The Midwest conference definitely fits Luther better in terms of the academic mission of its membership. I also wonder about the long term sustainability of the ARC. Many of those schools fit the mold of institutions that are probably going to struggle with the enrollment cliff over the next couple of decades.

 There was talk a few years back of some or all of Carleton, Macalester, St. Olaf, and Gustavus leaving the MIAC for the Midwest conference. The logic would have been similar there - joining a set of institutions that are more similar in terms of academic mission as well as similar philosophies regarding athletics, particularly football.

Quote from: Kuiper on June 03, 2025, 11:11:05 AMKind of a big deal move in the midwest.  Feels like the same motivation as John Carroll's move from the OAC to the NCAC

Luther College to leave American Rivers Conference after 2025-2026 for the Midwest Conference

QuoteAfter 103 years, Luther College has announced that it will be leaving the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year. The Norse will be departing for membership in the Midwest Conference. Luther was a charter member of the A-R-C which dates back to 1922.

Here is Luther's statement

QuotePresident Brad Chamberlain announced the Luther College Norse are changing athletic conferences, moving to the Midwest Conference for the 2026-27 academic year.
 
"Luther College is a proud Iowa college with a regional presence and a national reputation," Chamberlain said. "At Luther, athletics is about community, character, and competition. Athletics at Luther is part of our holistic approach to learning that develops mind, body, and spirit. Luther was honored to receive an invitation from the Midwest Conference, and we look forward to joining the league in 2026."

By unanimous vote of its Presidents' Council this past week, the members of the Midwest Conference (MWC) extended an invitation to join the NCAA Division III league to Luther College. Chamberlain accepted the offer on behalf of the college and its Board of Regents to begin competition in fall 2026 as the 10th core member of the MWC.

"The decision to change Luther's athletic conference affiliation was not made lightly," Chamberlain continued. "The decision followed an intentional period of discernment that involved Luther's leadership team, its Board of Regents, its athletic administrators, and its coaching staff."

President Anne Harris of Grinnell College, who is the current chair of the Midwest Conference Board Officers, extended the offer.

"Luther's interest in the Midwest Conference was met with broad-based enthusiasm by the members of the Presidents' Council, " Harris said. "Its mission and vision for its athletic programs perfectly complement that which we believe to be distinguishing characteristics of the Midwest Conference experience."

Headquartered in Grinnell, Iowa, the Midwest Conference traces its roots back to 1921 and the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference. The MWC's executive director is Heather Benning, and conference leadership was excited about the addition of Luther.

"While other leagues in our region are primarily state-identified, we truly are the DIII athletic conference of the Midwest," said Benning. "When the league was formed 104 years ago, the intent was to establish an interstate athletic union of like-minded institutions; what binds our schools isn't necessarily geographic proximity but rather a shared vision of the role of athletics in the undergraduate experience."

The core members of the MWC are Beloit College, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Monmouth College and Ripon College. St. Norbert (men's and women's swimming and diving), the University of Chicago (football) and Milwaukee School of Engineering (men's and women's swimming and diving) are affiliate members.

An important factor in the decision to join the MWC was Luther College's membership in the academic consortium of like-minded liberal arts colleges, the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM).

"In the Midwest Conference, Luther finds partner institutions that share our philosophy towards athletics and that match the geographical diversity of our student body," Chamberlain said. "When we considered all of our affiliations, including athletics, we took into consideration that the Midwest Conference more closely aligns with our academic partners in the ACM, and that Luther's strengths, challenges, strategic priorities, and the geographical origins of its student body fit well with the MWC."

The ACM is a consortium of 14 colleges across five midwestern states. Eight of the nine current members of the MWC are also members of the ACM.

The MWC currently sponsors 18 conference championships in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's indoor track, men's and women's outdoor track, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, and volleyball.

"We have deeply enjoyed and have greatly benefited from the community, collaboration, and competition afforded by Luther's membership in the American Rivers Conference and its predecessor," Chamberlain said. "We desire to remain connected to member institutions of the American Rivers Conference, and we would welcome opportunities for non-conference contests between our institutions."

Centenary (TX)

They start by hosting Texas College (NAIA team with a 3-13 record last year) and Dallas Christian (an NCCAA team) and also add Lyon and Hardin-Simmons.  Drops Piedmont, Mississippi University for Women, UT-Dallas, and Ouachita Bpatist.

