College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) commissioner Chris Martin announced Monday that Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will join the CCIW as an associate member for swimming starting with the 2007-08 season.

Located in Terre Haute, Ind., Rose-Hulman, a member of the the Heartland Conference for all other sports, will swim at the CCIW Men’s & Women’s Swimming Championships February 14-16, 2008, joining six current CCIW members (Augustana, Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan, Millikin, North Central and Wheaton) who sponsor the sport. Rose-Hulman previously competed in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference, a collection of NCAA Division II and III, and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Rose-Hulman will be the first associate member in the CCIW, and will be eligible to win the CCIW championship. Martin feels that the addition will no doubt bring added depth to the conference’s annual swimming championships, which has been conducted for the men since 1947 and since 1987 for the women.

“The CCIW is very excited to be adding Rose-Hulman as an associate member for swimming,” Martin said. “The addition of another swimming program will enhance our conference championship and the overall quality of swimming in the CCIW. We are also thrilled to have RHIT join as the first ever associate member of the conference.”