Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:
I am pleased to announce that Monmouth University has accepted an invitation to join the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in fall 2022. This move follows a series of thoughtful discussions with the CAA Commissioner and Presidents and has the unanimous and enthusiastic support of the Monmouth University Board of Trustees.
The CAA is comprised of some of the finest academic institutions in our region and across the nation, and Monmouth will benefit greatly from these academic associations. This move will afford Monmouth new academic collaboration opportunities as part of the Colonial Academic Alliance, and will help to enhance the great work that we do in our classrooms, labs, and learning spaces. We are thrilled to expand our association with institutions that share a demonstrated commitment both to academic integrity and to athletic excellence.
Having our teams compete in major media markets from New England to Baltimore, and from Long Island to Charleston, will also help to expand our recruiting footprint. This increased exposure at the regional and national levels speaks directly to one of the core objectives of our Strategic Plan, and will be a valuable asset as we continue to address the increasingly competitive enrollment landscape.
Finally, our move to the CAA will afford our student athletes the opportunity to compete at a higher level against some of the strongest mid-major programs in the country. For fans, supporters, and alumni, the CAA will create new regional rivalries and excitement as we look forward to many more championship seasons ahead.
I hope this latest milestone in the evolution of our athletics program will energize the entire University community and serve as a tremendous point of pride for all of us connected to Monmouth. To that end, I invite you to join me tomorrow, Wednesday, January 26 at noon, on the first floor of the OceanFirst Bank Center for an event to formally announce our membership in the CAA. If you cannot attend, this announcement will also be livestreamed on ESPN+.
This is an exciting move for Monmouth University. Thank you all for being a part of it.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President