Rather than worrying about whether schools are spending equal dollars on athletics programs in proportionate balance with gender enrollment, the Bush Administration's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics should worry about what message we are sending to all student-athletes in the operation of these programs.

The reality is that most Division I-A schools treat athletics as a business. Programs are expected, at a minimum, to break even; hence, the bottom line is important. Resources are generated through ticket sales, advertising and broadcast rights, clothing sales, contest guarantees and old-fashioned fund-raising. Increasingly, success is defined more by winning and less and less by the values and lessons learned through the student-athlete experience.

The Division I environment for success requires multimedia scoreboards, exotic travel, plush locker rooms, expensive support services and excessive coaching salaries. Proportionality thus becomes much more than a debate about scholarship opportunities. A for-profit business would never consider eliminating its best products (football and men's basketball) for less viable revenue generators (any women's sport).

Perhaps more Division I institutions should consider adopting a philosophy and model that already exists in Division III. The value of participation is more important than simply winning. In fact, participation rates at Division III schools are often in the range of 25 to 50 percent of the total student body, compared with less than 4 percent in Division I institutions.

Division III athletes receive no scholarships. Student-athletes are treated exactly the same as the rest of the student body.

They have equal access to academic support, they eat in the same food service and they share facilities with the campus community. Participation is so important that it is supported by the annual budget of the college regardless of its potential for generation of income.

In fact, a Division III school earning a profit from athletics would be unheard of. Division III colleges support athletics because athletics are an important part of the college experience. Gender opportunities are much more balanced, and the proportionality guideline is seldom applied.

Salaries for coaches of men's and women's teams are more equal in Division III, and student-athletes of both genders have similar equipment, facilities and travel arrangements. They don't get a trip to Maui every year and they rarely receive a free pair of shoes, but their competitive experience is every bit as important to them as Division I athletes.

NCAA revenues and expenses for 2001 report Division I institutions spend $41,877 per student-athlete, compared to $2,964 in Division III. In relation to the Title IX debate, it is even more interesting to note that Division I schools spend about $14,000 less per female athlete compared to their male counterparts. Division III institutions actually spend slightly more per athlete on women. Data also suggest that Division III student-athletes often graduate and perform at academic levels equal to or greater than the student body as a whole.

The core goal of Title IX is increasing opportunities in athletics for women. Title IX certainly is responsible for nurturing these opportunities for women. Unfortunately, there still are examples of unintended consequences of the legislation noted by the loss of numerous men's programs at all levels, most often in wrestling and baseball. It could be argued that this occurs by adapting the business model of profit and loss for intercollegiate athletics programs.

Given the core goal of Title IX, it seems unusual to debate proportionality as it affects the business of Division I and professional sport opportunities. The value of participation, as defined by most athletes and parents, is connected to the experiences and lessons learned and applied to assist in individual and team development.

Perhaps it is time to change the model and not the formula.

Gary Grace is director of athletics and an associate professor of education at Wartburg College.