Southern States Athletic Conference

History

Chronological timeline

• 1999 – On March 16, 1999, the Southern States Athletic Conference was founded as the Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference. Charter members included Auburn University at Montgomery, Brenau University, Brewton–Parker College, Emmanuel College, Faulkner University, Georgia Southwestern State University, [University of North Georgia|North Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia College & State University], Shorter College, Southern Polytechnic State University and Wesleyan University, beginning the 1999–2000 academic year.
• 2000 – Reinhardt College joined the GACC in the 2000–01 academic year.
• 2004 – On June 27, 2004, the GACC was rebranded as the Southern States Athletic Conference in the 2004–05 academic year.
• 2004 – Berry College and Lee University joined the SSAC in the 2004–05 academic year.
• 2005 – North Georgia left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Peach Belt Conference after the 2004–05 academic year.
• 2005 – Columbia College of South Carolina joined the SSAC in the 2005–06 academic year.
• 2006 – Georgia Southwestern State left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt after the 2005–06 academic year.
• 2009 – Reinhardt left the SSAC to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference after the 2008–09 academic year.
• 2010 – Berry left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks as an NCAA D-III Independent after the 2009–10 academic year.
• 2010 – Belhaven University, Loyola University New Orleans, the University of Mobile, Spring Hill College, Truett–McConnell College, and William Carey University joined the SSAC in the 2010–11 academic year.
• 2011 – Columbia left the SSAC to join the Appalachian after the 2010–11 academic year.
• 2012 – Shorter left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South Conference after the 2011–12 academic year.
• 2012 – The College of Coastal Georgia joined the SSAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
• 2013 – Lee left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South after the 2012–13 academic year.
• 2013 – Bethel University of Tennessee, Blue Mountain College, and Martin Methodist College joined the SSAC in the 2013–14 academic year.
• 2014 – Three institutions left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and their respective new home primary conferences, all effective after the 2013–14 academic year:
• * Emmanuel and Southern Wesleyan to the Conference Carolinas
• * and Spring Hill to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
• 2014 – Southern Poly announced that it would drop its athletic program and close once it is consolidated by Kennesaw State University at the end of the 2013–14 academic year.
• 2014 – Dalton State College and Middle Georgia State University joined the SSAC in the 2014–15 academic year.
• 2015 – Belhaven left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the American Southwest Conference after the 2014–15 academic year.
• 2016 – Auburn–Montgomery left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 2015–16 academic year.
• 2017 – Two institutions left the SSAC to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2016–17 academic year:
• * Brenau to join the Appalachian
• * and Coastal Georgia to join the Sun Conference
• 2017 – Point University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2017–18 academic year.
• 2018 – Florida College and Stillman College joined the SSAC in the 2018–19 academic year.
• 2020 – Bethel and Martin Methodist left the SSAC to join the Mid-South Conference after the 2019–20 academic year.
• 2020 – Two institutions joined the SSAC as affiliate members, both effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
• * Warner University for competitive cheer
• * and Xavier University of Louisiana for competitive cheer and men's and women's tennis
• 2021 – Florida College left the SSAC to become an NAIA Independent within the Continental Athletic Conference after the 2020–21 academic year.
• 2021 – Two institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members, both effective after the 2020–21 academic year:
• * Warner University for competitive cheer
• * and Xavier University of Louisiana for competitive cheer and men's and women's tennis
• 2021 – Talladega College joined the SSAC in the 2021–22 academic year.
• 2021 – Five institutions joined SSAC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2021–22 academic year:
• * Dillard University, Florida National University, Rust College and Tougaloo College for men's and women's tennis
• * and Fisk University for women's tennis
• 2022 – Three institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members, all effective after the 2021–22 academic year:
• * Fisk for women's tennis
• * and Rust and Tougaloo for men's and women's tennis
• 2022 – Life University joined the SSAC in the 2022–23 academic year.
• 2022 – Florida Memorial University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2022–23 academic year.
• 2023 – Talladega left the SSAC to join the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference after the 2022–23 academic year.
• 2023 – Florida National left the SSAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's tennis after the 2023 spring season.
• 2023 – Thomas University joined the SSAC in the 2023–24 academic year.
• 2023 – Keiser University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2023–24 academic year.
• 2024 – Stillman left the SSAC to join the HBCUAC after the 2023–24 academic year.
• 2024 – Two institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members, both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
• * Dillard for men's and women's tennis
• * and Keiser for competitive cheer
• 2024 – Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College joined the SSAC in the 2024–25 academic year.
• 2025 – Middle Georgia State left the SSAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt Conference after the 2024–25 academic year.
• 2026 – Andrew College, Wesleyan College, and Xavier University of Louisiana will join the SSAC in the 2026–27 academic year.

Member schools

Current members

Future members

Affiliate members

Former members

Former affiliate members

Membership timeline

Sports