The Golden Rams have competed at the Division I level as an associate member of the Atlantic Ten Conference since 1996. After the switch, all of West Chester's 24 athletic teams will compete on the Division II level.

"West Chester University would like to maintain its commitment to a broad-based intercollegiate athletic program and remain the largest Division II program in the nation," the university's director of athletics, Edward Matejkovic, said in a statement. "Attempting to achieve greater success with field hockey at the Division I level would require the university to drop several sports in order to divert funding support to the field hockey program. This would be in direct contrast to our philosophy of athletics."

West Chester's baseball team made the switch from Division I to Division II in 1995.

The Rams' field hockey team finished 8-10 overall and 3-3 in the A-10 last season. West Chester will compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in 2011.