Atlanta, Georgia-On the day of its annual football media day the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) officially announced that the conference through its Council of President's has voted unanimously to extend an invitation to Edward Waters College (EWC) to join its conference membership.

"The SIAC is excited to extend an invitation to President Faison and the Tigers of Edward Waters College to our athletic conference at the NCAA Division II level. We believe EWC's historic mission and its overall academic and athletic competitive profile aligns very closely with our current member institutions and we are fully supportive of their potential NCAA candidacy" said SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore.

Previously a member of the SIAC from 1930-1935, EWC is currently a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). EWC will compete as an NAIA Independent this season in football and maintain their membership with the GCAC in basketball, volleyball, track & field, and cross country as well as the Association of Independent Institutions (A. I. I.) in baseball and softball.

"This news is an incredibly significant development for our institution and campus community to include our students, faculty and staff, alumni, and stake holding partners here in the City of Jacksonville and throughout the First Coast region", said Edward Waters President, Dr. A. Zachary Faison Jr.

Under the leadership of new EWC Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mr. Paul Bryant, Edward Waters will now turn its efforts towards exploring the feasibility of making a successful application to the NCAA over the next 24-36 months.

"I am excited to be leading at this transformative moment for EWC Athletics as we begin taking steps towards moving our program to unparalleled heights," said Bryant.

In the interim, EWC and the SIAC have entered a scheduling agreement allowing EWC to play seven football games this upcoming season against SIAC opponents.