The Southern Conference Repeats as C.A.R.E. Champion
SoCon Continues to Earn Distinction for Ongoing Commitment to the C.A.R.E. Model
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference (SoCon) was recognized by The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for its ongoing commitment to the C.A.R.E. Model, Connecting Athletics Revenues with the Educational Model of College Sports.
"We are deeply grateful to the Knight Commission for this continued recognition, which validates what we've always known to be true - when it comes to comprehensive support for student-athletes, 'It's All Here' in the Southern Conference,” said Commissioner Michael Cross. “Our member institutions consistently demonstrate an unwavering commitment to excellence that extends far beyond the playing field. Day in and day out, our schools provide exceptional educational opportunities, comprehensive health and safety programs, and holistic support systems that ensure our student-athletes don't just compete at the highest level - they graduate, they lead, and they succeed in life.
“This C.A.R.E. Champion designation reflects the extraordinary work our institutions do to nurture the complete development of more than 5,000 student-athletes across our conference, and we couldn't be prouder of their dedication to making the educational mission the cornerstone of everything we do.”
The SoCon is a C.A.R.E. Champion for the second consecutive year and will receive a $10,000 continuation grant. The award signifies and supports the conference’s commitment to the C.A.R.E. Model principles. Those principles are:
- Transparency
- Independent Oversight
- Incentives for Core Values of Education, Gender Equity, and Opportunity
- Financial Responsibility for Education, Health, Safety, and Well-Being
The Southern Conference, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., includes ten member institutions across six states: The Citadel, East Tennessee State University, Furman University, Mercer University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Samford University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Virginia Military Institute, Western Carolina University, and Wofford College. Tennessee Tech University will join the conference for the 2026-2027 season.