The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has agreed to retain the conference’s membership at 12 schools.

MIAA presidents at their meeting earlier this month adopted a recommendation from the league’s representative council that the conference adopt a philosophy to keep membership at 12 institutions. The vote essentially made Rockhurst University’s recent application for admission to the MIAA moot (Rockhurst, located in Kansas City, Missouri, currently is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference). The MIAA presidents subsequently voted to not accept Rockhurst’s application based on its previous action to remain at 12 institutions.

“It is very important to state up front that the rejection of Rockhurst’s application for admission to the MIAA is in no way a reflection on the institution,” said MIAA Commissioner Jim Johnson. “Rockhurst is a quality institution with outstanding leadership. Rockhurst officials have been very helpful in this process, and the MIAA certainly appreciates Rockhurst’s interest to pursue joining our conference. At this time, however, the MIAA CEO Council believes that a membership of 12 schools is the best option for our conference.”

In January, the MIAA approved the admission of Lincoln (Missouri) into the conference beginning in 2010-11, raising membership to 12 institutions. The MIAA is currently composed of 11 member institutions from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

In a related action, the MIAA also voted to discontinue the exception put in place in 2008 that allowed conference member Southwest Baptist to play an independent schedule in football. The exception will “sunset” after the 2012 football season. Southwest Baptist will resume playing a full MIAA football schedule beginning with the 2013 season.

The MIAA will play a 10-game conference schedule for two years (2011 and 2012) after Lincoln begins competition in the 2011 season. Lincoln begins competition in all other sports in fall 2010. The conference will play an 11-game conference football schedule beginning in 2013.