Winston-Salem State has been accepted into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

A news conference is scheduled today in Virginia Beach, Va., where the conference has its headquarters, to announce the move.

“We are elated to welcome Winston-Salem into the MEAC family,” commissioner Dennis Thomas said Wednesday. “Obviously, we think that WSSU is an outstanding academic institution with an excellent athletics program.”

Winston-Salem State is jumping to Division I and leaving the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association after more than 50 years.

The Rams will be in transition for four years and won’t be eligible for any MEAC championships until 2010-11.

“Our goal is to be become a strong and viable member of the MEAC,” athletic director Chico Caldwell said.

Winston-Salem State will become the 12th member of the MEAC, which is expanding for the first time since inviting Norfolk State in 1997.