The university’s athletics department has accepted an offer to compete in the Division I Northeast Conference (NEC) beginning fall 2025.

In a Tuesday announcement, Northeast Conference Commissioner Noreen Morris said she was “thrilled” the university is willing to take the step to D1.

“From the start, it was clear that they share our values- putting academics, competitive excellence and the student-athlete experience at the forefront,” said Morris in an Instagram post. “We’re excited to partner with the Chargers as they make their mark in Division I and help elevate the NEC.”

The Chargers had been a part of the NCAA Division II since the 1980s, and the school joined the Northeast-10 Conference in 2008. With its step to the NEC, the Chargers join a handful of regional institutions including Central Connecticut State University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Stone Hill College and others.

University president, Jens Frederiksen, said the school was also thrilled to accept the offer from the NEC.

“Athletics has been and continues to be a vital driver of enrollment and brand recognition for the University,” Frederiksen said in an Instagram post. “This move to the Northeast Conference and Division I positions the university for an exciting future — one consistent with the overall strategic focus on academic, professional and global return on investment.”

Some NEC fans took to TikTok to express their support and some rebuttals for the university’s offer. User said that the university’s football team has been a powerhouse, and this shift had been in the works for a long time.

Martino also mentioned the Peterson Performance Center, the student athlete gym which opened in 2023 and said, “and I’m not going to lie, they probably have the nicest facilities in all the NEC now.”

But TikTok user @evanspicks referred to the NEC as an entry-level conference. He referred to the men’s basketball record from this past season, and said, “The only qualification that they have is that they’re in the Northeast. Other than that, there is no way this school should be going D1.”

Devin Crosby, the university’s director of athletics, said the Chargers are now positioned to compete at the highest level and “the Blue & Gold deserve this.”

“The University of New Haven’s momentum under President Jens Frederiksen leadership aligns naturally with our transition to NCAA Division I and the Northeast Conference,” he said in an Instagram post.

The university officially becomes one of the 10 teams competing in the NEC on July 1. For more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.