The women's athletic programs became the IU Southeast's first accredited athletic program when they became affiliated with the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1975–76. In that same year, there was an attempt to affiliate IU Southeast with the NCAA's Division III. IU–Bloomington did not approve this, however, on the grounds that only one IU campus could be affiliated with the NCAA. Thus, steps were initiated to affiliate with the NAIA. These efforts culminated with active membership being attained in 1978. In 1982, the AIAW folded and the NAIA added women's programs to the organization.