Midwestern Collegiate Conference Becomes Horizon League

New name symbolizes student-centered athletic league

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - With the goal of emphasizing the overall development of the student-athlete, the nine-member Midwestern Collegiate Conference is changing its name to Horizon League and pledging a renewed focus on academics, personal responsibility, and community outreach for the League. The announcement was made today in Indianapolis by Dr. Nancy Zimpher, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and co-chair of the Horizon League Board of Directors branding sub-committee.

"Today, Horizon League embarks on an exciting vision for its student-athletes. A cornerstone of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference has been our strong emphasis on academic success, personal responsibility and community outreach. We want to expand on those values with new initiatives." Zimpher said.

"As a Division I athletic conference, we have discussed and are concerned by the perception of many that there are serious problems in college athletics, including the notion that the enterprise has moved away from its fundamen tal mission of education. We believe our league can be an example of what is right in college athletics."

According to Zimpher, the new conference name and logo symbolizes the celebration of past academic and athletic successes and community involvement, as well as a new perspective that takes a long-term view of the college student-athlete's journey through not only the college years, but his or her entire life.

"Make no mistake, Horizon League is not moving away from the ideal of our teams being champions in every sport," Zimpher said. "More than ever, we want to win. But today's announcement is another step in creating a better athletic environment, sense of purpose, and dedication to community service and personal responsibility for our student-athletes."

"We think we're establishing a solid message and direction today that will help our member schools with recruiting by attracting top-notch athletes, as well as top-notch people. We are looking to create a complete life-style experience for our student-athletes, one that just doesn't happen on the athletic fields and courts."

Jonathan LeCrone, commissioner of Horizon League, said that today's announcement will signal major changes in the way the conference administration will conduct business.

"We've researched the success of our student-athletes and concluded it is our commitment to athletics, community, academics and personal responsibility that makes our league special," LeCrone said. "It is time to sharpen our focus on these areas and celebrate the story of our student-athletes.

"As administrators of the league, we will take the lead promoting the ideals on which the Horizon League is founded."

Specific Initiatives Proposed

LeCrone announced several specific initiatives that will form the cornerstone of the student-athlete experience in Horizon League. The initiatives are in three main areas: Academic Achievement, Community Outreach and Personal Responsibility and Accountability.

Academic Achievement:

The Horizon League Office will reorganize its communications efforts to add emphasis on the performance of league athletes in the classroom. In addition to athletic performance statistics, the League will include information on those student-athletes excelling academically.

The Horizon League Commissioner will recommend to the Executive Council and the Board the development and establishment of several new academic awards, including:
- Horizon League Academic Achievement Award - given annually to the Horizon League institution with the highest overall student-athlete grade point average.
- Horizon League "Raise Your Sights" Award - given annually to the institutions' team with the highest G.P.A. (one per institution).
- Selected League Championship events will add an education, leadership or development component to the schedule of activities.
- The Horizon League Commissioner will recommend to the Executive Council and the Board a modification of conference revenue distribution formulas, which would include an academic performance component.

To supplement the NCAA's efforts, The Horizon League Commissioner will recommend to the Board of Directors that the League institute a tracking system for former Horizon League student-athletes who have not graduated and explore methods to offer them assistance in obtaining their college degrees. Part of this recommendation will be to study the feasibility of the Horizon League Foundation, an organization that would fund and staff this effort.

Community Outreach

Our research indicates that Horizon League student-athletes now spend 4,000 hours annually performing service to the community.

The Horizon League Commissioner will recommend to the Executive Council and the Board the establishment of the Horizon League Community Outreach Award. This award will be given on each of the nine campuses to the athletic team that distinguishes itself in community outreach in a given year.

Personal Responsibility and Accountability

We believe our student-athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and officials are role models for young people. We also believe that because of this role, we have a responsibility to adhere to standards of ethical conduct and behavior that promotes the principle of winning with grace and losing with dignity.

With this in mind, the Horizon League Commissioner will ask every student-athlete, coach, athletic administrator and official to sign a pledge to uphold a code of conduct as developed by the Horizon League Ethical Conduct Committee

The Horizon League is made up of the following member institutions: Butler University, Cleveland State University, University of Detroit Mercy, Loyola University Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wright State University and Youngstown State University.

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