INDIANAPOLIS – Student-athletes will gather for the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Leadership Conference beginning October 20 in Itasca, Illinois. The conference, which will carry the theme “Connecting the Rhythms of Leadership,” will focus on various areas to empower student-athletes to become agents of positive change. Participants will focus on enhancing their leadership skills, gain a better understanding of the NCAA and Division III to enable them to be active within the structure, and most importantly, develop a plan to create positive change on their campus or in their conference. Approximately 140 student-athletes representing 65 Division III institutions will be in attendance.

The mission of the Division III Student-Athlete Leadership Conference is to prepare student-athletes for leadership in a diverse and dynamic society. Student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators work together to facilitate critical dialogue, address Division III-specific issues and create collaborative the partnerships to impact their daily student-athlete experience.

“This is a great opportunity to bring Division III student-athletes together in a non-competitive environment, to build relationships and to create connections within their conference and Division III,” said Sarah MacInnis, assistant director of education services and coordinator of the conference.

Division III Hot Topic Discussion: Campus Integration

Debbie Lazorik, Marietta College director of athletics, will be the guest speaker during the Division III hot topic discussion. She will facilitate dialogue around the definition of campus integration, challenging participants to consider the challenges and benefits of promoting a campus which integrates the lessons of athletics the overall academic mission of the campus.

There will also be beginner and advanced Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) sessions—Creating an Effective SAAC and Campus SAAC Best Practices—to discuss the mission, structure and issues of campus, conference and national SAAC. Conference attendees will be able to speak with national Division III SAAC members in attendance.

Other sessions will involve information on NCAA and Division III structure and activities reinforcing the information presented.

Conference and institutions expected to attend include:

Association of Division III Independents: California State University, East Bay; Clarke College; College of Saint Elizabeth; College of St. Scholastica; Colorado College; Finlandia University; Fisk University; Nebraska Wesleyan College; Russell Sage College; Saint Joseph’s College (Maine); Southern Vermont College; University of Maine, Presque Isle.

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin: Carthage College; Illinois Wesleyan University; Millikin University; North Central College.

Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference: Defiance College; Manchester College; Transylvania University.

Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Buena Vista University; Luther College; University of Dubuque; Wartburg College.

Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association: Albion College; Alma College; Calvin College; Kalamazoo College; Saint Mary’s College (Indiana).

Midwest Conference: Knox College; Lake Forest College.

North Coast Athletic Conference: Allegheny College; Denison University; Hiram College; Kenyon College; Oberlin College; Ohio Wesleyan University; Wittenberg University.

Northern Athletics Conference: Alverno College; Aurora University; Edgewood College; Maranatha Baptist Bible College; Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Ohio Athletic Conference: Baldwin-Wallace College; Capital University; Heidelberg College; John Carroll University; Marietta College; Mount Union College; Muskingum College; Ohio Northern University; Otterbein College; Wilmington College (Ohio).

Provisional: Tri-State University (A provisional member is a four-year college or university or a two-year upper-level collegiate institution accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency that has applied for active membership in the NCAA. Provisional membership is a prerequisite for active membership in the Association.)

St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Blackburn College; Fontbonne University; Greenville College; MacMurray College; Maryville University of Saint Louis; Webster University; Westminster College (Missouri).

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: University of Wisconsin, La Crosse; University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; University of Wisconsin, River Falls; University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point; University of Wisconsin, Stout.

The next Division III Student-Athlete Leadership Conference will be held for Region 4 (Mid-Atlantic) in Pittsburgh, January 19-21, 2007.  Online registration for Region 4 opens October 25.  The Division III leadership conferences are conducted throughout the year, each representing one of four regions. Other upcoming conferences include:  Region 2 in Boston in October 2007; and Region 1 in Dallas in January 2008. Additional information can be found at www.ncaa.org/leadership.