Recognized for its academic quality, student-centeredness, outstanding teaching and a beautiful campus environment, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public, comprehensive university offering a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Opened in the fall of 1997, Florida Gulf Coast is in the enviable position of having all new facilities that were especially designed and built for a campus of the 21st century.

Part of our exciting growth is the development of our intercollegiate athletics program and becoming an NCAA Division II member institution.

The excitement level surrounding Florida Gulf Coast's new athletics program is high, and the university is committed to the fundamental principles of ethical conduct, sportsmanship and competitive excellence that serve as the defining values of the NCAA. As a relatively new institution of higher learning, Florida Gulf Coast was fortunate to be able to build from the ground up not only a university but also a new intercollegiate athletics program in a manner that embodies the values by which our students, student-athletes, faculty, staff, community and athletics competitors will view us.

Our admission into NCAA Division II membership in July of this year represented a significant milestone. Since our program debuted with men's and women's golf and tennis in September 2000, the blueprint for our program has been based on the principles of quality and integrity contained in the NCAA philosophy statement, and we are pleased to have a young program that embodies those important attributes.

Our participation in the NCAA Division II membership's exploratory and provisional status before full membership has been a valuable tool toward developing our athletics program in the high-quality manner on which it was founded. The process helped bring our whole institution closer together. We used the time and talents of a diverse cross section of individuals on campus, building a sense of ownership for our athletics program from all corners of the institution. Personnel from our financial aid, registrars and admissions offices participated, as did our deans and provost to thoroughly review and discuss our responsibilities as a NCAA Division II member. It was a test of our understanding and of our commitment to an important set of rules and regulations.

Through the NCAA's Compliance Blueprint Review Process we gained a better understanding of the issues of compliance, scholarships and institutional control. That process allows an institution to focus on systems that have been developed to ensure compliance with NCAA regulations in areas such as financial aid, eligibility and rules education. We were afforded an opportunity to develop policies and procedures that ensured we met NCAA Division II guidelines as our intercollegiate athletics offerings expanded to 11 intercollegiate teams before this fall.

NCAA Division II membership is in line with our mission of student success.

We work diligently to conduct a well-rounded experience for those competing, coaching or observing our intercollegiate teams. Florida Gulf Coast is committed to the positive role athletics plays both on our campus and in our community, and we view our role as an active NCAA Division II member as one leading by example. Intercollegiate athletics is a visible opportunity to enhance the institution's good reputation -- and our positive athletics program is strengthening the university's image.

Student success is at the core of everything we do. We have an active Student-Athlete Advisory Council that emphasizes good sportsmanship, high standards of academic excellence and commitment to successful graduation at the end of their time at Florida Gulf Coast. We take great pride in the academic, community service and athletics success of our students. Under the guidance of a talented staff, Florida Gulf Coast student athletes have achieved above a 3.200 grade-point average in each of the eight semesters in which Florida Gulf Coast athletics has competed, and our student-athletes and coaches completed more than 8,000 hours of community-service projects during the 2003-04 academic year. They achieved this fine academic record and served the community while compiling a 674-148-3 record (.819).

Sustaining NCAA Division II membership is the perfect scenario for our athletics program. Florida Gulf Coast is committed to a long-term partnership with NCAA Division II, including scheduling for athletics competition with other members, permitting athletically related financial aid for student-athletes and operating programs that have at their heart the educational welfare of participating student-athletes. We highly recommend that all institutions, whether new to the NCAA or long-time members, take advantage of the positive results that participation in the review process and self-study provide. I am confident that this process further strengthened our athletics program, and it continues to assist us in our goal of making Florida Gulf Coast an exemplary NCAA Division II member.

Bill Merwin is president of Florida Gulf Coast University.