvania College of Technology, Wilson College, and institutions with growing sponsorships in emerging sports.
This strategic move builds on prior sport-specific collaborations between the conferences. For instance, the Atlantic East and United East previously established a field hockey partnership starting fall 2026 to create an eight-team league, demonstrating early cooperation in shared programming.
The partnership arrives as Division III conferences nationwide address evolving challenges, including sport sponsorship viability and championship access. By maintaining separate identities while sharing select resources and events, the Atlantic East and United East aim to enhance stability and competitiveness for their members.
No Southern Maryland institutions currently hold full membership in either conference, though regional NCAA Division III programs like St. Mary’s College of Maryland have participated in Atlantic East-affiliated events as affiliates in sports such as field hockey. The development reflects broader trends in Division III athletics toward proactive alliances that support long-term sustainability.