Great Plains Athletic Conference

Great Plains Athletic Conference
Formerly	Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1969–1992); Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference (1992–2000)
Association	NAIA
Founded	1969
Commissioner	Corey Westra (since 2003)
Sports fielded	21 men's: 11; women's: 10; ;
No. of teams	12
Headquarters	Sioux City, Iowa
Region	Midwestern United States
Official website	www.gpacsports.com
Locations

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The conference was founded in 1969 as the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC), later becoming the Nebraska–Iowa Athletic Conference (1992) before being renamed the Great Plains Athletic Conference (2000).

History

🌍

Location of GPAC members:

current,

affiliate,

departing

The Great Plains Athletic Conference was founded on September 22, 1969, as the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC).^[1] The first president of the conference was Art Nicolia (NWU) while Glen Hinkle (Doane) was the vice president and Roger Olsen (Dana) was the secretary/treasure. Jack Anderson (NWU) was named the first publicist on February 28, 1970.^[2] The six charter members were Concordia University, Dana College, Doane University, Hastings College, Midland University, and Nebraska Wesleyan University.^[3] With the addition of Northwestern College in 1992, the NIAC was renamed the Nebraska–Iowa Athletic Conference. The NIAC became the Great Plains Athletic Conference in 2000 with the addition of Dakota Wesleyan University, Dordt University, Mount Marty University, and the University of Sioux Falls. Later, Briar Cliff University and Morningside University joined the GPAC in 2002 and 2003 respectively. The College of Saint Mary, a women's only institution, joined in 2015. In 2018, University of Jamestown joined the conference as a full-member, while Presentation College joined the conference as an associate member. All former members of the NIAC remain affiliated with the GPAC except for Dana College, which closed in 2010, the University of Sioux Falls, which left the conference in 2011, and Nebraska Wesleyan University, which left the conference in 2016. Paul Clark was the commissioner of the GPAC when it formed in 2000. Corey Westra in Sioux City, Iowa, is the current commissioner of the league.^[4]

On January 17, 2023, Presentation will end its affiliate status with the GPAC as it announced that it will close, effective that spring.^[5]

Chronological timeline

1969 – On September 22, 1969, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) was founded as the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC). Charter members included Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University of Nebraska), Dana College, Doane College (now Doane University), Hastings College, Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University) and Nebraska Wesleyan University, beginning the 1969–70 academic year.
1992 – Northwestern College of Iowa joined the NIAC. Therefore, the NIAC has been rebranded as the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference (NIAC), beginning the 1992–93 academic year.
2000 – Dakota Wesleyan University, Dordt College (now Dordt University), Mount Marty College (now Mount Marty University) and the University of Sioux Falls joined the NIAC. Therefore, the NIAC has been rebranded as the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), beginning the 2000–01 academic year.
2002 – Briar Cliff College (now Briar Cliff University) joined the GPAC in the 2002–03 academic year.
2003 – Morningside College (now Morningside University) joined the GPAC in the 2003–04 academic year.
2010 – Dana left the GPAC as the school announced that it would close after the 2009–10 academic year.
2011 – Sioux Falls left the GPAC and the NAIA for the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-II Independent (which would later join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), beginning the 2012–13 academic year) after the 2010–11 academic year.
2015 – The College of Saint Mary joined the GPAC in the 2015–16 academic year.
2016 – Nebraska Wesleyan left the GPAC and the NAIA to fully align in the NCAA Division III ranks (during that time, they held dual membership with both the NAIA and the NCAA), primarily competing as a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC; now known as the American Rivers Conference) after the 2015–16 academic year.
2018 – The University of Jamestown joined the GPAC effective in the 2018–19 academic year.
2018 – Presentation College joined the GPAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's soccer in the 2018 fall season (2018–19 academic year).
2020 – Central Christian College of Kansas and Ottawa University joined the GPAC as affiliate members for men's volleyball in the 2021 fall season (2020–21 academic year).
2021 – Kansas Wesleyan University joined the GPAC as an affiliate member for men's volleyball in the 2022 fall season (2021–22 academic year).
2023 - Presentation left the GPAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's soccer as the school announced that it would close after the 2022-23 academic year.
2023 - Waldorf University joined the GPAC as an affiliate member in both men's and women's soccer effective the 2023-24 academic year.
2023 - Waldorf will join the GPAC as a full member effective the 2024-25 academic year.^[6]
2023 - On October 10, GPAC presidents voted to remove Jamestown (who is pursuing a move to NCAA Division II) from the GPAC at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.^[7]

