New York, NY--The Skyline Conference Presidents’ Council has unanimously voted to accept Sarah Lawrence College as its newest member, beginning with the 2014-15 season.

"The Skyline Conference is very pleased to welcome Sarah Lawrence College as a new member. Their presence will strengthen the Conference both academically and athletically, and we are looking forward to a long and mutually enriching relationship,” said St. Joseph’s College President S. Elizabeth A. Hill, C.S.J., J.D., chair of the Skyline Presidents’ Council.

Sarah Lawrence College sponsors 15 varsity sports, including seven women’s teams, seven men’s teams and co-ed equestrian. SLC is a member of the Hudson Valley Women’s Athletic Conference, Hudson Valley Men’s Athletic Conference, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and USRowing Association.

The Gryphons had 33 contests against members of the Skyline in 2012-13 and also participated in the Mt. St. Mary Cross Country Invitatioanl on September 29 in Newburgh, N.Y. Sarah Lawrence is currently a NCAA provisional member and is expected to complete the transition process to Division III membership in 2016-17. SLC will be eligible to compete in all regular season Skyline competition, and once the process is completed, will compete for conference championships and NCAA automatic berths.

“We are proud to have this opportunity to compete in the Skyline Conference,” said Sarah Lawrence College President Karen Lawrence. “Our association with its member schools will allow our student-athletes to compete at high athletic levels while developing the leadership, teamwork and discipline skills that are vital to academic success.”

The 2012-13 season marks the Skyline Conference’s 23rd year of NCAA Division III competition. Along with Sarah Lawrence, the league's membership includes Farmingdale State College, SUNY Maritime, Mount Saint Mary College, College of Mount Saint Vincent, Polytechnic Institute of NYU, SUNY College at Old Westbury, Purchase College, SUNY, The Sage Colleges, St. Joseph’s-Long Island, and Yeshiva University.

"Sarah Lawrence College will further enhance our league's commitment to academic and athletic excellence,” said Skyline Commissioner Linda Bruno. “I commend the Presidents’ Council on an outstanding addition to the Skyline, and I look forward to their arrival.”

The Skyline Conference crowns champions in 17 sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men’s and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, and men’s and women's volleyball.

At least one student-athlete from the Skyline has earned CoSIDA Academic All-America distinction in each of the past three semesters and 371 student-athletes from the conference were named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the 2012 Fall Semester.