WATERVILLE, Maine - Happy NCAA Division III Week to all our members and their student-athletes! As part of the NCAA Division III Week, held April 6–12, 2026, institutions across the conference are highlighting the Division III student-athlete experience.
What is Division III Week
Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with a Division III institution to observe and celebrate the impact athletics and student-athletes have on campus and in the surrounding community. During the week, every Division III school and conference office is encouraged to conduct an outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment, athletic experience, or leadership/community service/campus involvement. Division III Week is a strategic initiative that achieves its desired impact from a unity of effort. It harnesses everyone working toward the same goal at the same time to build a greater awareness and understanding of Division III athletics.
History of Division III Week
The event is part of Division III’s Identity Initiative, which was introduced in 2010 to sharpen the division’s identity and enable schools, conferences, and student-athletes to consistently explain why they prefer to compete in Division III. The initiative is guided by a strategic-positioning platform, describing Division III as a place where student-athletes can “follow your passions and develop your potential,” through an approach that combines rigorous academics, competitive athletics and an opportunity to pursue other interests.
2026 NAC SAAC Initiative
During the annual NAC SAAC fall retreat, student-athlete representatives and their advisors reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing mental health in college athletics. Building on the 2024–25 academic year initiative—during which NAC SAAC focused on student-athlete mental health and partnered with Morgan’s Message—the group continued to emphasize the importance of supporting overall well-being and reducing stigma. Morgan’s Message, a key component of last year’s efforts, is dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics and equalizing the treatment of physical and mental health.
At the 2025 fall retreat, student-athletes expressed a strong desire to carry this mission forward. As part of their efforts, they developed slogans for this year’s Division III Week, which were ultimately incorporated into a unified logo. Each NAC campus received stickers featuring the logo to help promote and spread the NAC SAAC mental health message across their campus.
See logo below
Welcome to the NAC SAAC homepage! - North Atlantic Conference