# Little East Conference

The Little East Conference (LEC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The member institutions are located in all six states of New England.

## History
### Chronological timeline

* 1986 - On April 28, 1986, the Little East Conference (LEC) was founded. Charter members included Eastern Connecticut State University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Plymouth State College (now Plymouth State University), Rhode Island College and the University of Southern Maine; beginning the 1986–87 academic year.
* 1993 - Western Connecticut State University joined the Little East in the 1993–94 academic year.
* 1997 - Keene State College joined the Little East in the 1997–98 academic year.
* 2000 - Seven institutions joined the Little East as associate members: Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University for field hockey as the MASCAC division in fall, and Salem State for men's lacrosse in spring, all effective in the 2000–01 academic year.
* 2003 - Salem State added men's tennis into its Little East associate membership in the 2004 spring season (2003-04 academic year).
* 2004 - Two institutions added certain sports into their Little East associate memberships: Bridgewater State with men's and women's tennis, and Salem State with women's tennis, both effective the 2005 spring season (2004-05 academic year).
* 2009 - Three institutions added certain sports into their Little East associate memberships: Worcester State with women's tennis, and Bridgewater State and Westfield State with women's swimming & diving, all effective in the 2009–10 academic year.
* 2015 - Bridgewater State left the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving after the 2014–15 academic year.
* 2018 - Castleton University (later Vermont State University–Castleton) joined the Little East in the 2018–19 academic year.
* 2019 - Two institutions joined the Little East as associate members: Western New England University for women's swimming & diving, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy for men's lacrosse, both effective in the 2019–20 academic year.
* 2022 -
** The University of New England joined the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving in the 2022–23 academic year.
** The MASCAC field hockey division of the Little East (Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Salem State, Westfield State and Worcester State) will leave the Little East and be its own separate conference (as in, the MASCAC to have it as a sponsored sport) beginning in the 2023 fall season (2023–24 academic year).

## Member schools
### Current members

The Little East currently has nine full members, all are public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) | Nickname | Joined |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, Connecticut | 1889 | Public | 4,989 | $16.3 | Warriors | 1986 |
| Keene State College | Keene, New Hampshire | 1909 | Public | 3,213 | $14.0 | Owls | 1997 |
| Plymouth State University | Plymouth, New Hampshire | 1871 | Public | 4,491 | $28.9 | Panthers | 1986 |
| Rhode Island College | Providence, Rhode Island | 1854 | Public | 7,523 | $16.4 | Anchormen & Anchorwomen | 1986 |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | Boston, Massachusetts | 1852 | Public | 16,259 | $92.0 | Beacons | 1986 |
| University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | Dartmouth, Massachusetts | 1895 | Public | 8,513 | $59.0 | Corsairs | 1986 |
| University of Southern Maine | Gorham, Maine | 1878 | Public | 8,022 | $38.5 | Huskies | 1986 |
| Vermont State University–Castleton | Castleton, Vermont | 1787 | Public | 2,399 | $7.86 | Spartans | 2018 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, Connecticut | 1903 | Public | 5,246 | $12.8 | Wolves | 1993 |

#### Notes

* 1 2 Part of the Connecticut State University System.
* 1 2 Part of the University System of New Hampshire.
* ↑ Actual amount in endowment is $13,996,219.
* ↑ Part of the Rhode Island Board of Education.
* 1 2 Part of the University of Massachusetts System.
* ↑ The University of Southern Maine's main campus is located at Gorham; with other campuses at Lewiston and Portland.
* ↑ Part of the University of Maine System.
* ↑ Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.

### Associate members

The Little East currently has six associate members, all but two are public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) | Nickname | Joined | Primary conference | LEC sport(s) |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | 1840 | Public | 10,651 | $54.0 | Bears | 2004–05$^{m.ten.}$ 2004–05$^{w.ten.}$ | MASCAC | men's tennis; women's tennis |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts | 1891 | Public | 1,637 | $13.05 | Buccaneers | 2019–20 | MASCAC | men's lacrosse |
| University of New England | Biddeford, Maine | 1831 | Nonsectarian | 7,208 | $39.2 | Nor'easters | 2022–23 | CCC | women's swimming & diving |
| Salem State University | Salem, Massachusetts | 1854 | Public | 7,242 | $25.3 | Vikings | 2000–01$^{m.lax.}$ 2003–04$^{m.ten.}$ 2004–05$^{w.ten.}$ | MASCAC | men's lacrosse; men's tennis; women's tennis |
| Western New England University | Springfield, Massachusetts | 1919 | Nonsectarian | 3,702 | $55.9 | Golden Bears | 2019–20 | CCC | women's swimming & diving |
| Westfield State University | Westfield, Massachusetts | 1838 | Public | 5,400 | $6.2 | Owls | 2009–10 | MASCAC | women's swimming & diving |

