Strategic Plan
2025-26
VISION
The Red River Athletic Conference strives to be a premier National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Conference.
MISSION
The Red River Athletic Conference is an association of four-year institutions of higher learning devoted to its student-athletes by promoting excellence in intercollegiate athletic competition, academic performance, and the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program: Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership.
GOALS/PRIORITIES
GOAL 1 – MEMBERSHIP
Ensure consideration of the challenges and needs of current member institutions and continue to prioritize retention.
Priority 1
Obtain commitment from all current member institutions – with emphasis on the importance of retaining current conference members that support the philosophy of NAIA athletics.
- COP – Commissioner
Priority 2
Identify additional NAIA schools that could join the conference to help improve travel time, class time, and missed school for student-athletes.
GOAL 2 – GOVERNANCE
Ensure intercollegiate athletics are conducted within a well-rounded athletic program that upholds integrity, ethical behavior, sportsmanship, and cooperative effort among member institutions, in accordance with the NAIA Champions of Character Policy.
Priority 1
Promote ethical conduct, rules adherence, and compliance with Title IX and NAIA rules and regulations.
- COP – Commissioner – Athletic Directors
Priority 2
Promote appropriate institutional involvement from the President, Athletic Director, Faculty Athletic Representative, Coaches, and Sport Information Directors with the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character Program: Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership.
- COP – Commissioner – Athletic Directors
Priority 3
Ensure yearly reviews of Conference Policies, Sport Operating Procedures, and all other conference documents.
- COP – Commissioner – Athletic Directors – Sports Information Director – FAR (ongoing)
GOAL 3 – ACADEMICS AND STUDENT ATHLETE EXPERIENCE
Ensure an appropriate balance between academics and athletics, with an emphasis on improving health, safety, and well-being for all student-athletes.
Priority 1
Strengthen the commitment to the recruitment and retention of academically successful student-athletes.
- COP – Institutional Coaches – Athletic Directors
Priority 2
___ Stress the importance of academic achievement, the pursuit of and desire for knowledge and progress toward graduation.
- COP – Institutional Coaches – Athletic Directors – FARs
Priority 3
Prioritize minimizing missed class time for student-athletes.
- COP – Institutional Coaches – Athletic Directors – FARs
Priority 4
Support the NAIA Champions of Character program and encourage student-athletes to participate in servant leadership development, career enhancement, and life skills programming.
- COP – Institutional Coaches – Athletic Directors – FARs
Priority 5
Develop and enhance student-athlete academic recognition programs.
- COP – Commissioner – Athletic Directors – FARs
GOAL 4 – COMPETITION AND GAME EXPERIENCE
Create an expectation of high-caliber programs and competitive game environments that uphold the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship, ethics, and personal conduct while embracing the NAIA Champions of Character initiatives.
Priority 1
Ensure a safe, quality championship experience for all sponsored sports, enhanced by on-site designated game management.
- COP – Athletic Directors – designated game management – SIDs
Priority 2
Promote the NAIA Champions of Character initiatives.
- COP – Commissioner – Athletic Directors
GOAL 5 – MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION
Utilize strategies, tools, and personnel to maximize exposure and visibility of the RRAC and its member institutions on a regional and national level.
Priority 1
Create and implement a public relations and marketing plan that promotes championships and the academic and athletic success of member institutions.
- Commissioner – SID
Priority 2
Attract corporate sponsorship and advertising revenue for the conference.
- Commissioner – SID
Priority 3
Enhance the RRAC website to ensure efficient, effective communication.
- Commissioner – SID
GOAL 6 - CHAMPIONSHIPS
Priority 1
Expand postseason tournaments to provide students with the best experience.
GOAL 6 – DEI AND RISE INITIATIVES
Increase DEI/RISE representation on each campus.
RESOURCES
- Governance:
- 1: Promote ethical conduct
- 2: Institutional involvement in Champions of Character values
- 3: Annual reviews of policies and Sport Procedure Manuals
- Academics and Student-Athlete Experience:
- 1: Commitment to recruit academically successful student-athletes
- 2: Stress the importance of academic achievement
- 3: Minimizing missed class time
- 4: Support Champions of Character goals and objectives
- 5: Support Academic recognition programs
- Competition and Game Experience:
- 1: Ensure a quality championship experience enhanced by on-site designated game management
- 2: Promote Champions of Character initiatives
- Marketing and Communication:
- 1: Create a public relations and marketing plan within the Conference