Charlotte, NC (July 6,2023) - Bluefield  State University officially became members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association on July 1, 2023. They return to the conference after transitioning out in 1955.  Over the past three years and in the midst of a pandemic, Bluefield State (which transitioned to university status in the summer of 2022) has experienced a phoenix-like rebirth following an extended period of declining enrollment. 

Today, Bluefield State is the most diverse HBCU in West Virginia and one of the fastest growing (based on enrollment) higher education institutions in America.  Bluefield State has a true HBCU heartbeat, with the restoration of intercollegiate football, outstanding student housing on campus, and the second-highest composite financial index of all colleges and universities in West Virginia. 
“I am elated to welcome Bluefield State University home after a 68 year gap from being members of the CIAA!  We look forward to renewing old rivalries and expanding our footprint to build on the legacies that impact our HBCU communities, said Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker.”
 
Bluefield State University returns to the conference with immediate championship eligibility, competing in all 14 CIAA sponsored sports. The Big Blues have been positioned in the northern division and begin competition as a full CIAA members Labor Day weekend in football, volleyball, and cross country.
 
“Bluefield State College is excited and honored to be a member the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.  Our student-athletes, teams, alumni, and every member of Big Blue Nation will benefit from membership in this outstanding conference,” said Robin C. Capehart, President/Bluefield State University. “We eagerly anticipate the rapidly approaching start of the 2023-24 season as a proud member of the CIAA.”

 About Bluefield State University

Bluefield State University, founded in 1895 and located in Bluefield, WV, is a part of West Virginia’s public education system and a member school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. BSU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and a dozen academic programs hold program-specific accreditation. BSU’s degree programs are career-focused, designed to prepare graduates for fulfilling and rewarding careers in fields with a bright future in high-demand fields. In addition to the 14 CIAA-sponsored sports, BSU also sponsors acrobatics, baseball, swimming, wrestling, men’s tennis, and women’s golf. For more information on BSU Athletics, visit gobstate.com. 

About the CIAA 
 
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. In 2020, the conference celebrated the special 75th anniversary of its Championship Basketball Tournament - an event that has become a must-see in the African American community. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member-institutions: 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. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.