Richmond, Ind. – Indiana University East invites the community to an NAIA Tip-Off Party on Tuesday, October 2, to celebrate joining the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The official announcement regarding IU East’s membership is expected Monday, October 1, from the NAIA during its national meeting in Kansas.

Mayor Sally Hutton will proclaim October 2 as IU East Athletics Day in the city of Richmond. The proclamation will be read following the women’s volleyball match at 7 p.m. against Midway College at the Tiernan Center.

The NAIA Tip-Off Party begins at 5 p.m. with free food from Joe’s Pizza in the Campus Café, located in Whitewater Hall. A fan caravan leaves with our student-athletes at 6 p.m. to travel to the Tiernan Center. Tickets to the volleyball match are $5 each. Following the match, the men’s basketball team will have an intrasquad scrimmage. The scrimmage is free. Everyone is encouraged to wear red and black to show their IU East pride.

As an NAIA member, IU East will compete in women’s volleyball, men’s basketball and men’s golf. The NAIA’s mission is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. IU East will now pursue conference membership in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletics Conference.

Indiana University East is east central Indiana’s leader in baccalaureate and graduate education, offering over 60 Indiana University degree program options to residents of east central Indiana and west central Ohio. It also offers programs of study at its regional centers in New Castle, Connersville and Lawrenceburg. For more information, please visit www.iue.edu.