• Official NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program Website

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a member of the NCAA CHAMPS Life Skills Program. The mission of the NCAA and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is to maintain Intercollegiate Athletics as an integral part of the campus educational program and the student-athlete as an integral part of the student body. With this in mind, the UWM program, 'SUCCESS', was created in order to support student-athlete development and enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the university setting.

S   tudent-Athletes
U   nited for
C   ommitment to Excellence,
C   hallenges,
E   ducation,
S   ervice to Community, and
S   kills for Life

The Life Skills program includes five major commitments:

• Commitment to Academic Excellence - to support the academic progress of the student-athlete toward intellectual development and graduation.
• Commitment to Athletic Excellence - to build philosophical foundations for the development of athletic programs that are broad-based, equitable and dedicated to the well-being of the student-athlete.
• Commitment to Personal Development - to support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle for student-athletes, encouraging emotional well-being, personal growth, and decision-making skills.
• Commitment to Career Development - to encourage the student-athlete to develop and pursue career and life goals.
• Commitment to Service - to engage the student-athlete in service to her/his campus and surrounding communities.

The "SUCCESS" team of John Ochsenwald, Director of Sports Medicine, Tom Vollman, Athletic Academic Advisor and Kathy Litzau, in conjunction with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the coaching staff and a health educator, offers a variety of seminars and workshops throughout the year. Locally and nationally known experts and consultants present topics such as motivation, goal setting, nutrition, responsible relationships, career development and any other topics recommended by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

An active Student-Athlete Advisory Committee focuses on important issues facing the student-athlete of the new millennium. Each UWM sport is represented on the committee that meets regularly and makes recommendations to the life skills team and the athletic department. Special emphasis is placed on leadership development of student-athletes.