Northeastern State University Athletics

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
The Northeastern State University Department of Athletics abides by the mission, vision, and values of our great university. We believe our student-athletes should have equitable opportunities to earn a degree while participating in NSU's NCAA Division II athletics program.  The reputation of NSU is enhanced by RiverHawks Athletics by participation in highly competitive contests for the involvement and enjoyment of the student body, employees, alumni and members of the community. We expect administrators, staff, coaches, and student-athletes to hold themselves to a high standard of ethical conduct and integrity in academics, citizenship, stewardship, and competition while embracing respect, fairness, civility, honesty, and responsibility.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is an integral part of Northeastern State University's overall educational mission and positively reflects the interests and values of the institution's students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. The Department fosters an environment that encourages degree completion, good citizenship, character, and personal growth to help support student-athletes who will become positive role models and productive members of society. The Department is committed to fiscal responsibility, gender equity, diversity, and proper sports conduct among all of its coaches, administrative staff and student-athletes, and to maintaining high ethical standards and compliance with all NCAA, conference, federal, state and institutional rules and regulations. The athletics program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of its student-athletes, achieving athletic success within NCAA intercollegiate competition, serving as a positive representative of the University and instilling a sense of pride and loyalty among its constituents.
 

To govern competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner, and to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount.
 

Life in the Balance. Higher education has lasting importance on an individual's future success. For this reason, the emphasis on the student-athlete experience in Division II is a comprehensive program of learning and development in a personal setting. The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletic competition and development of positive societal attitudes in service to the community. The balance and integration of these different areas of learning opportunity provide Division II student-athletes a path to graduation while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead.