REPORT OF THE

NCAA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S ATHLETICS

ACTION ITEMS.

1. Legislative Action Items.

· None

2. Nonlegislative Items.

· None

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

Association-wide.

1. Welcome of New Committee Members. The Committee on Women’s Athletics formally welcomed Julie Davis, athletics director at The University of Maine, Farmington, and Eileen Patton, University of Indianapolis, an NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member.

2. Male Practice Players. The Committee on Women’s Athletics received an update on the current status of the examination in each division. The NCAA public and media relations staff is in the process of developing talking points and a frequently asked questions document to be used when addressing the media regarding this issue. Each division has or is preparing to send out surveys to their membership to obtain a better assessment of the prevalence of this practice.

3. Life/Work Balance Report. The NCAA education services staff provided an update on the Life/Work Balance Task Force. The task force was chaired by Carol Cartwright, president emeritus, Kent State University. Over 4,000 individuals in the membership responded to a survey on this topic. Conclusions obtained as a result of the findings included: 1) employees are our biggest and most significant asset; 2) life/work balance is defined by the individual rather than the institution; and 3) gender-neutral policies shape an inclusive environment that allows for individual choice. Survey respondents indicated they felt they were handling balance issues, but over 57 percent were considering leave athletics as a profession. The Executive Committee responded favorably to the task force report at the NCAA 2007 NCAA Convention. Any proposed legislation will be forwarded to the respective divisional Management Councils to address. Representatives from the task force and the NCAA staff will be in attendance at an upcoming Big East Conference meeting to speak on the issue.

4. Health and Safety Update. Dave Klossner, associate director of education services and Mary Wilfert, associate director of education services, provided information from the Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Committee and reviewed the changing paradigms and emerging issues related to sport and the protection of student-athletes. Mr. Klossner and Ms. Wilfert and the Committee on Women’s Athletics discussed the usage of the injury surveillance system and the need for CSMAS to get accurate data regarding injuries. Current initiatives for student-athletes health and safety reviewed include anti-hazing policies, the campus climate survey of student-athletes and mental health issues.

5. Woman of the Year Selections. The Committee on Women’s Athletics reviewed a summary of the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year Award nominees’ demographic information, information regarding participation in the award program by conference and a listing of multiple-nominee conferences. Enhancements have been made to the online nomination system to assist the conferences in managing the institutional nomination process more efficiently. The Committee on Women’s Athletics supported changes in the voting form to provide the Woman of the Year Selection Committee with greater flexibility in discussions of the areas of academics and athletics achievement. Conferences will be encouraged to highlight award winners and their conference female student-athletes.

6. Review Transgender Student-Athlete Issues. Review Negative Recruiting Think Tank. Staff provided an update on an informal discussion regarding transgender student-athlete issues and the October 2006 think tank co-sponsored by the NCAA and the National Center for Lesbian Rights on negative recruiting practices and possible solutions. The group of assembled coaches, student-athletes, campus administrators, Management Council representatives and affiliate organization directors recommended an educational, rather than a legislative, means to address the issue.

7. Early Verbal Commitments by Prospects. Brad Hostetter, director of membership services, updated the committee on concepts developed to address the trend of early verbal commitments by prospective student-athletes. These concepts were developed by a working group as a way to obtain feedback on possible methods to ensure that an institution was not offering institutional resources to a prospect before the institution could reasonably determine the admission of the prospect. Mr. Hostetter provided a summary of the responses to the concepts received from the conference offices, member institutions and affiliated coaches associations. The working group charged with examining this issue has focused primarily on the occurrence in Division I, although the issue is not limited to any division or sport. The Committee on Women’s Athletics suggested that the working group consider soliciting additional input from prospective student-athletes, admissions officers and the National Federation of State High School Associations and requested an additional update be provided during the July meeting.

