Charlotte, NC (October 4, 2024) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), a premier HBCU athletic conference, has announced the suspension of all sports competition for Saint Augustine’s University (SAU), an esteemed HBCU, through the end of the 2024-25 academic year, effective immediately. The CIAA Board of Directors made this decision due to the institution’s failure to meet conference compliance requirements and ongoing challenges with NCAA sports sponsorship and scheduling requirements for the upcoming season.
Should Saint Augustine’s, a long-standing HBCU member of the CIAA, choose to continue participation, their competition will not count towards CIAA standings or seeding, and they will not be eligible for championship participation.
“While this decision is difficult and impacts one of our HBCU member institutions, we undertook a fair, deliberate, and thoughtful process to ensure the best interests of the conference and to protect the well-being of student-athletes,” said Board Chair Aminta Breaux.
SAU elected not to sponsor softball for the spring of 2024, nor football and volleyball for the fall of 2024, leaving only 10 sports for the 2024-25 season—barely meeting the NCAA Division II compliance standards, which require the sponsorship of at least ten sports each academic year. The ability of the HBCU to complete other sports, including men’s and women’s cross-country, and meet additional compliance deadlines, remains uncertain.
“Saint Augustine’s University has been a vital part of the CIAA and HBCU sports for over 80 years. We deeply value their administrators, coaches, student-athletes, alumni, and the entire SAU community. The CIAA will continue to support the Falcons as they aim to return for the 2025-26 season,” said CIAA Commissioner McWilliams Parker.
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first and longest-running HBCU athletic conference in the United States and remains one of the most recognized conferences in Division II sports. The CIAA conducts 14 championships, drawing more than 150,000 fans nationwide. The conference is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 HBCU member institutions, which include Bluefield State University, Bowie State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University.
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