four weeks long, the MBA or M.Ed. can be completed in 12 months or fewer, a Bachelor's in 40 months, or an Associate's in only 20 months, if a student were to start college studies without any prior college credits. Athletics The Salem athletic teams are called the Tigers. The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing as an NCAA D-II Independent for most of its sports since the 2016–17 academic year (which they were a member on a previous stint from 2010–11 to 2012–13); while being an associate member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for some of its sports. The Tigers previously competed as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) from 2013–14 to 2015–16; as well as a charter member of the defunct West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) from 1924–25 to 2009–10. Salem competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field and water polo; while women's sports basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball and water polo. G-MAC tenure Salem is one of four West Virginia schools that joined the G-MAC in July 2013. The other three schools were former WVIAC colleagues of Salem that had been cast adrift in the breakup of the WVIAC. Salem left the G-MAC at the end of the 2015–16 season. According to an official statement issued by the G-MAC: “Salem International will be conducting a final year of (G-MAC) affiliation in 2015-2016. The institution is exploring alternate Division II conference membership options beginning with the 2016–17 season.” As of the 2022–23 school year, Salem remains an independent NCAA Division II institution with no conference affiliation in basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer. The Salem men's and women's swimming programs compete as an affiliate member in Conference Carolinas. Water polo Salem's women's water polo team faced Marist in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship, in a losing effort 9–8. Notable alumni John Abramovic, former National Basketball Association (NBA) forward Terry Bowden, former football coach at Salem, Samford University, and Auburn University, the University of North Alabama, the University of Akron and current football coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe Mike Carey, head coach of the women's basketball team at West Virginia University Jack Deloplaine, former