the league includes founding members clarkson university, hobart and william smith colleges, the university of rochester, rensselaer polytechnic institute, st. lawrence university, skidmore college, and union college. vassar college became a full member of the league during the 2000–01 academic year, bard college and rochester institute of technology joined for the 2011–12 academic year, and ithaca college officially joined for the 2017–18 academic year. founding member hamilton college departed following the 2010–11 academic year in order to fully integrate its athletic programs within the new england small college athletic conference (nescac).