SUPPLEMENT NO

REPORT OF THE

NCAA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S ATHLETICS

1. ACTION ITEMS.

a. Emerging Sports Timetable.

(1) Recommendation. Amend NCAA Bylaw 3.2.4.4.2 to eliminate references to particular years (i.e., 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97) and be replaced with references to years (i.e., year one, year two, year three). In addition, the committee recommends that Bylaw 13 (recruiting) be included in the list of legislation that must be adhered to in year one (e.g., currently listed as 1994-95).

(2) Rationale. The timetable governing the application of legislation for emerging sports for women is outdated. References to years in the 1990s are confusing the application of the emerging sports' timetable. When this legislation was originally adopted the following rationale was provided: “This proposal will provide a phase-in period to permit institutions to bring their emerging women’s sports programs into full compliance with NCAA legislation. Delaying the application of some NCAA legislation for up to two years will provide institutions an opportunity to promote and increase participation by female student-athletes in these emerging sports.” The committee believes this rationale continues to be sound and that the reference to specific years was simply a legislative oversight. Referring to year one, two and three will give the legislation the intended longevity. Additionally, NCAA staff has advised the committee that there is an ambiguity as to whether Bylaw 3.2.4.4.1 (intent to sponsor a varsity sport) that requires institutions to apply NCAA recruiting regulations immediately to the applicable sports applies to the emerging sports timetable in Bylaw 3.2.4.4.2. The committee supports the underlying rationale contained in Bylaw 3.2.4.4.1 that institutions should immediately apply recruiting legislation to varsity sports. It was noted that not permitting institutions to make offers and inducements to prospects is a core philosophy for all sports.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

b. Championships Established During 1994-95 or Later.

(1) Recommendation. Amend Bylaw 18.2.4.1 to extend the exception for women’s sports through the 2008-09 academic year.

(2) Rationale. The rationale for the original legislation included the promotion of gender equity by providing for the establishment of new women’s championships. As bracket expansion and the development of both men’s and women’s championships continues, the committee believes that there continues to be a need to permit the establishment of a national collegiate championship or a
division championship if at least 40 institutions sponsor the sport. The committee specifically noted the ongoing requests to expand brackets in men’s sports, such as soccer. Expansions of men’s sports championship opportunities makes prudent continued extension of this exception for the establishment of women’s championships to ensure gender equity in NCAA championship opportunities for men and women. Also, the committee noted that member institutions in the process of adding women’s sports have more viable options as the number of women’s championship sports grows.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

c. Rugby Identified as an Emerging Sport.

(1) Recommendation. Identify rugby as an emerging sport for women.

(2) Rationale. The committee noted that it has received 10 letters of support from member institutions and that the established criteria has been met.

(3) Budget Impact. None.

d. Criteria for Establishing an Ad Hoc Committee for Developing Legislation for Emerging Sports.

(1) Recommendation. Give the committee the responsibility to initially recommend the creation of ad hoc committees for developing legislation for emerging sports and that the NCAA Management Councils provide final approval. It is further recommended that the committee base its recommendations on the following criteria:

(a) The sport is sponsored at the varsity level by at least 25 member institutions;

(b) Recent growth of the sport (e.g., national trends over the past five years);

(d) Existence of youth and prospect age programs;

(e) Ability to serve diverse populations of student-athletes;

(f) Institutional gender equity implications (e.g., roster size potential);

(g) Gender equity in NCAA championships opportunities; and

(h) Active membership interest in the sport.

Additionally, the committee recommends that each such ad hoc committee consist of four members, including one member from each division and one representative from the national governing body (or appropriate equivalent) for the sport. The committee recommends that at least one coach and one athletics administrator be appointed among the four members.

(2) Rationale. During its June meeting, the committee recommended the development of ad hoc committees for developing legislation for identified emerging sports. All three Management Councils supported the recommendation, and the Division I Management Council requested the criteria used to establish such ad hoc committees. The committee believes that an emerging sport with sponsorship by at least 25 member institutions demonstrates clear potential for continued growth and that such growth would be encouraged by the establishment of legislation, including scholarship and personnel limits. Once legislative requirements are established, more institutions may be inclined to sponsor the sport. These ad hoc committees would exist only until legislation for the sport has been approved. It is anticipated that the ad hoc committees will conduct their work via teleconference and, therefore, a small number of committee members, four, is reasonable.

