Members of the three presidential bodies began construction August 7 of a philosophical framework that will guide the Association for years to come.

A landmark session involving members of the Division I Board of Directors and the Divisions II and III Presidents Councils marked the transition from the data-collection phase of the NCAA's strategic-planning process to the phase in which the membership identifies its goals and chooses its priorities.

The presidents had abundant information before them as they worked from material gleaned from 11 strategic-thinking sessions that have included major segments of the membership.

Out of that information, the presidents were able to craft three important drafts that may serve as the foundation of the plan, which is to be fully implemented next April. The drafts, which are included in the list on page 11, pertain to the NCAA's core purpose, its core values and to an audacious goal.

The development of the core-purpose statement was especially daunting since the presidents were limited to identifying a principal purpose for an exceptionally large and diverse association. NCAA President Myles Brand sought to frame the question by saying, "I want to know the purpose of why we're in this -- not necessarily the NCAA but the institution of higher education. We should address the integration of athletics into the university, but we also should speak to the cultural values of sports."

The statement that the presidents selected (and modified) was more outwardly directed than other options they considered. The sense was that the draft purpose reflects the NCAA's responsibility as "the keeper of the flame," that it "looks to the outside," that it subsumes other important purposes and that it is grounded in a number of important values.

The draft core purpose still contains a number of thoughts, and it likely will be streamlined as the planning process evolves.

The core-value and audacious goal statements likewise demonstrated the presidents' desire for intercollegiate athletics to play an increasingly important role in the development of young people and in building a stronger society.

During their August 7 session, the presidents also reviewed assumptions about the five- to 10-year future and added a number of thoughts on top of those that had been collected through the strategic-thinking process. Among the new thoughts were that:

Nontraditional students will become more common.

If more professional sports opportunities are provided to women, they will be more likely to compete in sports.

The students of the future are more likely to have an activist bent than current students.

The NCAA will have an increasing need for data that justify or support its positions.

There may be increasing corporate control of higher education (and college athletics) as federal funding diminishes.

Transportation will become faster in the future, which will reduce the amount of travel time required for intercollegiate athletics.

College athletics may move more toward participation-centered, rather than audience-centered, contests.

The nature of the contests may move away from the competition itself and increasingly focus on the events surrounding the contests ("We all know that Starbuck's isn't about the coffee," explained one president). Similarly, other presidents predicted an arms race for producing increasingly complicated events.

Faculty governance will increase.

Coaches and student-athletes alike will need to be educated about the public nature of their positions as media seek provocative stories.

The nature of high-school sports is changing in ways that may affect intercollegiate athletics.

Professional sports may be asked to help underwrite college sports if they continue to use the system for player development.

The planning process now is in its second phase (see the strategic-planning site of NCAA Online at www.ncaa.org). During this phase, emerging themes and goals of the plan will be tested through a survey of internal and external associates of the NCAA.

The next milestone meeting will be a September 30 Leadership Summit in Dallas. More than 180 coaches, administrators and student-athletes who have been instrumental in the ongoing development of the plan will be invited to react to a draft of the plan, to discuss "mega issues" and to provide input on three- to five-year goals.

Multiple media employed to communicate progress of NCAA strategic plan

The development of the NCAA strategic plan is a large, complicated process that demands understanding and acceptance from the membership.

Because of that, the communication of the plan is essential to its eventual success. On that count, Glenn Tecker of Tecker Consultants gives the NCAA excellent marks, calling it "the most transparent approach to strategic planning that I have seen in my 30 years in this business."

Jim Isch, NCAA senior vice-president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, said that the Association committed early in the process to being as open as possible.

"We have included comprehensive reports on every strategic-thinking session in The NCAA News and we will continue to provide reports on each stage until the plan is implemented," he said. "We know those reports contain some repetition, but we want those who are interested to be able to see what each of these expert groups discussed when they were given the opportunity to focus on the future of intercollegiate athletics."

Each segment of the plan also is posted on NCAA Online (www.ncaa.org), accessible through the "Strategic Planning Process" frame on the right side of the front page. A click of that button will lead to flow charts that describe the plan timeline. A click on any segment of the timeline will produced the documentation that goes with that section.

In addition, individuals who have been invited to participate in the strategic-thinking sessions have been provided with e-mail updates as the plan progresses.

Finally, participants and other interested parties have benefited from traditional correspondence such as telephone calls or letters and, of course, the communication that comes simply from being a participant.

As the process moves along, new communication avenues may become apparent. For example, at the August 8 Executive Committee meeting, Wayne Clough, president of Georgia Institute of Technology, said he planned to share planning information with his peers at a meeting of Atlantic Coast Conference presidents.

"I think that what President Clough suggested may be the most effective form of communication," Isch said. "We can provide the membership with a record of everything that has transpired, but the most useful input is likely to come from participants who have engaged the issue with their peers."

Drafts of purpose, values and goal statements

Draft statements for the NCAA strategic plan developed August 7 by members of the presidential governing bodies of Divisions I, II and III:

Draft Core Purpose

To lead by ensuring that intercollegiate athletics serves as an integral part of undergraduate education; assures fair and safe competition; challenges the spirit, mind and body; develops citizens prepared for life; and enhances our common cultural experience.

Draft Core Values
Essential and enduring principles
that guide an organization

Our Association believes intercollegiate athletics is first and foremost an integral part of the student athlete's undergraduate education and preparation for life.

Our Association recognizes the indispensable contribution intercollegiate athletics makes to the ideals, sense of community and public recognition of our member institutions.

Our Association is committed to pursue the common good through shared governance that sustains an inclusive and cooperative culture.

Our Association is dedicated to complete academic and athletic integrity.

Draft Audacious Statement
A clear and compelling catalyst
that serves as a focal point for effort

Be the catalyst for the successful institutional integration of intercollegiate athletics with the undergraduate experience and for positioning the ideals of collegiate athletics as a positive force in our national culture.