Messiah

Someone posted the press release with the schedule highlights, but it's now been posted in full on the website.  Big changes are hosting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps instead of Cal Lutheran, playing Lynchburg away instead of hosting Carthage and playing Dickinson away instead of at home.  They do get Mary Washington at home this year.

Quote from: Kuiper on June 13, 2025, 08:40:16 PMCross-posting from the 2025 schedules thread

Ursinus

Ursinus showed they could win non-conference games the last two seasons, but they've only won 1 conference game each of those past two seasons.  It looks like they're taking off the training wheels this year perhaps in an effort to prepare themselves better for the rigors of Centennial play.  They've dropped some of the weaker teams from their 2024 schedule - Medgar Evers (who they beat 8-0 in 2024 and 8-0 in 2023), Penn State Berks (who they beat 7-0 in 2024 and 9-0 in 2023), and Penn State Brandywine (who they beat 5-3 in 2024).  They also dropped Immaculata (who they beat 5-2 in 2023 and 1-0 in 2024) and Moravian.  In their place, they've added St. Mary's of Maryland and Salisbury away on opening weekend, Lycoming, Gwynedd Mercy, Stockton, and Misericordia.

Thanks for posting! That's great as to stronger schedule. They have had 3 different coaches over several years. The current coach is in his third year so maybe a different result. They generally give at least one top team a tough time in the Cent. Conf every year.

The weekend Wall Street Journal has an article about how to spend a three day weekend in Dubuque. Of course the fist thing to do should be to get back in the car and drive to Pella. They missed that obvious move but it still paints Dubuque in pretty nice light.

My best post ever: a guy in Franklin & Marshall shorts at the original Olympic coliseum in Athens Greece.

Looking at these numbers, they haven't been adjusted for international students, so a number of schools in the 1.4% bracket with over $700k/student could end up in the 7% bracket.  Emory, Bryn Mawr, Trinity(TX), possibly even UChicago - only $561k/student but which has a large international student cohort.

Checking here every day to see if the Lebanon Valley position is filled.

LOL no, I've never seen the SAA more lively in anything, basketball or football.  Used to be a pretty active poster from Birmingham-Southern before they went belly up.  You'll have me from time to time in basketball now that Trinity's full-time SAA.

Article in The Chronicle of Higher Education (free account required*) describes how some small colleges, including many D3s, are banding together to try and stop the greatly increased taxation of endowment earnings proposed in the budget bill passed by the House and now in the Senate.  The gist of the article is that small colleges use the bulk of their investment earnings to underwrite annual operating expenses and provide scholarships, and losing 7-21% of that would seriously impact those uses.

* - I could read it Friday morning, but am now told I have to subscribe.  Hopefully you can get one reading for free.

The current tax rate is 1.4% for a small number of colleges.  Under the new proposal the rate would be determined by endowment assets per student, and only students who are American citizens count for this which has the effect of increasing the calculated values.  Schools with endowment assets of $500K-$749.9K would pay 1.4% of investment earnings; $750K-$1,249.9K, 7%; $1250K-$1,999.9K, 14%; over $2M, 21%.  Unlike your income taxes you pay the highest rate for the entire amount.   The schools that would be impacted and their new tax range are provided here: https://www.ai-cio.com/news/the-private-universities-affected-by-proposed-tiered-endowment-tax/

Cross-posting from the 2025 schedules thread

Ursinus

Ursinus showed they could win non-conference games the last two seasons, but they've only won 1 conference game each of those past two seasons.  It looks like they're taking off the training wheels this year perhaps in an effort to prepare themselves better for the rigors of Centennial play.  They've dropped some of the weaker teams from their 2024 schedule - Medgar Evers (who they beat 8-0 in 2024 and 8-0 in 2023), Penn State Berks (who they beat 7-0 in 2024 and 9-0 in 2023), and Penn State Brandywine (who they beat 5-3 in 2024).  They also dropped Immaculata (who they beat 5-2 in 2023 and 1-0 in 2024) and Moravian.  In their place, they've added St. Mary's of Maryland and Salisbury away on opening weekend, Lycoming, Gwynedd Mercy, Stockton, and Misericordia.