SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) – Bryant University announced Thursday that it had accepted an invitation for its athletic teams to compete in the Division I Northeast conference.

Bryant currently competes in Division II. It is in the first year of a five-year transition period for full Division I membership. Full membership, including eligibility for Division I championships, will take effect September 2012.

“They are an excellent fit for the NEC, and we look forward to them joining us in the fall of 2012,” NEC commissioner Brenda Weare said in a statement.

The university said it expects to play a Division I schedule in 2008-09.

Bryant has more than 3,200 full-time and part-time undergraduate students.

The Northeast Conference is an 11-member conference that sponsors championships in 21 sports for men and women teams.