#### Notes

* 1 2 3 4 Part of the Massachusetts State Universities System.
* ↑ Actual amount in endowment is $13,051,554.

### Future associate members

| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Primary conference | Little East sport |
| Babson College | Wellesley, Massachusetts | 1919 | Nonsectarian | 2,350 | Beavers | 2025–26 | NEWMAC | men's ice hockey |
| New England College | Henniker, New Hampshire | 1946 | Nonsectarian | 4,327 | Pilgrims | 2025–26 | GNAC | men's ice hockey; women's ice hockey |
| Norwich University | Northfield, Vermont | 1819 | Private | 2,300 | Cadets | 2025–26 | GNAC | men's ice hockey; women's ice hockey |

### Former associate members

The Little East had six former associate members, all of which were also public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Endowment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Primary conference | LEC sport(s) |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | 1840 | Public | 10,651 | $54.0 | Bears | 2000–01$^{f.h.}$ 2009–10$^{w.s.d.}$ | 2022–23$^{f.h.}$ 2014–15$^{w.s.d.}$ | MASCAC | field hockey; women's swimming & diving |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | 1894 | Public | 4,659 | $19.9 | Falcons | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey |
| Framingham State University | Framingham, Massachusetts | 1839 | Public | 4,111 | $35.4 | Rams | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey |
| Salem State University | Salem, Massachusetts | 1854 | Public | 7,242 | $25.3 | Vikings | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey |
| Westfield State University | Westfield, Massachusetts | 1838 | Public | 5,400 | $6.2 | Owls | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey |
| Worcester State University | Worcester, Massachusetts | 1874 | Public | 6,434 | $34.5 | Lancers | 2000–01$^{f.h.}$ 2009–10$^{w.ten.}$ | 2022–23$^{f.h.}$ 2020–21$^{w.ten.}$ | MASCAC | field hockey; women's tennis |

#### Notes

* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Part of the Massachusetts State Universities System.
* ↑ Actual amount in endowment is $35,385,907.

### Membership timeline
## Sports

The LEC sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.
In 2023, the Little East announced the addition of men's and women's ice hockey to begin play in 2025.

### Men's sports

| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Golf | Ice Hockey | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Total |
| Castleton | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Eastern Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 |
| Keene State | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 |
| Plymouth State | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 |
| Rhode Island College | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| Southern Maine | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| UMass–Boston | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| UMass–Dartmouth | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | 7 |
| Western Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | 7 |
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 6+3 | 8+2 | 9 | 4+1 | 5+2 | 8 | 8 | 79+8 |
| Associate Members |||||||||||||
| Babson | | | | | Y | | | | | | | 1 |
| Bridgewater State | | | | | | | | Y | Y | | | 2 |
| Massachusetts Maritime | | | | | | Y | | | | | | 1 |
| New England College | | | | | Y | | | | | | | 1 |
| Norwich | | | | | Y | | | | | | | 1 |
| Salem State | | | | | | Y | | | Y | | | 2 |

### Women's sports

| School | Basketball | Cross Country | Field Hockey | Ice Hockey | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Volleyball | Total |
| Castleton | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Eastern Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Keene State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Plymouth State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Rhode Island College | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Southern Maine | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| UMass–Boston | Y | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| UMass–Dartmouth | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Western Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | 9 |
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5+2 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6+3 | 7+2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 94+7 |
| Associate Members ||||||||||||||
| Bridgewater State | | | | | | | | | Y | | | | 1 |
| New England College | | | | Y | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| U. of New England | | | | | | | | Y | | | | | 1 |
| Norwich | | | | Y | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Salem State | | | | | | | | | Y | | | | 1 |
| Western New England | | | | | | | | Y | | | | | 1 |
| Westfield State | | | | | | | | Y | | | | | 1 |