Member schools achieve the conference's mission by:

1. Conducting athletic programs that are extensions of and directly support the academic mission of each school. This influences the way that member schools view coaching, recruitment, eligibility, financial aid, scheduling, and the amount of time that student-athletes are away from class.

2. Placing the highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on the successful completion of all student-athletes' academic programs.

3. Insisting on the practice of good sportsmanship and positive social behaviors in all constituents, including student-athletes, coaches, administrative personnel, and spectators.

4. Providing equitable athletic opportunities for males and females and giving equal emphasis to men's and women's sports at co-educational colleges.

5. Affirming the special importance of the effect of athletics on the participants rather than on the spectators and placing greater emphasis on the internal constituency (students, alumni, institutional personnel) than on the general public and its entertainment needs.

6. Assuring that the actions of coaches and other institutional personnel exhibit fairness, openness, and honesty in their relationships with student-athletes.

7. Maintaining that conference competition and championships are the primary objectives of in-season play. Post-season play is an additional opportunity, but not a basis for altering conference policies and procedures.

8. Supporting student-athletes in their efforts to reach high levels of athletic performance by providing all teams with adequate facilities, competent coaching, and appropriate competitive opportunities.

Adopted May 19, 1999