- Commitment to amateurism. Division I schools conduct their athletics programs for students who choose to participate in intercollegiate athletics as a part of their educational experience and in accordance with NCAA bylaws, maintaining a line of demarcation between student-athletes and professional athletes.
- Fair competition. Division I schools acknowledge that variability will exist among members, including facilities, geographic locations and resources. However, Division I focuses on controlling fair competition in areas such as personnel, eligibility and amateurism, recruiting, financial aid, the length of playing and practice seasons, and the number of institutional competitions per sport.
- Institutional control and compliance. Each Division I member school is responsible to monitor and control its athletics programs, staff members, representatives and student-athletes to ensure compliance with the NCAA constitution and bylaws of the Association.
- Student-athlete well-being. Division I schools constantly work to enhance the well-being of their student-athletes. The time required of student-athletes for athletics is regulated to minimize interference with their academic pursuits. It is the responsibility of each school to establish and maintain an environment in which student-athletes’ activities, in all sports, are conducted to encourage academic success and individual development and as an integral part of the educational experience.
- Sound academic standards. While more student-athletes than ever are graduating, due in large part to enhanced eligibility standards and the success of the Division I Academic Performance Program, the division continues to review and evolve its approach to creating academic standards.
- Diversity and inclusion. Division I schools are committed to the core values of diversity, inclusion and equity because realization of those values improves the learning environment for all student-athletes and enhances excellence within the membership and in all aspects of intercollegiate athletics.
- Responsible recruiting standards. Recruiting rules and restrictions in Division I are designed to promote informed decisions and balance the interests of prospective student-athletes, schools and intercollegiate athletics as a whole. This commitment includes minimizing the role of external influences on prospective student-athletes and their families and preventing excessive contact or pressure in the recruitment process.
