At its annual meeting this week in San Diego, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics approved and announced the movement to full active status by four institutions, with Providence Christian College being one of them. This means that the school will be allowed to participate in postseason competition beginning with the 2017-18 academic year and will also have voting rights in the organization.

Providence entered the NAIA in 2015 for two seasons played in the league as affiliate members. The NAIA is in the sixth year of the current membership process, in which institutions apply for membership consideration on an annual basis. Schools must meet membership criteria that include financial stability, sports sponsorship, accreditation, and a commitment to character-driven athletics. Enrollment numbers, graduation percentages, retention rates, and overall athletics budgets are also taken into consideration. Providence is a member of the California Pacific Conference within the NAIA.

Head baseball coach Trevor Davidson commented, “As an athletics program we are extremely happy to be full members of the NAIA because it gives continued momentum to the work we are doing in building the program. The overall growth of the college and the investment in the program has been so encouraging. We know there has been a lot of work behind the scenes for athletics in every area of the college and want to especially thank the administration and the academic departments for their support and vision for athletics at Providence”.

Providence is also a full member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, which it joined in 2016. It gives the school an opportunity to play for the National Christian College Championship and affords the experience to partner and identifies with the other great Christian colleges from around the country.

The Providence track and field team is set to participate in the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific today and tomorrow, while the baseball team takes the field vs. La Sierra University in Riverside. For schedules and rosters go to www.seabeggars.com.