the new 8 began play in 1985-86 as the new england women's 6 conference (new 6). charter members were babson college, brandeis university, massachusetts institute of technology (mit), smith college, wellesley college and wheaton college. mount holyoke college and worcester polytechnic institute (wpi) joined in 1988 and the name was changed to the new 8 conference. at the conclusion of the 1994-95 academic year, brandeis university withdrew from the new 8 to join the university athletic association (which its men's sports competed at that time) and clark university accepted membership, keeping the new 8's membership at eight institutions.