Athletics Transition

2024:

You can compete as a Hawk and your existing athletic scholarship will be honored. Teams will not be eligible for NCAA postseason play but can qualify for ECAC postseason events.

2025:

You can compete as a Hawk and your existing athletic scholarship will be honored. Teams will not be eligible for NCAA postseason play but can qualify for ECAC postseason events. For the 2024-25 academic year, you will be asked to elect if you wish to continue to compete. If so, your athletic scholarship will be repackaged as academic and need-based aid. Depending on your individual situation, this may be the same or similar packaging. However, you can also choose to retain a full or partial athletic scholarship, but you will not be able to compete the following year under NCAA rules.

The University’s Board has engaged for more than a year in thoughtful and strategic conversations about providing an exceptional academic and campus experience for all students, of which our intercollegiate athletics is an integral part. Our Board and leadership recognize the need to continue to make intentional investments in our students and in areas like access and affordability, in-demand academic programs, residential life facilities and experiences, athletics, student support services, health and wellness, and career preparation. All of our students and many of their families are investing in their future and we take that investment to heart.
 
With this in mind, we believe the mission of Division III athletics is the best path to reach our academic, campus experience, and athletics goals. DIII bridges the academic and sport opportunities that are hallmarks of higher education and stresses that our student-athletes are–first and foremost–members of our campus community pursuing academic degrees while enriching themselves and our community through athletic competition.

Yes. The transition to DIII is a complex, multi-year administrative process that includes approvals from the NCAA and involves our current and future conferences. As of March 2022, the University received approval from the NCAA to transition to DIII. In June 2022, UHart announced its acceptance into the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) as its new athletics conference, beginning in the 2023-24 academic year. The CCC is an NCAA Division III athletics conference with 10 member institutions throughout the New England region. UHart will be an active member of DIII in September 2025.

Should you choose to consider transferring to another institution, the NCAA has procedures in place that govern that process. You may wish to start this process by speaking with your current coach or a member of the athletics compliance staff. You can also find information on the NCAA website.

Athletics is a vital part of the University’s dynamic and inclusive community. The competition is fierce and our dedicated student-athletes are committed to their sport and success in the classroom.

To learn more about joining the University of Hartford as a DIII student athlete, contact representatives within our Office of Admission and Student Financial Aid.

For the 2024-25 academic year, you will be asked to elect if you wish to continue to compete. If so, your athletic scholarship will be repackaged as academic and need-based aid. Depending on your individual situation, this may be the same or similar packaging. However, you can also choose to retain a full or partial athletic scholarship, but you will not be able to compete the following year under NCAA rules.

In June 2022, the University announced its acceptance into the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) as its new athletics conference, beginning in the 2023-24 academic year. The CCC is an NCAA Division III athletics conference with 10 member institutions throughout the New England region. UHart will become the 11th core conference member.

The move to DIII is a multi-year process that will include a comprehensive strategic planning process that will address all aspects of the Hawks athletics program, including individual teams. UHart currently fields 17 NCAA sports and has recently announced its intent to add tennis and field hockey in 2025. The Esports program continues to gain momentum and the opening of a new track and field is expected in the fall of 2024.

Each division of NCAA intercollegiate athletics is different and, in this case, the approach associated with DIII best meets the mission and goals of UHart’s offerings for all students.

The philosophy statement of NCAA DIII is: Colleges and universities in Division III place the highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on the successful completion of all students’ academic programs. They seek to establish and maintain an environment in which a student-athlete’s athletics activities are conducted as an integral part of the student-athlete’s educational experience, and an environment that values cultural diversity and gender equity among their student-athletes and athletics staff.