At this time, the conference expanded its membership to include Springfield College and the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Mount Holyoke College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) joined in 1988 and the name was changed to the NEW 8 Conference.

[1] In March 2012, NEWMAC announced the addition of Emerson College as the 11th full member of the league starting in the 2013–14 academic year.

With the addition of Emerson the NEWMAC began re-sponsoring the sport of men's lacrosse, adding an affiliate member, Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

In July 2012, the conference welcomed Simmons College as an affiliate member to compete in the sport of rowing.