Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Joins 
United States Collegiate Athletic Association

ALBANY, N.Y. – April 30, 2012 – Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences announced today that it has been accepted as a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). ACPHS will be eligible for USCAA national tournaments and awards beginning in the 2012-13 academic year.

The USCAA has a history dating back to 1966, with membership including more than 80 schools from Maine to Washington. Members typically have enrollment figures that range between 500 and 2,500 students; the ACPHS enrollment for the current academic year is 1,641.

“Membership in the USCAA will provide our teams and student-athletes with more opportunities,” says Ryan Venter, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “We’ve had discussions with the student-athletes about joining the USCAA, and they are extremely excited about challenging themselves and seeing how they match up against other schools from around the country.”

USCAA members have the opportunity to compete for national championships in six sports – cross country, golf, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball (ACPHS currently fields teams in cross country, soccer, and basketball). Student-athletes from member schools are also eligible for individual honors such as National Player of the Week and Academic All-American.

Joining the USCAA will not affect the school’s membership in the Hudson Valley Athletic Conference (HVAC). “We’ve been looking for a national affiliation for the past year or two to help increase recognition for our teams and student-athletes, as well as the overall visibility of the College,” says Jose Rodriguez, Vice President of Campus Life and Global Initiatives. “We’ve done very well in HVAC for the past four years and will continue that relationship, but joining the USCAA now allows us to take that next step and compete at the national level.”

The decision to join the USCAA is the latest development in the growth of athletics at ACPHS. Two years ago the College added cross country as a sport, and the College recently launched an athletics web site. 

As part of its “Moving Forward” Capital Campaign, the College is also raising money to renovate its existing athletics field. The proposed enhancements would include synthetic turf, a new track, lighting, and additional seating. To learn more about this project, watch the athletics field video.

About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution committed to graduating the best health care minds in the world. In addition to its doctor of pharmacy program, ACPHS offers four bachelor’s programs and five graduate programs in the health sciences. The College’s main campus is located in Albany, New York; its satellite campus is in Colchester, Vermont. For more information, please visit www.acphs.edu.