of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1996–97 to 2011–12. Union began the three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership in 2011.
Union University competes in eleven intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Former sports included cheerleading.
== Student life ==
=== Greek life ===
There are several social fraternities and sororities on campus.
=== LGBT students ===
Union University is an affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention, and as such strictly follows a Baptist interpretation of Christian scripture. This has led to controversies with regard to intolerance of LGBT ideologies. The school has a code of conduct that prohibits among other things, homosexual behavior and advocacy, as well as premarital sex and alcohol. Former students have claimed that anti-gay policies are enforced more strictly and that heterosexual students …
