CHAMPS/Life Skills Mission: to create a culture of leadership and excellence for our student-athletes through education and community service

CHAMPS/Life Skills, which stands for Challenging Athletes' Minds for Personal Success, is a program administered by colleges and universities with direction from the NCAA education services group. The goal of the program is to provide NCAA student-athletes with services, support and resources to help them navigate through the challenges they will face as students and athletes within the university/college setting, to prepare them for graduation and to help them plan for their future professions.

The discussion to create a CHAMPS/Life Skills program began in 1991 with the NCAA and the Division 1A Athletics Directors' Association. The program was officially launched by the NCAA in 1994 as a tool to help NCAA student-athletes, both professionally and personally. The foundation of the program is based on five areas of commitment:

1. Commitment to Academic Excellence,
2. Commitment to Athletic Excellence,
3. Commitment to Personal Development,
4. Commitment to Career Development, and
5. Commitment to Service