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Posted: 10:57 AM- In an effort to improve the academic and athletic performances of its student-athletes, the Presidents Council of the Mid-Continent Conference accepted a new plan Tuesday that includes a name change and a new logo.

The Summit Plan, which has been in development the past eight months, will focus on advancing the league to a premier mid-major conference, in addition to improving the rating percentage index in all sports. The plan is already in motion, as the conference will officially be known as The Summit League on June 1.

"The Summit League provides a mental image to reach for the top, both academically and athletically," Commissioner Tom Douple said in a teleconference. "The new name fits in perfectly with the Presidents Council's vision for the continued improvement and growth of the league."

Other things the Presidents Council would like to accomplish with the new plan are to increase home attendance and improve the Academic Progress Report scores of each team.

The conference was first established in 1982, known then as the Association of Mid-Continent Universities. In 1989, it changed its name to the Mid-Continent Conference.