In 1941, with many member institutions suffering from reduced male student populations, the AIC suspended competition in order to save gasoline and other resources necessary for the war effort.
In December 1952 the AIC schools implemented new "amateurism" rules that no scholarships or subsidies would be offered to athletes beyond those that were available to regular students.
[1] This situation was finally resolved in 1959 when a compromise was reached and Southern Arkansas and Tech were "restored" to the conference.
Two of the remaining private schools, Ouachita Baptist and Harding, were accepted into the Lone Star Conference.
The other private school, John Brown University, joined the Sooner Athletic Conference as the AIC dissolved.