De Pere, Wis. — St. Norbert College and Bellin College are proud to announce a first-of-its-kind pilot agreement with the NCAA, giving student-athletes the unique opportunity to continue their athletic careers while pursuing a degree at Bellin.

Students who complete two years at St. Norbert and transfer to Bellin can remain eligible to compete in NCAA athletics, provided all waiver requirements are met and approved by the NCAA. St. Norbert and Bellin are the first partner schools in the country to have student-athletes approved for this initiative, which offers academic and athletic flexibility.

SNC cross country and track and field student-athlete Madison DeCleene, now in her first semester at Bellin, is the first student to participate in the transfer agreement.

“I hope that others are inspired by this program seeing that I can be both a dedicated nursing student at Bellin and a committed cross country and track athlete at St. Norbert College,” said Madison DeCleene. “Up until this point, it was thought that you had to choose one or the other, but this program is now proof that you can experience your full potential by playing both roles.”

“This pathway opens the door for student-athletes who are currently here for nursing or other Bellin majors, and for future prospective students to come and grow through a transformative experience both in the classroom and the arena,” said Mike Wallerich, SNC assistant athletic director, who manages NCAA compliance and eligibility.

The NCAA waiver program ensures that students who transfer to an institution without varsity athletics may continue to compete, provided there is an existing academic relationship between the institutions, eligibility standards are met, and all parties—including the conference office—approve participation. 

“Bellin College is proud to collaborate with St. Norbert College to support students in pursuing both their academic and athletic goals,” said Mark Bake, chief academic officer at Bellin College. “The opportunity for SNC transfer students to continue participating in athletics while pursuing their healthcare education at Bellin allows students to stay connected to their passions and community while preparing for impactful careers.”

About St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College, located in De Pere, Wis., is the only Norbertine college in the world and a private Catholic liberal arts institution known for its personalized attention and commitment to educating the whole person. Recognized for excellence in student experience, St. Norbert is ranked among the top five colleges nationwide for best college food and holds top honors in Wisconsin for campus life, athletics and student experience. The college offers undergraduate degrees in the arts and sciences, business, and health and human development, as well as two graduate programs. Part of the greater Green Bay community, the campus fosters intellectual, spiritual and social growth. St. Norbert College competes in NCAA Division III athletics and is home to 27 intercollegiate teams and 17 individual and team national championships. For more information, visit snc.edu.

About Bellin College

Bellin College is Wisconsin’s premier private health sciences college. Bellin College offers three-year bachelor’s degrees in nursing, radiologic sciences, diagnostic medical sonography, radiation therapy and surgical assisting, and graduate programs in nursing and physical therapy. Bellin College strives to provide an intellectually stimulating environment for its students and promotes excellence in healthcare practice. For more information, visit www.bellincollege.edu.