Division One and Done: Berkeley College Sports Teams Receive Athletic Promotion
Friday, December 20, 2024
Director, Marketing
973-200-1181
Panagiot-Babadeli2@BerkeleyCollege.edu
Photo Caption: (Left to right) Berkeley College's Men's Soccer Team, Women's Basketball Team, and Men's Basketball Team.
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Berkeley College, formerly a Division II (D2) athletic college, has officially been promoted by the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, or USCAA, to a Division I (D1) school. Berkeley’s New York Men’s Basketball team, New York Women’s Basketball Team, and New Jersey Men’s Soccer team will all compete at the D1 level in the upcoming seasons. Sherrille T. Shabazz, EdD, Vice President, Student Development and Campus Life, Title IX Coordinator, and Interim Athletic Director, asserts, “This journey marks an exciting new chapter for our athletics program, and as we advance as a USCAA Division I school, we’re opening doors to even more opportunities for both current and future student athletes."
The primary difference between D2 and D1 schools is that D1 colleges offer athletic scholarships to student athletes. The Berkeley Knights seek to expound upon this opportunity for the 2025-2026 season. While Berkeley is ineligible to play in the renowned and beloved NCAA March Madness tournament, the College is still eligible to win national titles through the USCAA’s tournaments and offerings.
In addition to the D1 promotion, Berkeley College is joining a new athletic conference: the North American Conference for Intercollegiate Athletics Inc., also known as NACIA. Berkeley was previously part of the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, or HVIAC, but left due to stronger opportunities in leadership and the potential for greater change both on and off the field. Other schools that have joined NACIA include Bryant & Stratton College – Albany, Bryant & Stratton College – Buffalo, Bryant & Stratton College – Ohio, Bryant & Stratton College – Rochester, Five Towns College, and Villa Marie College.
As for the strides, bounds, leaps, kicks, goals, and slam dunks Berkeley Athletics is making, Dr. Shabazz notes how she is “incredibly proud of our student athletes for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to both academics and their respective sports, whether it’s basketball, soccer, or beyond. Their resilience, sportsmanship, and teamwork truly embody the spirit of our community.”
Both Berkeley College and Dr. Shabazz would like to shout out “our head coaches and assistant coaches, whose mentorship and dedication drive our students to strive for excellence. Their commitment to our athletes’ success and personal growth is invaluable.” Go Berkeley Knights!
Interested in Berkeley Athletics or attending a sporting event? Check out upcoming games and opportunities here: https://www.berkeleycollegeknights.com/landing/index.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans for 11 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2023-2024 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower students to achieve lifelong success.
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