Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was a conference of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU's) that participated in the NAIA's Division I, with member institutions in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It was founded in 1983 by several members of the defunct Southeastern Athletic Conference.
The EIAC disbanded in 2005. Barber-Scotia lost its accreditation and can no longer field athletics teams, while former members Benedict and Claflin moved up to the NCAA's Division II. The remaining members currently compete as NAIA independents.
Member schools
Final members
The EIAC had five final full members; all were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Subsequent conference(s) |
Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen University | Columbia, South Carolina | 1870 | AME Church | 600 | Yellow Jackets | 1983 | 2005 | NAIA Independent (2005–16) Appalachian (AAC) (2016–20) |
Southern (SIAC)[c] (2020–present) |
| Barber–Scotia College | Concord, North Carolina | 1867 | Presbyterian | 120? | Mighty Sabres | 1983 | 2005 | Dropped athletics | Independent |
| Edward Waters College[d] | Jacksonville, Florida | 1866 | AME Church | 966 | Tigers | 1983 | 2005 | various[e] | Southern (SIAC)[c] (2021–present) |
| Morris College | Sumter, South Carolina | 1908 | Baptist | 871 | Hornets | 1983 | 2005 | NAIA Independent/Continental (2005–present) | |
| Voorhees College[f] | Denmark, South Carolina | 1897 | Episcopal Church | 600 | Tigers | 1983 | 2005 | various[g] | HBCU (HBCUAC) (2024–present) |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
- ^ Currently known as Edward Waters University since 2021.
- ^ Edward Waters had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NAIA Independent during the 2005–06 school year; the Florida Sun Conference from 2006–07 to 2009–10; and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference from 2010–11 to 2020–21.
- ^ Currently known as Voorhees University since 2022.
- ^ Voorhees had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NAIA Independent from 2005–06 to 2012–13, and again from 2015–16 to 2023–24; and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) from 2013–14 to 2014–15.
Other members
The EIAC had three other former full members; all were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Subsequent conference(s) |
Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benedict College | Columbia, South Carolina | 1870 | Baptist | 2,500 | Tigers | 1988 | 2002 | Southern (SIAC)[c] (2002–present) | |
| Claflin University[d] | Orangeburg, South Carolina | 1869 | United Methodist | 1,978 | Panthers | 1983 | 2005 | D-II Independent (2005–08) Southern (SIAC)[c] (2008–18) |
Central (CIAA)[c] (2018–present) |
| Columbia College[e] | Columbia, South Carolina | 1854 | United Methodist | 1,200 | Fighting Koalas | 2004 | 2005 | Southern States (SSAC) (2005–11) |
Appalachian (AAC) (2011–present) |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- ^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
- ^ Formerly known as Claflin College until 1999.
- ^ This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports [Columbia (S.C.) since 2020–21].
Membership timeline
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football) Associate member (sport)