Member schools

Current members

The GPAC currently has 12 full members, all are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined^{[lower-alpha 1]}
Briar Cliff University	Sioux City, Iowa	1930	Catholic (Franciscan)	1,150	Chargers	2002
Concordia University, Nebraska	Seward, Nebraska	1894	Lutheran LCMS	2,200	Bulldogs	1969
Dakota Wesleyan University	Mitchell, South Dakota	1885	United Methodist	895	Tigers	2000
Doane University	Crete, Nebraska	1872	United Church of Christ	1,000	Tigers	1969
Dordt University	Sioux Center, Iowa	1955	Christian Reformed	1,454	Defenders	2000
Hastings College	Hastings, Nebraska	1882	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	1,150	Broncos	1969
University of Jamestown^{[lower-alpha 2]}	Jamestown, North Dakota	1883	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	1,000	Jimmies	2018
Midland University	Fremont, Nebraska	1883	Lutheran ELCA	1,394	Warriors	1969
Morningside University	Sioux City, Iowa	1894	United Methodist	2,824	Mustangs	2003
Mount Marty University	Yankton, South Dakota	1936	Catholic (Benedictines)	1,100	Lancers	2000
Northwestern College	Orange City, Iowa	1882	Reformed	1,099	Red Raiders	1992
College of Saint Mary^{[lower-alpha 3]}	Omaha, Nebraska	1923	Catholic (R.S.M.)	1,070	Flames	2015

Notes

↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
↑ Jamestown has been removed from the GPAC after the 2023-24 academic year due to a pending move up to NCAA Division II. They will rejoin the North Star Athletic Association in the 2024-25 academic year^[7]^[8]
↑ This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.

Future members

The GPAC will have one future full member, which is a private school:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joining^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Colors	Current conference
Waldorf University^[6]^{[lower-alpha 2]}	Forest City, Iowa	1903	For-profit^{[lower-alpha 3]}	720	Warriors	2024–25		North Star (NSAA)

Notes

↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
↑ Waldorf is already an affiliate member in both men's and women's soccer.
↑ Formerly affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) until 2010.

Associate members

The GPAC currently has four associate members, all are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined^{[lower-alpha 1]}	GPAC sport	Primary conference
Central Christian College of Kansas	McPherson, Kansas	1884	Free Methodist	1,013	Tigers	2020	men's volleyball	Sooner (SAC)
Kansas Wesleyan University	Salina, Kansas	1886	United Methodist	1,000	Coyotes	2021	men's volleyball	Kansas (KCAC)
Ottawa University^[9]	Ottawa, Kansas	1865	Baptist	726	Braves	2020	men's volleyball	Kansas (KCAC)
Waldorf University^{[lower-alpha 2]}	Forest City, Iowa	1903	For-profit	720	Warriors	2023^m.soc; 2023^w.soc	men's soccer women's soccer	North Star (NSAA)

Notes

↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
↑ Waldorf will become a full member of the GPAC effective the 2024-25 school year.^[6]

Former members

The GPAC had three former full members, all were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Left^{[lower-alpha 2]}	Subsequent conference	Current conference
Dana College	Blair, Nebraska	1884	Lutheran ELCA	N/A	Vikings	1969	2010	Closed in 2010
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Lincoln, Nebraska	1887	United Methodist	1,600	Prairie Wolves	1969	2016^{[lower-alpha 3]}	American Rivers (ARC)^{[lower-alpha 4]} (2016–present)
University of Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls, South Dakota	1883	Baptist	1,628	Cougars	2000	2011	NAIA/D-II Independent (2011–12)	Northern Sun (NSIC)^{[lower-alpha 5]} (2012–present)

