04.23.08 
Southeastern Athletics joins the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

By Southeastern University

Southeastern University has been officially approved for admission into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) by the NAIA Council of Presidents during the NAIA National Convention, April 13, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Southeastern will become an active member as soon as the fall of 2008.

"This is the next logical step in the life of a great university," said Southeastern President Dr. Mark Rutland. "As we say around here, 'A rising tide lifts all the boats,' and Southeastern University's athletics boat is definitely rising."

The Southeastern athletic department held a press conference on campus April 23 to announce the news.

"This is a historic day for Southeastern," said Southeastern University Athletic Director Duane Aagaard. "The NAIA core values and Champions of Character fit our mission statement as a university very well."

Southeastern has been a non-scholarship athletic program since ntercollegiate athletics were first started at the university back in the early 1950s.

The Fire is currently an active member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, and it will continue to be a member; Southeastern will have a dual affiliation with the NAIA and the NCCAA.

With its acceptance into the NAIA, Southeastern targets the fall of 2009 as the year the university will begin to give athletic aid to student athletes.