NAIA Champions of Character

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Champions of Character program provides training to ensure student-athletes know, do and value the right things in all areas of life.

Visit the NAIA Champions of Character site »

Five character core values are emphasized, accounted for and tracked at all NAIA schools.

• Integrity: The internal traits that develop, guide and ensure positive behavior.

• Respect: The simple act of treating others the way you would want to be treated.

• Responsibility: The social force that guides an individual to work first for the good of the team.

• Sportsmanship: The belief in following the rules, spirit and good-natured etiquette of athletic competition.

• Servant leadership: Dedication to the greater good, for the benefit of all.

As an NAIA institution, College of Saint Mary conducts a Champions of Character campus program that includes:

• Ongoing character education for all student-athletes using the Champions of Character Live 5 orientation program.

• Professional development for coaches and athletics administrative staff including completion of the Character-Driven Coaching course.

• An emphasis on hospitality, proper game management and exemplary conduct in competition.

• Servant leadership activities that allow student-athletes to engage the community.

• Ongoing assessment of progress in the program's implementation.

College of Saint Mary is an NAIA Champions of Character Five Star Institution. The Great Plains Athletic Conference is likewise a Champions of Character Five Star Conference.

Visit the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard page »

The Champions of Character scorecard was created in order to convert the NAIA's vision and strategy into measurable goals to monitor progress toward advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Points are earned in five key areas: character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition and character promotion. Institutions earn points based upon exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and by obtaining zero ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.