The Frontier Conference Tuesday voted to accept Southern Oregon University as an associate member for football, starting with the 2012 season.

The announcement comes after two days of meetings in Billings, Mont. attended by SOU President Dr. Mary Cullinan and SOU Athletic Director Matt Sayre.

"This is a great day for the SOU football program," Sayre said. "Finding a home for our football program has been a top priority for the past couple years and we feel that being part of the Frontier Conference is a perfect fit. I would really like to thank Dr. Cullinan for her support and work on this project. She really went to bat for us and it shows how important this decision is for the University."

The conference also voted in Dickinson State as a full-fledged member, giving the conference eight football playing institutions (SOU, Dickinson State, Carroll College, Montana Western, Rocky Mountain, Montana Tech, Montana State-Northern, Eastern Oregon).

"Another historic chapter of the Frontier Conference was written this week in Billings," Frontier Conference President Kent Paulson said. "The presidents have authorized me to expand the conference and this is just the first step. Several other schools have expressed interest in joining and that could happen prior to the 2012 season."

Menlo College and Jamestown College also made formal presentations and weren't rejected, but at their own request, asked to be considered at a future time.

"We really appreciate the time that the Frontier Conference Presidents and Athletic Directors put in to making this decision and having faith in our program," Sayre said.

Southern Oregon has struggled recently trying to find NAIA games to play since electing to go as an NAIA Independent when the Columbia Football Association broke up following the 1998 season.

SOU will continue to play as an NAIA Independent for the 2011 season.

Southern Oregon will continue to compete in Cascade Conference in all other sports except for wrestling, which is also an NAIA Independent.

The Raiders open up the 2011 season at future Frontier Conference foe Montana State on Aug. 27.