On July 25, 2012, Valley Forge Christian College (VFCC) in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, was officially accepted into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III provisional membership process, effective September 1, 2012.
In order to receive NCAA Division III provisional membership status, the college was required to fulfill a mandatory exploratory year that included meeting specific standards. These requirements included obtaining a lineup of ten sports, five male and five female, as well as employing a senior women's administrator and an athletic trainer.
The college must successfully complete four years of provisional membership before becoming eligible for the full Division III status in 2016. "This is a new chapter for our institution and athletic department," says Jon Mack, director of athletics. "It not only puts us on a platform with other colleges in our area, but with Christian colleges all over the country."
According to Dr. Don Meyer, president, "Division III membership will greatly benefit the college as well as the players to reach a collective as well as individual optimum potential. A competitive athletic experience and invigorating academic experience will help student athletes achieve VFCC's mission to prepare individuals for a life of service and leadership in the church and in the world."
The Valley Forge Christian College athletic department has grown by more than 60 percent in the past two years, most recently adding men's and women's cross country, men's golf and women's softball. This year, the men's and women's basketball teams won the NCCAA Division II Regional Title and advanced to the national tournament where the men placed 2nd and the women 4th.
For more information about Valley Forge Christian College, see its website or Facebook page.
