Release On Campus Closures

APPROVED RELEASE

Penn State University Athletic Conference – Campus Closures

The Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) has long existed to provide positive and meaningful athletic experiences for students at Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses. The University's recent announcement to close several campuses will not change that mission. It is important to emphasize that intercollegiate athletics at campuses slated for closure will continue to operate and every effort will be made to maintain competitive schedules and full seasons for teams through the 2026-27 academic year. Campuses that have been identified to remain open will continue to offer athletic programs beyond 2026-27.

During this transitional time, the PSUAC expects to offer its full complement of championships, awards and services to members, and the conference will begin immediate review of opportunities to expand and stabilize beyond 2027.

National championship tournaments

PSUAC is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). To receive an automatic berth into the USCAA national championship tournament for a specific sport, a conference must have six institutions in that sport. The USCAA also offers open championship events in individual sports such as cross country, golf and track and field.

· Currently the PSUAC has six sports that receive an automatic qualifying (AQ) berth into the USCAA postseason, including baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's soccer, softball and women's volleyball. Campuses will continue to have opportunities for at-large bids into USCAA Championships.

· The PSUAC is committed to exploring options to increase the number of sports receiving automatic qualifying berths and to offering direct national championship opportunities to as many student-athletes and sports as possible, including baseball, women's soccer and softball.

Athlete opportunities and resources Student-athletes affected by the closures may qualify for relief from the USCAA to continue to participate at their current location if their academic progression is impacted and they are unable to take a full course load at their respective campus. Please contact your athletic director for more information on this waiver. Related to athletics, Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the psuacsports.com site, and we'll continue updating this information over time.

If you have unanswered questions about the impact of announced campus closures on student-athletes, contact your coach or campus athletic director.