NCAA Fellows Leadership Development Program


In 1997, the NCAA implemented the Fellows Leadership Development Program, as proposed by the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics.  The NCAA Fellows Program was developed with the specific goal of enhancing the employment and leadership opportunities for racial/ethnic minorities and women at the senior management level of intercollegiate athletics administration.


The program provides specific professional experiences that will enable participants with the opportunity to further develop their talents and abilities and to mesh these skills with their professional aspirations.  The program is designed to foster leadership within intercollegiate athletics. 

18-Month Fellowship Program
 
Mentoring:Each NCAA fellow will be assigned an NCAA executive mentor, a conference commissioner and/or athletics director at their sponsoring institution.
 
Fellowship Focus:
  • Work under the direction of an NCAA executive mentor.                               
  • Study with the athletics director, etc., at the sponsoring institution. Gain insight into the administrative decision-making process at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics.                               
  • Gain overall understanding of intercollegiate athletics and the impact of intercollegiate athletics within the organization.                               
  • Attend annual NCAA Convention, workshops, seminars and other Association related meetings.                               
  • Participate in advances for all NCAA fellows. These advances will include seminars led by national leaders on the latest theories and practices in athletics administration. Special training will include areas of marketing, public relations, budgeting, booster relations, leadership training, compliance, fundraising, diversity training and management training.
    •  
    NCAA Fellows Selection Process
     
    Application Deadline:The new application will be available late summer 2008.
     
    Review of Applications:A committee comprised individuals from the NCAA presidential governance groups, Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee and the Committee On Women's Athletics will review applications and select candidates.
     
    NCAA Fellows Program Details
     
    Fellowship Length:18 months
     
    Fellowship Costs:
  • The sponsoring institution continues to pay the NCAA fellow's full salary and benefits during the fellowship period.                               
  • The NCAA will cover the costs for NCAA fellows to attend the NCAA seminars.           
    •  
    How to Apply:
  • Applications will be available online late summer 2008.

    • Eligibility 

    Any person of color or female staff at the athletics administrator level (associate level or above, desired) at an NCAA member institution, conference office or affiliate may apply for an NCAA fellowship. It is preferred that candidates have a minimum of seven years of experience and be recommended by his or her athletics director or conference commissioner.  Each candidate must be further supported by the institutional president or in the case of conference candidates, by the conference president or designee.

    Benefits for the NCAA Fellow 

    The benefits are far-reaching in that the NCAA fellow will be introduced to every facet of athletics administration and will receive an overview of athletics from the perspective of an athletics director or conference commissioner. Additionally, the opportunity to solve problems at a higher level of complexity will prepare the NCAA fellow to take on greater career challenges as well as enhance his or her opportunities for advancement or relocation. Attendance at professional and personal development workshops, participation in various conferences and the opportunity to interact with a mentor are among the activities that will benefit the NCAA fellow. 

    Benefits for the Sponsoring Institution 

    The sponsoring institution will benefit by further developing an individual as an athletics administrator who then will be better prepared to assume greater responsibility at the institution. The fellow will conduct briefing sessions for staff to share knowledge gained. Additionally, enhanced morale will be realized as evidenced by the sponsoring institution's commitment to career development opportunities. In effect, the opportunity has intrinsic value in that it will help stimulate others at the institution. The institution will be recognized for its commitment to career development, thereby becoming the institution of choice for high potential employees and highly competitive students. 

    Contact the NCAA
    Fellows Program Staff

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