Athletics Program Assessment

ATHLETICS PROGRAM ASSESSMENT

XVI. Did your institution make any updates to its Athletics Program Assessment?

 YES

The W Athletics has made several important – and beneficial – advances to its NCAA Program Assessment over the course of the past year. We feel that these are aspects which will help us grow and mature as an NCAA III program, as well as strengthen us as an intercollegiate athletics entity.

One area which seemed appropriate to examine was our Title IX documents, especially during its 50th anniversary celebration and our foundation as a college founded for women. Under the guidance of our University Counsel – Karen Clay – meaningful updates and additions were made to our policies and procedures as it relates to Title IX and its implementation.

Furthermore, we were able to engage staff member Glen Halbert as our Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Designee (ADID). Halbert – a staff member of the Campus Recreation office – also has a seat at the table in a similar capacity for the entire University as a member of its Diversity Council (ref. pgs 203-206 and Appendix H).

The expansion of our SAAC program was also a priority and we saw tremendous growth and more engagement under the tutelage of Dedrick Burnett. The addition of Coach Halee Hensley to assist in SAAC activities made our structure even stronger. In addition to civic engagement and campus activities, SAAC shined during NCAA Division III Week by organizing an event of some sort every day of the week (and even one “pre-D3 Week” civic volunteer opportunity). (ref pages 191-196 and Appendix D).

We, like our fellow athletic departments, had the opportunity to shine in our response – along with campus constituents – to COVID-19 challenges and mandates. By remaining studentcentric, we felt our response, while not always easy or popular, demonstrated our commitment to our student-athletes.

Similarly, the addition of step-by-step guidelines for navigating the Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) question kept us ahead of the curve in dealing with any potential questions and/or situations related to NIL. Of course, this is an on-going process.