The Iowa Conference will expand to nine member institutions as league officials announced Monday that Nebraska Wesleyan University has accepted an invitation to join the conference beginning with the 2016-17 academic year.

The invitation was approved by Nebraska Wesleyan’s Board of Governors and accepted by IIAC presidents on July 13.

Nebraska Wesleyan is currently affiliated with both NCAA Division III and the NAIA – the only school in the country with dual affiliation. Currently a member of the NAIA’s Great Plains Athletic Conference, Nebraska Wesleyan will be an exclusive member of NCAA Division III effective July 1, 2016.

Monday's announcement marks the first addition to the Iowa Conference since Coe College and Cornell College joined in 1997 and the first change in the conference’s membership since Cornell returned to the Midwest Conference after the 2011-12 academic year. Nebraska Wesleyan will be the 20th institution to compete as a member of the 93-year old IIAC.

“I am honored to welcome Nebraska Wesleyan to our conference family,” said Iowa Conference Commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen. “Our institutions are rivals in competition but united in our overall commitment to each other. We constantly strive to instill conference pride and camaraderie in every student-athlete, coach and campus community member."