And we made the decision that Stephens was not going to buy athletes-education came first. From 1989 to 1994, the College had a physical education program, as it always had, but offered no competitive sports. We had to bring sports back-it's what women want to round out their education. As a supplement to academics, athletics can do a great deal for students and an institution. Sports give the campus and its community something else to rally around and support.
Sports promote campus spirit and build pride and enthusiasm in a college.
Off the Playing Field Academics, however, have come first. In fact, the average cumulative grade point average of Stephens' athletes is higher than that of the student body as a whole. Athletes also participate in many leadership activities on campus. Yet because Stephens is Division III, a ranking which means schools can't give scholarships to students based strictly upon athletic ability, many top athletes go elsewhere. Stephens' teams are comprised of students of varying abilities, from those who played soccer throughout high school to those who have never kicked a soccer ball.