Mission
NESCAC schools share a similar philosophy for intercollegiate athletics. The Conference was created out of a concern for the direction of intercollegiate athletic programs and remains committed to keeping a proper perspective on the role of sport in higher education. Member institutions believe athletic teams should be representative of school's entire student bodies and hew to NCAA Division III admissions and financial policies prohibiting athletic scholarships while awarding financial aid solely on the basis of need. Due to the prestigious reputations of its member schools, the NESCAC is able to attract many of the most athletically and intellectually gifted student-athletes in the country.
NESCAC members stress that intercollegiate athletic programs should operate in harmony with the educational mission of each institution. Schools are committed to maintaining common boundaries to keep athletics strong yet in proportion to their overall academic mission. Presidents of each NESCAC institution control intercollegiate athletic policy.
Conference tenets are usually more restrictive than those of the NCAA Division III regarding season length, number of contests and post-season competition.
The schools are all well-regarded academically:
| Institution | USNWR Category | USNWR Rank | Forbes Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst College | Liberal Arts | 2 | 13 |
| Bates College | Liberal Arts | 22 | 76 |
| Bowdoin College | Liberal Arts | 6 | 14 |
| Colby College | Liberal Arts | 18 | 25 |
| Connecticut College | Liberal Arts | 41 | 70 |
| Hamilton College | Liberal Arts | 16 | 64 |
| Middlebury College | Liberal Arts | 4 | 42 |
| Trinity College | Liberal Arts | 38 | 89 |
| Tufts University | University | 28 | 32 |
| Wesleyan University | Liberal Arts | 17 | 21 |
| Williams College | Liberal Arts | 1 | 2 |
Read more about this topic: New England Small College Athletic Conference
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