The Lindenwood University Athletics Department officially joined The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) as its 16th member institution effective on July 1, 2019. Back in October of 2018, the GLVC Council of Presidents admitted Lindenwood to the Conference following a vote of approval.

"We are beyond excited to be joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference as full members," said Brad Wachler, Lindenwood's Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics.  "The GLVC is an elite NCAA Division II conference that is steeped in great history and tradition both in the classroom and on the field of play.  On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches and administrators, we are looking forward to building a long-term and sustainable partnership with the GLVC and its member institutions."

For Lindenwood, the move to the GLVC provides the University with several new opportunities, including a centralization of its conference opponents in the region. Lindenwood will now be within 45 miles of three conference opponents (Missouri-St. Louis, Maryville, and McKendree), within 200 miles of five other member institutions (Missouri S&T, Quincy, Illinois-Springfield, Truman State, and Southern Indiana), and within 300 miles of the remaining seven GLVC opponents (Southwest Baptist, Drury, Rockhurst, William Jewell, UIndy, Lewis, and Bellarmine).

The average travel distance to Lindenwood's GLVC opponents will be 160 miles, as opposed to its previous average distance of 330 miles against conference foes in the MIAA.

Lindenwood previously competed in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since the 2012-13 academic year, which was its provisional season under the NCAA Division II banner after reclassifying from the NAIA.

"Lindenwood will be a terrific addition to the GLVC.  We are fortunate to have attracted such a quality institution that is located in the heart of the league's geographic footprint," said GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich.  "Their commitment to the academic success and graduation of student-athletes, expansive sport sponsorship, outstanding facilities, stable enrollment, strong fiscal standing, and an engaged leadership team are but some of the positive attributes that the institution brings to the GLVC.  We are excited to welcome the Lions for the 2019-20 season."
 
Lindenwood currently fields teams in all 23 sports that the GLVC sponsors, in addition to field hockey under the NCAA Division II banner.  The Lions also sponsor men's volleyball, women's ice hockey and gymnastics at the NCAA National Collegiate level, as well as 25 non-NCAA sports.

 Several current GLVC institutions already have familiarity with the league's newest member.  Over the course of the past four seasons, GLVC schools have competed against Lindenwood on nearly 300 occasions in all 23 sports except for football.
 
This past year, the GLVC landed three schools in the top 50 of the final Division II Learfield Directors' Cup standings. Lindenwood placed 11th overall in the Directors' Cup standings, which would have been the second-highest ranking among all GLVC institutions. 
 
The GLVC, founded in 1978, is currently one of the largest and most successful NCAA Division II conferences in the country, featuring 16 member institutions and 23 sponsored sports.
The current members of the GLVC are:  Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.), Drury University (Springfield, Mo.), University of Illinois Springfield (Springfield, Ill.), University of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, Ind.), Lewis University (Romeoville, Ill.), Maryville University (St. Louis, Mo.), McKendree University (Lebanon, Ill.), Missouri University of Science & Technology (Rolla, Mo.), University of Missouri-St. Louis (St. Louis, Mo.), Quincy University (Quincy, Ill.), Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Mo.), University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, Ind.), Truman State University (Kirksville, Mo.), and William Jewell College (Liberty, Mo). 
 
The GLVC began evaluating Lindenwood as a prospective member upon receipt of a letter of interest from the University in December 2017.  This past May, Lindenwood conducted its formal presentation to the league membership.  During this same meeting, the GLVC admitted Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, Mo.) as its 15th member, with the Bearcats set to begin competition under the GLVC banner in 2019-20.