Notes

↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
↑ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
↑ Nebraska Wesleyan was also an NCAA D-III Independent from 1982–83 to 2015–16, therefore it help dual membership with the NAIA and the NCAA.
↑ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
↑ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

Former affiliate members

The GPAC has one former affiliate member:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Nickname	Joined^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Left^{[lower-alpha 2]}	GPAC sport	Current primary conference	Conference in former NSAA sport
Presentation College	Aberdeen, South Dakota	1922	Catholic (P.B.V.M.)	Saints	2018	2023	M & W soccer	N/A	Closed in 2023

Membership timeline

Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (sport)

Notes

↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
↑ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition end.

References

↑ "23 Sep 1969, Page 13 – The Lincoln Star at". Newspapers.com. September 23, 1969. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
↑ "1 Mar 1970, Page 22 – The Lincoln Star at". Newspapers.com. March 1, 1970. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
↑ History of the GPAC
↑ About Commissioner Corey Westra
↑ Sand, Elisa (January 17, 2023). "Presentation College closing Aberdeen campus". Aberdeen News. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
1 2 3 "Waldorf University to Join Great Plains Athletic Conference". Great Plains Athletic Conference. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
1 2 "Membership Statement from the Great Plains Athletic Conference". Great Plains Athletic Conference. October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
↑ "University of Jamestown (N.D.) returns to North Star Athletic Association". North Star Athletic Association. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
↑ GPAC Announces Men's Volleyball as Conference Sport Ottawa to Join GPAC as an Affiliate Member

External links

Official website

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[8] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[10] Jamestown has been removed from the GPAC after the 2023-24 academic year due to a pending move up to NCAA Division II. They will rejoin the North Star Athletic Association in the 2024-25 academic year^[7]^[8]

[11] This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.

[12] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[13] Waldorf is already an affiliate member in both men's and women's soccer.

[14] Formerly affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) until 2010.

[15] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[17] Waldorf will become a full member of the GPAC effective the 2024-25 school year.^[6]

[18] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[19] Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

[20] Nebraska Wesleyan was also an NCAA D-III Independent from 1982–83 to 2015–16, therefore it help dual membership with the NAIA and the NCAA.

[D3-21] Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

[D2-22] Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

[23] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[24] Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition end.

[1] "23 Sep 1969, Page 13 – The Lincoln Star at". Newspapers.com. September 23, 1969. Retrieved June 5, 2022.

[2] "1 Mar 1970, Page 22 – The Lincoln Star at". Newspapers.com. March 1, 1970. Retrieved June 5, 2022.

[3] History of the GPAC

[4] About Commissioner Corey Westra

[presentation-5] Sand, Elisa (January 17, 2023). "Presentation College closing Aberdeen campus". Aberdeen News. Retrieved January 18, 2023.

[wu-6] 1 2 3 "Waldorf University to Join Great Plains Athletic Conference". Great Plains Athletic Conference. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.

[uj-7] 1 2 "Membership Statement from the Great Plains Athletic Conference". Great Plains Athletic Conference. October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.

[uj2-9] "University of Jamestown (N.D.) returns to North Star Athletic Association". North Star Athletic Association. Retrieved November 14, 2023.

[16] GPAC Announces Men's Volleyball as Conference Sport Ottawa to Join GPAC as an Affiliate Member

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Great Plains Athletic Conference
Full members	Briar Cliff Concordia (Nebraska) Dakota Wesleyan Doane Dordt Hastings Midland Morningside Mount Marty Northwestern (Iowa) College of Saint Mary^†
^† does not compete in football

NAIA conferences
Single Division	American Midwest Conference Appalachian Athletic Conference^† California Pacific Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Continental Athletic Conference (Independent schools) Crossroads League Frontier Conference^† Golden State Athletic Conference Great Plains Athletic Conference^† Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Heart of America Athletic Conference^† Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference^† Mid-South Conference^† North Star Athletic Association^† Red River Athletic Conference River States Conference Sooner Athletic Conference^† Southern States Athletic Conference Sun Conference^† Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Football-only	Mid-States Football Association^† NAIA independent football schools^†
^†Conference sponsors football