REPORT OF THE

NCAA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON GENDER AND DIVERSITY ISSUES

1. ACTION ITEMS.

• Use of Male Practice Players in Intercollegiate Athletics.

(1) Recommendation. Support the subcommittee’s recommendation to ensure athletics participation be gender specific in practice and in competition.

(2) Rationale. The subcommittee received an update from the chair of the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) regarding its review of the male practice player issue. The CWA is committed to ensuring equitable practice and competitive opportunities for female student-athletes as part of its mission. In support of this, it believes that the use of male practice players is in conflict with this mission and has requested each division review the issue in more detail. In response to the update, the subcommittee believes the recommendation will ensure the NCAA and its members institutions adhere to the Association’s principle of gender equity.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

a. American Indian mascot issue. President Bristow thanked the staff for their good leadership and professionalism while handling this very complex issue.

b. Report on the NCAA Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee (DLSPC). Staff reported that the committee was charged to identify strategies and recommendations within one year that will enable the NCAA to:

(1) Foster the diversity of student-athletes;

(2) Promote a climate of inclusion within intercollegiate athletics;

(3) Enhance equitable career opportunities for underrepresented coaches, officials and administrators; and

(4) Strengthen the support, integration and promotion of women's sports within intercollegiate athletics.

The DSLPC is scheduled to meet in August. Recommendations will be sent to this subcommittee for its input before to the October Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues meeting.

c. NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC). The chair of the MOIC reported that the June meeting in Indianapolis was very productive. The committee received a presentation from former MOIC chair Charlie Whitcomb regarding the importance and charge of the MOIC, which is to be the conscience of the Association. Dr. Richard Lapchick discussed the history of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport Hiring Report Card and stated that this report asks two fundamental questions: “Are we playing fair when it comes to sports?” and “Does everyone, regardless of race or gender, have a chance to make and run the team?” Floyd Keith, executive director of the Black Coaches Association (BCA), presented information on the BCA Report Card, discussed the Achieving Coaching Excellence (ACE) program, and informed the committee about a potential name change for the BCA. In addition, the committee received a report from the NCAA membership services and research staffs on the Academic Progress Rate (APR). The committee noted that the NCAA must take a proactive position on this issue. It was noted that the NCAA is planning a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) summit this fall to address some of the unique issues facing HBCUs with regard to the APR. The NCAA will invite Division I presidents and chancellors to the HBCU summit in order to address this issue and an advisory group will be created to develop future recommendations.

d. CWA report. The CWA chair reported that the committee will communicate with the Management Councils from all three divisions that there needs to be more diversity representation on CWA. The committee applauded a new task force that will review ways of enhancing women's basketball initiatives within the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The committee provided an update on the changes to the 2006 Woman of the Year nomination and selection process. Finally, it discussed homophobia in intercollegiate athletics, and the student-athletes on the committee expressed the opinion that the NCAA should continue to be involved on this issue.

e. Other business. The subcommittee acknowledged the service of Judy Sweet and Rosie Stallman, both of whom provided excellent service and leadership to this subcommittee.

Committee Chair: Clinton Bristow, Alcorn State University.

Staff Liaisons: Charlotte Westerhaus, Office for Diversity and Inclusion; Corey Jackson, Office for Diversity and Inclusion; Matthew Stach, Education Services