Follow your passions and discover your potential.

President Ronald Reagan

Former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright

London Fletcher

Joan Benoit Samuelson

What do those four people have in common? They were all Division III student-athletes.

So what does it mean to be a Division III student-athlete? Here’s what some people think…

4 min DIII Identity Video

The Division III Experience A well-rounded collegiate experience – Rigorous academics – Competitive athletics – Opportunity to pursue co- and extra-curricular opportunities. Teaches valuable lessons in teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and leadership.

The Division III Experience Playing season and eligibility standards that minimize conflicts between athletics and academics. Encouragement to take advantage of available opportunities within and beyond athletics, to develop full potential.

The Division III Experience An intense and competitive athletics environment: play for the love of the game, without obligation of an athletics scholarship. Placing primary emphasis on regional in- season and conference competition, still with 37 national championships offered. Importance placed on participants rather than spectators.

What else you should know… 1 out of 4 students at Division III institutions participate in athletics. 75% of student-athletes in Division III receive some form of grant or non-athletics scholarship.

So…is that what Division III athletics are about at (insert school name)? Can we be doing a better job of living up to the D3 philosophy? Let’s talk about it…

Question #1 In what ways does our athletic program complement the institution’s mission? Do athletic departmental program and staff evaluation criteria match our athletics mission statement? In what ways does our athletic program complement the institution’s mission? Do athletic departmental program and staff evaluation criteria match our athletics mission statement?

Question #2: Many different groups of people are in the mix when it comes to athletics: Administration Faculty Athletic Department staff Coaches Student-athletes Trustees Alumni/ae Non-athlete students

A. How does each group define athletic success? B. How important is the pursuit of conference and NCAA championships success to these groups? C. How do we as an institution define athletic integration?

Question 3: Do athletic departmental program and staff evaluation criteria match how we define athletic success?

Question 4: How does athletics impact campus culture? How do we encourage and maintain integration on campus?

Question 5: What are the most significant challenges that stand in the way of the Division III ideal at our school and in our conference?

Question 6: What changes might we consider on our campus to improve athletics integration, based on this discussion?

Thank you!