Campus News

Rockford, IL (December 21, 2020) – Rockford University, the region’s leading private four-year institution, today announced that its president, Dr. Eric Fulcomer, has been appointed as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Presidents Council, the highest governing body in Division III athletics. Fulcomer’s term will begin June 1, 2021, and continue through January 18, 2025.

As a member of the NCAA Presidents Council, Fulcomer will help establish Division III’s strategic plan and make recommendations to the NCAA Board of Governors on matters such as championships and the use of funds allocated to Division III to support initiatives and programs.

The NCAA is a member-led organization dedicated to supporting the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes. The organization proposes and interprets the rules and policies surrounding college sports, runs all championships, and manages the programs that benefit the nearly half a million college athletes at colleges and universities around the nation.

Division III is the NCAA’s largest division, representing about 40 percent of the total membership. Division III athletics offer competitive opportunities for athletes who play for the love of the game, without the obligations of athletic scholarships. The playing seasons and eligibility standards minimize the conflicts between athletics and academics, co-curricular, and extra-curricular opportunities, allowing athletes a well-rounded campus life.

“I’m honored to serve on the NCAA Division III Presidents Council,” shared Fulcomer. “Athletics are an important part of the experience on college and university campuses – both for the student-athletes and the campus community. I’m pleased to be able to support the success of Division III programs in this role.”

In addition to supporting fair and competitive play across 24 sports, the NCAA Division III has priority initiatives around promoting the value of athletics, supporting diversity and inclusion, ensuring academic performance, and enhancing the well-being of student-athletes.

Rockford University sponsors 12 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams that compete at the NCAA Division III level. Approximately one-third of Rockford University students participate in athletics, and many participate in two or more sports. Rockford University is a founding member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, which consists of 13 NCAA Division III private colleges and universities from the shared-border states of Illinois and Wisconsin. Dr. Fulcomer currently serves as NACC president.

ABOUT ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY

Rockford University is a private four-year, co-educational institution founded in 1847 offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The University offers more than 80 majors, minors, and concentrations, including the bachelor’s degree completion program for a B.S. in Management Studies. Through its Graduate Studies department, degrees are extended to include the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and Master of Education in Urban Education, (M.Ed.). Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. Named by The Princeton Review as a Best Midwestern College and is a U.S. News & World Report Best Midwest Regional University, Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,250 full-and part-time students.

For more information: Emma Bergstrom, Rockford University, 815.394.5041, ebergstrom@rockford.edu. 

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