NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Institute of Technology is switching conferences, joining America East and leaving the Atlantic Sun.
America East announced its board of presidents had unanimously voted to give NJIT full conference membership, effective 2020-21.
NJIT will become America East's 10th member and move into a league that is a more natural geographic fit, with schools such as Hartford, Maine, Binghamton and Maryland-Baltimore County. The Newark-based school has been competing in NCAA's Division I since 2006. It sponsors 16 varsity sports.
"Since the beginning of our Division I journey 15 years ago, the goal has always been to be in a regional conference and aligned with like-minded institutions," athletic director Lenny Kaplan said.
The A-Sun's northernmost member is Liberty in Virginia. NJIT has been in that conference since 2015.
NJIT will officially join America East on July 1.
"They will be a great addition to our league and strengthen the academic and athletic profile of our conference," commissioner Amy Huchthausen said.