Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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The Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was a conference of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU's) that participated in the NAIA's Division I, with member institutions in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It was founded in 1983 by several members of the defunct Southeastern Athletic Conference.

The EIAC disbanded in 2005. Barber-Scotia lost its accreditation and can no longer field athletics teams, while former members Benedict and Claflin moved up to the NCAA's Division II. The remaining members currently compete as NAIA independents.

## Member schools

[edit]

### Final members

[edit]

The EIAC had five final full members; all were private schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined  | Left  | Subsequent
conference(s)  | Current
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Allen University | Columbia, South Carolina | 1870  | AME Church | 600  | Yellow Jackets | 1983  | 2005  | NAIA Independent
(2005–16)
Appalachian (AAC)
(2016–20)  | Southern (SIAC)[a]
(2020–present)
Barber–Scotia College | Concord, North Carolina | 1867  | Presbyterian | 120?  | Mighty Sabres | 1983  | 2005  | dropped athletics  | Independent
Edward Waters College[b] | Jacksonville, Florida | 1866  | AME Church | 966  | Tigers | 1983  | 2005  | NAIA Independent
(2005–06)
Florida Sun
(2006–10)
Gulf Coast (GCAC)
(2010–21)  | Southern (SIAC)[a]
(2021–present)
Morris College | Sumter, South Carolina | 1908  | Baptist  | 871  | Hornets | 1983  | 2005  | NAIA Independent/Continental
(2005–present)
Voorhees College[c] | Denmark, South Carolina | 1897  | Episcopal Church | 600  | Tigers | 1983  | 2005  | NAIA Independent
(2005–13)
Gulf Coast (GCAC)
(2013–15)  | NAIA Independent
(2015–present)

Notes

1. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
2. ^ Currently known as Edward Waters University since 2021.
3. ^ Currently known as Voorhees University since 2022.

### Other members

[edit]

The EIAC had three other former full members; all were private schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined  | Left  | Subsequent
conference(s)  | Current
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Benedict College | Columbia, South Carolina | 1870  | Baptist | 2,500  | Tigers | 1988  | 2002  | Southern (SIAC)[a]
(2002–present)
Claflin University[b] | Orangeburg, South Carolina | 1869  | United Methodist | 1,978  | Panthers | 1983  | 2005  | D-II Independent
(2005–08)
Southern (SIAC)[a]
(2008–18)  | Central (CIAA)[a]
(2018–present)
Columbia College[c] | Columbia, South Carolina | 1854  | United Methodist | 1,200  | Fighting Koalas | 2004  | 2005  | Southern States (SSAC)
(2005–11)  | Appalachian (AAC)
(2011–present)

Notes

1. ^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
2. ^ Formerly known as Claflin College until 1999.
3. ^ This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports [Columbia (S.C.) since 2020–21].

### Membership timeline

[edit]

Full member (non-football)