Gannon University and Ursuline College filed a lawsuit against the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Wednesday, seeking to overturn the conference’s decision of terminating Ursuline’s membership after the 2026–27 school year.
The Division II schools are merging, but want to keep their athletic departments separate while Gannon operates as the controlling academic institution. Gannon competes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), while Ursuline competes in the G-MAC. The NCAA approved their request in May, stating that Ursuline would “remain an active member of Division II following the merger.”
Despite the NCAA’s ruling, the G-MAC is seeking to remove Ursuline from the conference, which led to Wednesday’s suit, which alleges that the conference is breaking its own bylaws and constitution by throwing out Ursuline.
Additionally, given Ursuline is a predominately female institution, the filing claims the G-MAC violates Title IX through “disproportionately restricting athletic participation opportunities for women student-athletes.”
Gannon started conversations with Ursuline regarding a merger two years ago, and Gannon took control of the Ursuline campus in June 2025. On Tuesday, Gannon president Walter Iwanenko Jr. became president of Ursuline and a consolidated board was formed.
