Here are some recent developments in the advancement of Middle Georgia State College’s athletics program.
Summer 2012 — Athletic director and president meet to discuss the future of athletics after the completion of the consolidation of Macon State and Middle Georgia colleges.
Fall 2012 — Consultants were hired to assist with the transition of athletic programs from the two-year junior college level to the four-year college level. Their study recommended the college join the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and that MGSC seek membership in one of two regional conferences.
Fall 2012 — Athletics staffers met with the Student Affairs Committee to request a fee to support the new athletics programs. The Board of Regents approved a fee of $55 per semester.
Fall 2012 — Decision made to start men’s and women’s tennis teams. Recruiting started to begin the programs in the fall of 2013.
Fall 2013 — The college was granted permission by Board of Regents officials to apply for membership in the NAIA.
December 2013 — Received notice that the college would receive a site visit from NAIA. College officials met and decided to apply for membership in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
February 2014 — College officials met with NAIA representatives, who were evaluating our application, our facilities and our programs. If approved by NAIA, Middle Georgia State would be an independent NAIA school affiliated with the Association of Independent Institutions (AAI) with no post-season play in the 2014-15 school year.
March 2014 — College officials met with SSAC conference representatives on their site visit. SSAC membership, if approved, would be effective with the 2015-16 academic year.
April 14, 2014 — NAIA expected to announce its membership decision at the organization’s annual conference in Kansas City, Mo.
June 3, 2014 — SSAC expected to announce its membership decision at the organization’s council of president’s meeting in Montgomery, Ala.
— Source: Charles Mullis, MGSC Athletic Director