THE MIDWEST CONFERENCE IS AN INTERSTATE LEAGUE AMONG SIMILARLY MINDED INSTITUTIONS - THOSE WHICH GIVE PRIMARY ATTENTION TO THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF ATHLETICS. MEMBER INSTITUTIONS BELIEVE THAT PARTICIPATION IN SPORT ENHANCES THE UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE, PROVIDING VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OVERALL ACADEMIC PROGRAM - MOST SIGNIFICANTLY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT-ATHLETE GROWTH AND THE REALIZATION OF PERSONAL POTENTIAL. FURTHERMORE, THE CONFERENCE BELIEVES THAT THE QUALITY AND CONDUCT OF COACHES AND ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT STAFF ARE SIGNIFICANT IN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORT AS A CO-EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOR. AS PART OF ITS EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY, MEMBERS AND AFFILIATES OF THE MIDWEST CONFERENCE MAINTAIN THAT ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, PURPOSEFULLY SUPPORTING STUDENT-ATHLETES IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IN ALL THAT THEY DO. THE MIDWEST CONFERENCE ACCOMPLISHES THIS GOAL, COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY, BY: VALUTING AND ADVANC