Conferences: The Great Lakes Valley Conference has announced that Drury University; Rockhurst University; and the University of Missouri, Rolla, will join the conference for the 2005-06 academic year. The addition of the three institutions will bring GLVC membership to 14 schools. "Our institutional representatives have been discussing conference expansion for the past two years and are delighted to welcome Drury, Rockhurst and Missouri-Rolla to the GLVC," said GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich. "All three institutions have outstanding academic reputations, strong presidential leadership and boast solid athletics programs. We feel their addition to the GLVC greatly strengthens our conference and provides our member schools with a presence and additional visibility in three new markets (Springfield, Kansas City and Rolla, Missouri). The GLVC last expanded in 1995 when the University of Missouri, St. Louis, joined as the league's 12th member. Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, left the GLVC in 2001 to pursue Division I membership. Each year, more than 2,500 student-athletes compete in 17 GLVC championships ... Pace University announced that it is joining the Northeast-10 Conference, effective for the 2004-05 academic year.

Sport sponsorship: Armstrong Atlantic State University has announced that it will sponsor women's soccer as a varsity sport beginning in fall 2005. With the addition of the Lady Pirates, 10 Peach Belt Conference institutions will sponsor the sport. Armstrong Atlantic previously sponsored men's soccer (1980-86) under current Athletics Director Eddie Aenchbacher. Aenchbacher will lead a national search for the women's coach, with a target date of January 2005.

Facilities: Franklin Pierce College recently began the first of three phases to renovate the Franklin Pierce Fieldhouse. Phase 1, which is scheduled for completion September 1, is an addition of a formal lobby to the front of the fieldhouse. The lobby will contain a Hall of Fame Room, ticket window, concession area, trophy displays and public restrooms. Phases 2 and 3 are to be completed over the next three to five years. They will consist of renovations to the existing fieldhouse space and an addition to the north end of the building for additional locker rooms, offices and an equipment room. In addition to the fieldhouse project, Franklin Pierce also unveiled plans for two artificial-surface fields for baseball and field hockey/men's and women's soccer/lacrosse. "Many thanks must go to Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas and Sodexho, Inc., for their generosity in making the new baseball and multi-purpose fields a reality," said Athletics Director Bruce Kirsh. "With the addition of these outstanding facilities, we will be able to compete in the highly competitive Northeast-10 Conference and in the world of NCAA Division II."

Miscellaneous: The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has a new official logo with a dominant image of the five states that contain the member schools, along with the letters "CACC." The conference name is spelled out in an outer circle. "This new logo provides a fresh and exciting look that will renew the enthusiasm for the conference," said Commissioner Bob Oliver. "We wanted to incorporate the entire region in the feel of the logo and come away with an image that was attractive and would not become dated." Oliver worked with Tim Rice, creative director of Royal Rooster Design in Johnston, Iowa, to ensure that the design elements epitomized the league's best features. The CACC has 12 members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and sponsors championships in 10 sports.

-- Compiled by David Pickle