MITCHELL COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS MISSION STATEMENT
The athletic program at Mitchell College is an integral part of the
educational experience through guiding the student-athlete in their
quest to develop their academic, athletic, and personal potential
in the spirit of good sportsmanship and healthy competition. The
program is committed to upholding and enhancing the mission of the
college and the philosophy of NCAA Division III athletics.
We are committed to developing an environment that fosters academic
success, leadership, discipline and a sense of ethical conduct. The
Mitchell College Department of Athletics seeks to establish and
maintain an environment that values cultural diversity and gender
equity among all student athletes and athletic staff.
DIVISION III PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
Colleges and universities in Division III place highest priority on
the overall quality of the educational experience and on the
successful completion of all students' academic programs. They seek
to establish and maintain an environment in which a
student-athlete's athletics activities are conducted as an integral
part of the student-athlete's educational experience. They also
seek to establish and maintain an environment that values cultural
diversity and gender equity among their student-athletes and
athletics staff.
To achieve this end, Division III institutions:
(a) Place special importance on the impact of athletics on the
participants rather than on the spectators and place greater
emphasis on the internal constituency (students, alumni,
institutional personnel) than on the general public and its
entertainment needs;
(b) Award no athletically related financial aid to any student;
(c) Encourage the development of sportsmanship and positive
societal attitudes in all constituents, including student-athletes,
coaches, administrative personnel and spectators;
(d) Encourage participation by maximizing the number and variety of
athletics opportunities for their students;
(e) Assure that the actions of coaches and administrators exhibit a
professional demeanor, fairness, openness and honesty in their
relationships with student-athletes;
(f) Assure that athletics participants are not treated differently
from other members of the student body;
(g) Assure that athletics programs support the institution's
educational mission by financing, fundraising, staffing and
controlling the programs through the same general procedures as
other departments of the institution;
(h) Assure that athletics recruitment complies with established
institutional policies and procedures applicable to the admission
process and the NCAA; (Adopted: 1/12/04 effective 8/1/04)
(i) Support ethnic and gender diversity for all constituents;
(Adopted: 1/12/99)
j) Give primary emphasis to regional in-season competition and
conference championships; and
(k) Support student-athletes in their efforts to reach high levels
of athletics performance, which may include opportunities for
participation in national championships, by providing all teams
with adequate facilities, experienced coaching and appropriate
competitive opportunities.
The purpose of the NCAA is to assist its members in developing the
basis for consistent, equitable competition while minimizing
infringement on the freedom of individual institutions to determine
their own special objectives and programs. The above statement
articulates principles that represent a commitment to Division III
membership and shall serve as a guide for the preparation of
legislation by the division and for planning and implementation of
programs by institutions and conferences.