8. Emerging and Olympic Sports. Wendy Walters, director of membership services, reported on the current levels of sponsorship for emerging sports, a history of the emerging sports program and the benefits to an institution sponsoring emerging sports. In preparation for a larger discussion in July, the Committee on Women’s Athletics asked staff to seek information about whether institutions currently use emerging sports to meet the minimum sport sponsorship requirements for their division and to project the impact of the increase in minimum sponsorship requirements in Division III. The committee noted its role in providing educational resources regarding emerging sports and discussed the development of a best practices document regarding the movement of teams from club status to varsity level.

The Committee on Women’s Athletics also received an update on the NCAA/United States Olympic Committee Joint Task Force and its review of the recently dropped sports and recommendations. The Committee on Women’s Athletics discussed whether legislation can be changed to encourage institutions to retain Olympic sports. The Committee on Women’s Athletics will review the NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee’s recommendations and further discuss the issue at its July meeting.

9. Women Coaches Academy. The Women Coaches Academy continues to be a great success and benefit to those in attendance. During the academy offered in December 2006, concurrent level one academies were offered to 42 participants (from over 100 applicants). Coaches academy staff will continue to evaluate the needs and interests of applicants to determine the appropriate time and level of courses to offer. Approximately 220 coaches have participated in the academy. A three-year contract extension for continuation of services is presently in development.

10. Informational Topics.

a. SCORE/GOALS Survey Results. The Committee on Women’s Athletics reviewed general findings from the Study of College Outcomes and Recent Experiences (SCORE) and the NCAA Study on Growth, Opportunities, Aspirations and Learning Study (GOALS) surveys conducted by the NCAA research staff. The Committee on Women’s Athletics will be provided a more formal report on both studies in the future and in particular seek a better understanding of gender equity issues for student-athletes.

b. Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics – Student-Athlete Well-Being Topics. The committee reviewed the report’s suggestions regarding possible student-athlete well-being initiatives.

c. Special Assistance Fund and Student-Athlete Opportunities Fund Data. As an informational item, the Committee on Women’s Athletics reviewed a report on spending by gender from the Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund and Special Assistance Fund and will take a look at the recommendations and determine which ones it would like to look at more specifically both legislatively and programmatically - funding.

d. Post-season Participation Opportunities. The Committee on Women’s Athletics reviewed statistics from all three divisions detailing NCAA championship post-season opportunities by gender, noting that the NCAA currently offers more championship opportunities for women than men. Data for bowl competition is not available. Postseason NIT tournament opportunities will not be included until the 2007 data is collected.

e. Outdoor volleyball proposal. The Committee on Women’s Athletics received information regarding American Volleyball Coaches Association on ideas to better promote the sport of volleyball. The committee will be kept informed of the matter as discussions continue.

f. Playbook for Life. The Committee on Women’s Athletics reviewed the provided materials and supported the materials being used as a resource for attendees at NCAA Leadership Conferences, Coaches Academies and in the CHAMPS/Life Skills program.

g. Winning Careers in Athletics Proposal. The Committee on Women’s Athletics reviewed a proposal submitted by Celia Slater, director of The Women Coaches Academy, to develop a program to encourage undergraduate women to enter the career field of athletics. This effort is intended to develop and enhance an interest in the profession of coaching along with other potential career paths available to women in athletics. The committee will consider the proposal in greater detail as they prepare for the next biennial budget cycle.

11. Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee. The Committee on Women’s Athletics will review the proposed recommendations and determine those that it would like to consider in greater detail both legislatively and programmatically as it prepares for the next biennial budget cycle.

12. Gender Equity and Issues Forum. It was noted that the forum will be held April 29 through May 1, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

13. NACWAA/Hers Institute and Executive Institute. NACWAA will conduct the Institute at two sites in 2007. The West site will take place from May 29 to June 3 at the Inverness Conference Center and Hotel in Denver, Colorado. The East will occur from June 9-14 at the University Place Hotel and Conference Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The NACWAA Executive Institute will take place July 16–20 in Denver, Colorado.

Committee Chair: Janet Kittell, Indiana University, Bloomington, Big Ten Conference

Staff Liaison(s): Kimberly Ford, Diversity and Inclusion

Karen Morrison, Education Services