Maryville Joins SAA

Tennessee school leaves CCS for new conference.

Author

Steve Ulrich
July 22, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

JULY 22, 2024 | written by STEVE ULRICH

The news that you need to know about non-scholarship college athletics and those that love it.
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☀️ A History-Making Weekend. Yet, let’s talk DIII sports, shall we?

» What’s Happening This Week. The DIII Management Council begins a three-day session today.

TOP STORY
1. Maryville Joins SAA

“Maryville College has accepted an unanimous invitation to join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). The Scots’ 19 programs will become members of the SAA beginning with the 2026-27 season while the football and women’s golf programs are set to be conference affiliates starting in the 2025-26 academic year.

Maryville will join the SAA from the Collegiate Conference of the South where they were founding members in 2021. They have won back-to-back men’s basketball conference titles and were joined last season by women’s soccer, baseball, and softball as CCS champions. Maryville’s football and women’s golf programs play in the USA South and will be eligible for SAA championships in 2025-26. Scots football dates back to 1889 and boasts an appearance in the 1947 Tangerine Bowl.”

» Quotable. “The Scots’ commitment to both athletic and academic distinction aligns perfectly with our mission to offer a comprehensive and competitive athletic experience within a nurturing environment, and we look forward to Maryville joining the association,” said SAA Commissioner Stacey LaDew.”

ACADEMICS

2. Why You Should Still Want to Be a College President

by Melody Rose, Chronicle of Higher Education

“It’s been painful to watch so many college presidents stumble in recent years. As a former university president and system chancellor, I could relate as they struggled to manage uncertain terrain while facing public scrutiny and open critique at every step.

I don’t mean to imply that none of the criticism has been deserved. Like any place where human beings are involved, there have been some serious individual missteps and sector-level shifts that require change. But I hate to see the damage that’s been done to the office of the presidency and to the psyches of today’s presidents — the vast majority of whom are capable, caring leaders doing their level best under strained circumstances. Due to the sheer scope of challenges inherent in the role, it is understandable to see so many people now wondering who would want to be a college president. ”

» Why It Matters. “1) Appreciate the hidden pleasures of the job; 2) Understand how to find strength in crises; 3) Seek out the joy in the work.”

» The Final Word. “For those for whom the relentless risks, criticisms, and frustrations have deprived you of the joys of a presidency, I say: I understand. Take care and heal. And for those who aspire to the presidency as the pinnacle of their careers, I say: Good for you. Approach the opportunity soberly yet with the expectation of great rewards.”

CONFERENCES

3. Huntley Resigns as Atlantic East Commissioner; Mullen Named Interim

“Jessica Huntley, the first commissioner of the Atlantic East Conference, announced that she is stepping down after six years in the position.

Huntley leaves the Conference but will remain in collegiate athletics for a position with Teamworks, a company that provides integrated tech solutions for college athletic departments at every level.”

» Driving The News. “The Conference made a splash on the national scene when Cabrini University won the 2019 NCAA Division III men's lacrosse title. And in June 2023, Huntley worked with the NFL to have the Atlantic East become the first NCAA Conference in any division to offer female flag football as a sponsored varsity sport that will begin next spring.”

» What’s Next. “Assistant Commissioner Rebecca Mullen will serve as interim commissioner, while the Conference conducts a national search for Huntley's replacement.”

» What They’re Saying. ““I want to thank Jess for her time and service to the student-athletes of the Atlantic East Conference. As the commissioner of a brand new conference six years ago, Jess established the AEC as a respected body within the NCAA. Her connections within the national office and regionally, enabled the Atlantic East institutions to grow and prosper.” - Keih Mondillo, Gwynedd Mercy, athletic director.

ACADEMICS

4. Latest Survey Of Business Officers Shows Optimism Despite Headwinds

by Josh Moody, Inside Higher Ed

“Despite palpable business challenges, the latest Inside Higher Ed Survey of College and University Chief Business Officers finds rising optimism among respondents.

The survey shows that college business officers are more confident than they were last year about both the short- and long-term financial sustainability of their institutions, regardless of the challenging headwinds facing higher education. However, respondents tended to view the state of their own institution more favorably than their peers’ on a variety of metrics, including projected financial stability, college costs and AI readiness.”

» Driving The News. “While this year’s survey findings are sunnier than last year’s, the news isn’t all good. Respondents expressed concern that government efforts to shape institutional strategies and policies could pose a financial risk. And the number of business officers reporting positive operating margins has declined.”

» Why It Matters. “This year’s survey found that 83 percent of respondents believe their institution will be financially stable over the next three years, and 85 percent believe the same is true of the next five years. That number falls to 73 percent, however, when the timeline is 10 years.”

» Worth Noting. “A whopping 94 percent of respondents said that their institution offers good value. But only 68 percent of CBOs believe that is true of higher education as a whole. And 69 percent believe that the public overestimates the cost of a college degree.”

TRANSACTIONS
5. Comings and Goings

1 THING
6. #WhyD3

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