New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference

Logo for the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III philosophy.

The NEWMAC was established in 1998, when the former New England Women's 8 Conference (NEW 8) voted to begin sponsoring conference play and championships for men.  At this time, the conference expanded its membership to include Springfield College and the United States Coast Guard Academy. Emerson College became the 11th core member of the conference on July 1, 2013 and Salve Regina University became the 12th core member on July 1, 2023.

The NEW 8 began play in 1985-86 as the New England Women's 6 Conference (NEW 6).  Charter members were Babson College, Brandeis University, MIT, Smith College, Wellesley College and Wheaton College. Mount Holyoke College and WPI joined in 1988 and the name was changed to the NEW 8 Conference.  At the conclusion of the 1994-95 academic year, Brandeis University withdrew from the NEW 8 and Clark University accepted membership, keeping the NEW 8's membership at eight institutions. 

Vision Statement

The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference will be a preeminent athletics conference, providing national leadership that shapes the direction of NCAA Division III.  Our student-athletes will strive for excellence; compete with integrity; and display respect in all that we do.

Mission Statement 

The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference is committed to academic and athletic excellence, strengthened by the diversity of our selective institutional membership.   We support student development and the educational value of athletics competition through a commitment to the NCAA Division III philosophy and our core values. 

Core Values

  • Excellence - We compete at the highest level while affirming our distinct academic missions and providing high-caliber competitive experiences.
  • Integrity - We act with mutual trust, placing emphasis on ethical conduct, and fair and equitable competition and programs.
  • Respect - We commit to support each other and the conference through collaboration, sharing ideas of diverse institutional perspectives, and promoting these varying perspectives.

 

Conference Timeline

1984-85 The New England Women's 6 Athletic Conference (NEW6) is formed. The charter members are: Babson College, Brandeis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Smith College, Wheaton College and Wellesley College.
1985-86 First year of NEW 6 regular season and championship competition in cross country and basketball.
1986-87 First year of regular season competition in volleyball.
1987-88 With the addition of Mount Holyoke College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the conference changes its name to the New England Women's 8 (NEW 8). First year of regular season and championship competition in field hockey, soccer, tennis and softball.  First year of championship in volleyball.
1990-91 First year of regular season competition in lacrosse.
1991-92 First year of championship in rowing.
1992-93 First year of championship in lacrosse.
1993-94 First year of track and field championship.
1995-96 Clark University joins the NEW 8.  First year of championship in swimming and diving.
1998-99 The NEW 8 expands its membership to include Springfield College and the United States Coast Guard Academy. The conference changes its name to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference. NEWMAC begins sponsoring regular season and championship competitions for men.
2003-04 The NEWMAC establishes a conference office in September, 2003.
1998-99 The NEW 8 expands its membership to include Springfield College and the United States Coast Guard Academy. The conference changes its name to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference. NEWMAC begins sponsoring regular season and championship competitions for men.
2003-04 The NEWMAC establishes a conference office in September, 2003.
2012-13 Simmons College joins the NEWMAC as an associate member in the sport of women's rowing.
2013-14 Emerson College joins the NEWMAC as a core member for the 2013-14 academic year.
First year of regular season and championship competition in men's lacrosse.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy joins the NEWMAC as an associate member in the sport of men's lacrosse.
2015-16 NEWMAC announces addition of Football for 2017-18 academic year with the addition of Catholic University of America, Maine Maritime Academy, Norwich University and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy as associate members.
2017-18 Inaugural season of football.
2023-24 Salve Regina University joins the NEWMAC as the 12th core member of the conference. N.Y. Maritime joins as an associate member in football on July 1, 2023.