I'm not saying it's anyone's first choice, but ... if the HCAC drops below the AQ minimum for football, there's at least the possibility that the remaining schools could become affiliate members of OAC football per the two conferences' new strategic alliance.

I see that the NCAA has removed Trinity Washington from its membership directory.

I'm a bit surprised, given that in January the school posted this article about their new athletic director: https://discover.trinitydc.edu/athletics/2026/01/21/trinity-athletics-enters-new-era-of-development-and-opportunity/. The article highlights the value that Division III sports bring to the university, and it mentions the AD's interest in joining a conference.

Quote from: Caz Bombers on March 18, 2026, 05:06:00 PMField Hockey - Immaculata, Gwynedd Mercy, and Manhattanville probably just going to affiliate with the UEC going forward.

The conferences had previously announced that Gwynedd Mercy and Immaculata would be joining UEC field hockey - which was also labeled a partnership rather than adding associate members:

https://gounitedeast.com/news/2025/12/3/general-united-east-and-atlantic-east-announce-field-hockey-partnership.aspx

There's been no word yet on what Manhattanville will do.

The Atlantic East and the United East have announced plans to explore a "strategic conference partnership," highlighting a desire to protect AQ access. The announcement specifically states that this is NOT a merger:

https://atlanticeast.com/news/2026/3/17/general-atlantic-east-united-east-launch-strategic-conference-partnership-discussions.aspx

St. Francis will be joining the Presidents' Athletic Conference:

https://pacathletics.org/news/2025/3/25/general-saint-francis-university-to-reclassify-to-ncaa-division-iii-join-presidents-athletic-conference.aspx

The report from the D3 Membership Committee's meeting last week has been posted. The committee voted to move Hartford and Lyon to active membership, and to advance Penn State Brandywine from provisional year 1 to year 2. However, they declined to advance Carlow to year 3 - instead requiring that the school repeat year 2.

https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/committees/d3/memb/Jun2025D3Memb_Report.pdf

A few updates to the list:

Fontbonne will continue to sponsor a majority of its sports in 2024-2025: https://fontbonnegriffins.com/general/2023-24/releases/20240610raaz46

Johnson & Wales isn't moving from the GNAC to the CCC until 2025-2026: https://cccathletics.com/sports/2023/4/18/about.aspx

SUNY New Paltz isn't leaving the SUNYAC until 2026-2027: https://nphawks.com/news/2024/4/3/general-suny-new-paltz-initiating-two-year-process-to-seek-a-new-athletic-conference.aspx