June 8, 2004

PARK CITY, Utah - The MWC Board of Directors concluded its annual meeting today at the Goldener Hirsch Inn by reaffirming its commitment for the Mountain West Conference to compete at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics, while maintaining academic excellence and institutional integrity. To that end, the Board reviewed the annual MWC benchmarks in which member institutions are compared on athletic and academic achievements, as well as financial elements. In addition, the Board considered data from an outside consultant comparing the MWC and its member institutions to other I-A conferences.

"It is clear that on virtually every comparative measure, the Mountain West Conference ranks as one of the strongest Division I-A conferences," said BYU President and Board chair Dr. Cecil O. Samuelson. "Our focus moving forward is to solidify that progress and continue our collective advancement."

In other business, the Board discussed the NCAA Gambling Initiative and noted the lack of a representative from the state of Nevada. The Board also received an update on the progress of the MWC's Kid's College education initiative, including the addition of a sportsmanship component for the 2004-05 academic year.