PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — The Mountain East Conference (MEC) Board of Directors approved the addition of Shawnee State University as the 12th full-time member last week.
The Portsmouth, Ohio-based college will officially join the MEC in July 2026 pending acceptance into the NCAA’s Division II membership.
The Bears will participate in 19 of the 23 MEC sponsored sports with plans to compete in football no later than the 2028 season.
“The Mountain East Conference is very pleased to extend an invitation of membership to Shawnee State University,” Reid Amos, MEC commissioner, said in a press release. “We engaged our membership committee in comprehensive and thoughtful discussions about a return to 12 full-time members, and SSU emerged as an institution that strongly aligned with our current membership.”
Shawnee State joins current conference member Point Park in jumping from NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) to NCAA Division II competition.
Both schools competed in the River States Conference in the NAIA which Shawnee State joined in 2013.
The men’s basketball won an NAIA national championship in 2013 while the women’s basketball team won the 1999 title.
“This move marks an exciting new chapter for Shawnee State University,” said Dr. Eric Braun, president of Shawnee State. “The Mountain East Conference shares our values of community, collaboration and innovative growth. We are impressed by the leadership of the MEC and its member schools. As an MEC member, Shawnee State will have exciting opportunities to elevate our programs, expand our reach, and deepen our commitment to academic and athletic excellence.”