Gardner-Webb University's Board of Trustees approved the institution's move to full membership in the Big South Conference during Thursday's trustee meeting.

Gardner-Webb will remain with the Atlantic Sun Conference - its current league - during a two-year transition period. Gardner-Webb's final year of competition in the A-Sun would be 2007-2008, with full membership in the Big South beginning on July 1, 2008.

Gardner-Webb has been an associate member of the Big South for football only since 2002. The athletics program began competition in the A-Sun during the 2002-2003 academic year. GWU has won regular season A-Sun titles in men's basketball (2004-2005) and men's track & field (2006) since joining the league, and saw women's basketball advance to the A-Sun title game this past season.

"The Big South provides our athletics program with more regional visibility and natural rivalries for Gardner-Webb University as a whole," said Gardner-Webb President Dr. Frank Bonner. "The close proximity of a majority of the league's current members means less missed class time for our student-athletes, and reduced travel expenses - also key components of the institution's decision making process. Our experience with the Big South Conference as an associate member for football has been outstanding, and we are pleased with the opportunity to join the league as a full member."

Gardner-Webb currently sponsors 20 varsity sports at the Division I level, with 18 of those sports currently sponsored by the Big South. Only women's swimming (Northeast Conference) and wrestling (Division I Independent) will not compete in the Big South Conference. The school will add men's swimming as its 21st varsity sport in 2007. GWU won Big South Conference titles in football during the 2002 and 2003 seasons, and has forged an 11-4 league mark since the conference began sponsoring football.

"We are grateful to the Atlantic Sun Conference for their willingness to work with us and provide a conference home during our move to Division I," said GWU Vice President for Athletics Chuck Burch. "Our relationship with the A-Sun , their leadership team and the member institutions has been rewarding. The opportunity to compete as a full member in the Big South is tremendous for us, however. The natural rivalries available in a number of sports will be exciting for our fans, and we look forward to renewing relationships - and creating new ones - with the Big South's membership."

The Big South Conference currently has nine full members spanning North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Alabama. The current members are Birmingham Southern (Birmingham, Ala.), Charleston Southern (Charleston, S.C.), Coastal Carolina (Conway, S.C.), High Point (High Point, N.C.), Liberty (Lynchburg, Va.), Radford (Radford, Va.), UNC Asheville (Asheville, N.C.), VMI (Lexington, Va.) and Winthrop (Rock Hill, S.C.). With the addition of Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian (Clinton, S.C.) - which announced its move to Division I and the Big South earlier this year, the league will have 11 members.

"Gardner-Webb University will be a great member of the Big South Conference," said Commissioner Kyle Kallander. "Its commitment to Division I excellence in all facets of its program, and its location in the Big South footprint make it a great fit. We are excited to welcome Gardner-Webb into the Big South family."

Located in Boiling Springs, NC, Gardner-Webb is home to nearly 4,000 students from 30 states and 30 foreign countries. Founded in 1905, Gardner-Webb provides exceptional educational opportunities within a Christian environment. GWU began its NCAA Division I membership during the 2000-2001 academic year.