Fall Athletics Update

July 20, 2020

A Message from President Elaine C. Collins:

NVU Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I have news to share regarding fall athletics. Today, the North Atlantic Conference announced that NAC competition for 2020 fall sports is cancelled due to health and safety concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be no scheduled fall sport NAC competitions or championships.

To ensure our athletes will enjoy a robust athletics experience this fall, Northern Vermont University is committed to exploring meaningful athletic experiences for our athletes. Teams will be encouraged, as health and safety conditions allow, to participate in conditioning, strength training, and sport-related practice opportunities.

Under the NAC guidelines, conference members may consider alternate competitions for their sport programs, dependent on CDC, state, local, and university health guidelines. We will explore setting up these competitions between our campuses and other colleges as we progress through the fall semester.

I know this decision is difficult for our student athletes. We will do all within our power to ensure you enjoy an athletics experience within the guidelines of the NCAA, NAC, and our public health officials. This decision will not affect NCAA eligibility for NVU-Johnson or NVU-Lyndon, or for individual athletes.

We will share updates to our fall sport schedule once decisions are made. Decisions related to winter and spring sport competition will be made later in the semester.

The formal NVU and NAC announcement are posted on the NVU-Badgers and NVU-Hornets websites.

Athletes, your coaches have been reaching out to you. If you have questions, be sure to talk with them. NVU Associate Dean of Athletics Jamey Ventura is also available for questions.

Best,

Elaine