TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER CONFERENCES IN FORMULATING AND IMPLEMENTING AN IMPROVED MODEL FOR THE CONDUCT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, THIS IS CONSISTENT, WITH THE CONFERENCES VALUES. TO SUSTAIN ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING STUDENT-ATHLETE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE LEVELS AND GRADUATION RATES; AND TO ASSURE EACH MEMBER INSTITUTION'S COMMITMENT TO THE CONFERENCE'S VALUES, AND IN SO DOING, TO IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG MEMBERS AND TO MANAGE THE TENSIONS THAT FREQUENTLY SURFACE IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.