LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – In conjunction with the CIAA announcement, Lincoln University will suspend NCAA athletic competitions for the fall 2020 season due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19.
“We have been clear since the start of the pandemic that the health, safety, and well-being of our student-athletes and administrators as the number one priority,“ Stinson said. “I know this is a disappointment to our athletes. Despite no fall sports seasons, we will keep the overall student-athlete experience— including their mental and physical wellbeing—a priority.
As part of Lincoln’s commitment to supporting the continuity of education and enrollment, Stinson said the University will honor athletic scholarships for fall sports student-athletes.
According to a statement released by the CIAA, the CIAA Board of Directors voted on the decision after “thorough analysis” in conjunction with its Athletic Directors Association.
The decision is informed by the reality that several CIAA member schools are located in states experiencing dramatic increases in new COVID-19 cases. This recent rise in cases has led to a pause in phased reopening plans in many of these states, resulting in uncertainty as to whether students will return to campus this fall at several CIAA member institutions.
At the recommendation of the CIAA ADA, with approval from the Board of Directors, the conference will explore the possibility of a modified schedule of competition for football and volleyball as well as men’s and women’s cross country during the spring of 2021.
If a move to the spring is adopted, revised game and practice schedules will be established along with the process of determining conference champions for these respective sports. A time frame on this decision has yet to be determined.
Decisions concerning winter and spring sports will be discussed as efforts to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 cases progress.
