Frequently Asked Questions

Stonehill is reclassifying to NCAA Division I status to provide our student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete at the highest level of collegiate athletics, showcase Stonehill to a broader audience and enhance the student experience. 

This move represents the culmination of many deliberate steps and evaluations to determine the College’s readiness. In 2015, the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex was renovated with a 50,000-square-foot addition including weight and fitness facilities overlooking the W.B. Mason Stadium. In 2016, a task force reviewed our current athletic offerings. In 2020, we commissioned a feasibility study to explore opportunities within Division I. And most recently in 2021, we received interest to join the Northeast Conference. 

With unanimous support from the Board of Trustees and the Senior Administration, Stonehill College is ready to seize the moment after building a strong athletic program over many years.

The Northeast Conference (NEC) expressed interest in Stonehill College and conducted their own evaluation process to determine if the institution shared the academic and athletic attributes of the NEC membership. Stonehill has long positioned itself—both academically and athletically—as ready to compete at the highest levels.

The Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout seven states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Boston (#9), Baltimore (#26) and Hartford/New Haven (#33), providing Stonehill exposure in new regions of the Northeast.

The NEC's mission has remained remarkably consistent over its 41 years as a NCAA Division I athletic entity: to provide opportunities for student-athletes to achieve their fullest potential in the classroom, in athletic competition and in the community. The NEC also had 29 teams in 16 different sports receive NCAA Public Recognition Awards based on the latest Academic Progress Report released in 2020. 

In addition, many NEC institutions are ranked in the US News Regional Universities North category, a category Stonehill seeks to join in conjunction with its strategic plan and growth of its master's degree programs.

Stonehill will compete in the Northeast-10 Conference, remaining eligible for NE10 and NCAA Division II postseason play, for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Effective July 1, 2022, Stonehill will formally begin its reclassification process to become a Division I institution. As of Fall 2022, student-athletes will begin competition in the Northeast Conference. Stonehill will become a full member of the conference in 2026-27 upon completion of its four-year NCAA Division I reclassification period.

This decision aligns with the College’s strategic goals of enhancing the student experience, increasing demand for a Stonehill College education, and strengthening the institution’s visibility regionally and nationally as outlined in our strategic plan. 

The Stonehill community will benefit in many ways from the move to a Division I conference. The College will see its national profile and reputation elevated, experience opportunities for future enrollment growth, foster renewed energy and spirit around campus, enhance its academic reputation and much more.

Additional benefits for the College to increase demand for a Stonehill College education include:

• Aligning with peer and aspirant institutions.
• Enhancing the collegiate experience for all students.
• Strengthening pride and affinity in our alumni and community.
• Promoting on a broader platform our commitment to new graduate programs.

Overtime, the College will realize many revenue-generating opportunities including:

• Expanded fundraising initiatives.
• Increased attendance, ticket sales and corporate support of Stonehill athletics.
• Participation in the NCAA Division I revenue sharing model after the four-year reclassification period is completed.
• Receipt of NCAA Division I grants to fund academic initiatives in support of Stonehill student-athletes.
• Opportunities to compete at away contests against Division I opponents with revenue provided by the home institution to cover travel costs and support overall athletic department operating costs.   

Stonehill College student-athletes are ready to face off against Division I competition, including the other schools in the Northeast Conference. These institutions include Central Connecticut State University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Long Island University Brooklyn, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Sacred Heart University, St. Francis College, Saint Francis University and Wagner College. 

The four-year Division I reclassification process is designed to allow new Division I members the opportunity to strengthen their program support of each team over time to assist in the transition.  

One reason Stonehill accepted the invitation to join the Northeast Conference is that such a move provides the largest overall match for the College’s current offering of 23 intercollegiate athletic programs. Though most of our athletic programs will compete in the NEC, a few teams will continue competing in their current conference as a Division I program. Women’s ice hockey previously accepted an invitation to join the Division I New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) in 2019 and will field its first team in 2022-23. Equestrian will continue to compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). Men’s ice hockey will begin competition as an independent Division I program in 2022-23 while the College continues to work towards a conference affiliation. 

Alumni fans will benefit from the enhanced sporting events and spectator experience resulting from Stonehill hosting more Division I teams on campus during competitions. 

The transition to Division I will enrich the value of a Stonehill degree for all graduates as Stonehill Athletics increases media coverage and brand awareness for the College. Division I is an excellent platform to share our story with a larger audience that extends beyond our immediate service area.

All returning and incoming student-athletes who are affected by this move will automatically become Division I student-athletes.

There are some differences from an eligibility standpoint from Division II to Division I. We have gathered additional information to help our returning and incoming student-athletes better understand the differences. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• FAQs for Returning Student-Athletes
• FAQs for Incoming Student-Athletes

Consistent with our recent additions of women’s ice hockey, golf and swimming, these opportunities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis including extensive research on student demand and competitiveness.  

While we will always continue reviewing our infrastructure to best position our department for success and sustainability, we do not currently intend to make any immediate adjustments to our athletic offerings. 

In recent years, Stonehill athletic teams have had to travel beyond New England to fill their in-region non-conference schedule, and, in some cases, across the country to find Division II opponents for non-conference games.

While there will be travel involved for Northeast Conference play, some of it will be more convenient. There are more non-conference opportunities within the New England and New York area for competition.

While many aspects of our current facilities are Division I ready, there are some improvements necessary to keep them competitive and improve their revenue-generating potential regardless of competing in Division I or Division II conferences. These improvements would help heighten student-athlete and fan experience, game broadcasts and increase revenue generation. 

Academic excellence has always been a pillar of Stonehill College’s reputation. The Skyhawks have received the NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Achievement each of the first ten years of the program's existence of honoring institutions with an Academic Success Rate (ASR) of 90% or better.

The move to Division I will positively impact Stonehill’s academic profile and enrollment. Division I academic standards ensure student-athletes take appropriate steps to earn their degrees and include everything from grade point average to credit hour requirements. 

We have consulted information from several schools indicating that they experienced measurable growth following the transition from Division II to Division I. With additional students applying for admission, Stonehill would have more options to expand or to balance growth with an increase in admission standards. 

The move to a Division I athletic program represents a four-year transition process with incremental financial commitments invested over that period. These costs are offset by fundraising initiatives like the To Be Bold Campaign, ticket revenue generation, enrollment advantages and corporate sponsorship opportunities. 

Thank you for supporting this exciting new endeavor. There are many ways to show your support of Skyhawk Nation including:

• Attend a sporting event. View our schedule here.
• Purchase your favorite Skyhawks gear.
• Donate to our To Be Bold Campaign in support of this bold initiative.
• Follow us on social media.