Conferences: The United Soccer Conference (USC) will grow by two teams in 2006 with a new divisional alignment. The women's soccer league has granted membership to North Dakota State University and South Dakota State University, which will bring the number of teams in the conference to eight. The league's West Division will be composed of those two schools, plus Utah Valley State University and 2005 conference champion Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne. The East Division includes former West Division member Delaware State University, plus Howard University, Longwood University and South Carolina State University. "The USC is proud to add North Dakota State and South Dakota State to our conference," said Commissioner Mark Pope. "After only its first year of existence, the conference has now increased to eight outstanding institutions, and we look forward to future growth. This expansion symbolizes the increasing interest in women's collegiate soccer across the nation." ...

The Southland Conference has invited the University of Central Arkansas and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to join the league as full members, beginning with the 2006-07 academic year. The Southland announced the additions during the fall after nearly a year of exploring membership options. The two schools will bring the Southland's membership total to 12 institutions, the largest configuration in its 43-year existence. "We are thrilled to add two quality institutions," Southland Commissioner Tom Burnett said. "Both have excellent academic reputations, and the commitment to athletics success on each campus is outstanding. We fully expect both institutions to enhance this conference." Central Arkansas has begun its transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a full Division I member that reinstated its athletics program in 1997. Both institutions will be given Southland schedules beginning next fall, with the exception of Central Arkansas' football program, which will begin a full league schedule in 2007. In addition to those two institutions, the Southland will consist of the following institutions beginning in 2006-07: Lamar University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Sam Houston State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

<Facilities: Joe W. Kimmel, an Asheville, North Carolina, businessman, has pledged $2 million to the University of North Carolina, Asheville's North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness. The complex, funded in large part through a $35-million appropriation from the state's general assembly, will serve as the academic center for North Carolina-Asheville's health and wellness promotion course of study, a new degree program launched in January 2005. In addition to classrooms and research labs, the complex will include a multipurpose convocation center for commencement, convocation, guest speakers, health fairs and related events. Kimmel's gift is the first of $5 to $7 million that the school is raising in private support to outfit the multipurpose convocation center so it can also be used as a venue for the university's intercollegiate basketball and volleyball teams and for student health and recreational programs. To honor Kimmel's longtime interest and support, the school's board of trustees has voted to name the multipurpose convocation center the Kimmel Arena.