ELMS COLLEGE TO JOIN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE (NECC) IN 2008-09 

CHICOPEE, MA, June 4, 2007 - Eight colleges and universities from New England have formally announced the creation of a new athletic conference, which will be known as the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC). In 2008-09, the conference will be an officially recognized NCAA Division III member and will commence with regular season competition and championships in 11 sports. 

Members of the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) will include Bay Path College of Longmeadow, Mass., Becker College of Leicester, Mass., Daniel Webster College of Nashua, N.H., Elms College of Chicopee, Mass., Lesley University of Cambridge, Mass., Mitchell College of New London, Conn., Newbury College of Brookline, Mass., and Wheelock College of Boston, Mass.

"I am pleased to announce the creation of the New England Collegiate Conference," said Louise McCleary, Elms College Director of Athletics, who will serve as Chair of the Athletic Director's Council.  "The formation of this conference brings together eight institutions that have much in common both athletically and academically."

The conference is in the process of establishing operational procedures, a marketing brand, a conference website and the creation of a commissioner's office.  The NECC has contracted with PrestoSports to design and implement its new website, http://www.neccathletics.com/, which is scheduled to go live on December 1, 2007.

ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE (NECC)

Established: May 31, 2007
First Year of Competition: 2008-09 Academic Year
Number of Schools: 8 (7 co-educational, 1 women's only)
Championships sponsored: 12 - Baseball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis, Women's Volleyball.