The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the organization through which the nation's colleges and universities speak and act on athletics matters at the national level. It is a voluntary association of more than 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals devoted to the sound administration of intercollegiate athletics.

Through the NCAA, member colleges consider any athletics problem that has crossed regional or conference lines and has become national in character. The Association strives to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational progr am and the athlete as an integral part of the student body. The NCAA also stands for good conduct in intercollegiate athletics and serves as the colleges' national athletics accrediting agency.