Less than nine months after it declared its independence, New Jersey City University is headed back to the New Jersey Athletic Conference for the 2005-06 season.

NJCU's readmission to the conference is effective July 1, 2005, and was unanimously approved in a vote by the 18-member Board of Athletic Administrators on Sept. 16, 2004, and later by the NJAC Presidents Council on Sept. 24.

NJCU, which was a charter member of both the NJAC, and its predecessor, the New Jersey State Athletic Conference, since it was established in 1957-58, will participate in all conference sports sponsored by the university, and will maintain a long-term commitment to the league.

“We appreciate the NJAC membership's unanimous support for our readmission to the conference and look forward to resuming competition in the 2005-06 season,” said athletic director Larry Schiner.

Terry Small, commissioner of the NJAC said: “The return of New Jersey City University to the New Jersey Athletic Conference represents an extremely positive development for our conference. The contributions NJCU has made to the NJAC over the years are numerous, and our membership is excited about NJCU's decision to return.”

The move will bring the conference back to 10 full members along with Kean, New Jersey, Montclair State, Ramapo, Richard Stockton, Rowan, Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark, and William Paterson. New Jersey City had failed to gain admission to the Skyline Conference. The institution will compete as an independent for 2004-05.