(3) Budget Impact. Minimal (e.g., teleconference expenses).

e. Creation of an Ad Hoc Committee for Bowling.

(1) Recommendation. Create an ad hoc committee for the emerging sport of bowling.

(2) Rationale. Thirty-nine institutions sponsor the sport of bowling at the varsity level and one conference sponsors bowling as a conference championship sport. It is anticipated that bowling will have the required number of teams for a national collegiate championship in the near future. Additionally, the committee has particular interest in promoting the sport of bowling, given the large number of ethnic minority women who participate in the sport. Finally, the sport of bowling satisfies the criteria recommended in this report. (See recommendation in 2-(a) of this report.)

(3) Budget Impact. Minimal (e.g., teleconference expenses).

3. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

a. Reconfiguring the Committee’s Subcommittee Structure. The committee discussed reconfiguring its subcommittees to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The committee will reconfigure to include the following three subcommittees:

(1) Gender equity and women’s advocacy subcommittee [members Peggy Bradley-Doppes (chair), David Caputo, Marilyn McNeil, Megan Stevens and a Division II Management Council representative to be appointed; staff liaison, Rosie Stallman];

(2) Strategic planning and budget subcommittee [members Sallie Beard (chair), Karl Benson, Linda Calkins, Frank Pergolizzi and a Division II student-athlete to be appointed; staff liaison, Wendy Walters]; and

(3) Women’s awards, marketing and student-athlete outreach [members Susan Bassett, James Dotherow, Megan McGuirt, Jacqueline McWilliams (chair) and Marcia Saneholtz; staff liaison, Diane Dickman].

It was agreed that the subcommittees would meet in person for one hour during each regularly scheduled meeting. The names of these subcommittees will be identified at the next committee meeting.

b. Fellows Program. The committee received a report from NCAA Fellows Gwen Lexow, Gloria Nevarez and Rod Wyatt regarding the NCAA Fellows Program. The committee discussed the number of women who are serving as mentors in the program and suggested that the professional development staff make additional efforts to increase the number of female mentors, including possibly some senior woman administrators.

c. NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee Proposal to Support Targeted Sports. The committee reviewed the Olympic Sports Liaison Committee's proposal to provide additional sports sponsorship revenue distribution for targeted Olympic sports. The committee heard a presentation on the issue from Carolyn Campbell-McGovern, former chair of the Olympic Sports Liaison Committee, and Bevin Hartnett, Ivy Group. The committee expressed concerns about the proposal. It was noted that there are geographic disparities inherent in the proposal. Most sports identified to receive increased revenue distribution are more frequently sponsored in the north and northeast regions of the membership (e.g., skiing, ice hockey, lacrosse, field hockey). This could place institutions outside these regions at a disadvantage. The committee also noted concerns about using revenue distribution as the incentive and that the
anticipated financial gains would not be sufficient to cover a substantial portion of the costs required to sponsor these sports.

d. NCAA Senior Woman Administrator Job Description. The committee reviewed the NCAA senior woman administrator (SWA) job description as recently amended. The committee suggested the following edit: “The NCAA senior woman administrator is the highest ranking female staff member who~~se role is to~~ serves as the national office consultant, advisor and advocate on issues related to women in the national office and the conduct of intercollegiate athletics.” The committee supported having an article in The NCAA News related to the role of the national office senior woman administrator. The committee commended President Dempsey for appointing this position and for continuing to review and revise the job description as appropriate. It also noted that the significant SWA job responsibilities are in addition to regular vice-presidential duties (e.g., championships responsibilities of the current SWA). The committee noted that NCAA senior vice-presidents have multiple areas of responsibilities that are unique and separate functions and that vice-presidents have one specific area of responsibility. The committee believes that a vice-president who holds the position of national office SWA should be a senior vice-president, given the inherent multiple areas of responsibility involved in having both a vice-presidential function and the SWA role. The committee recommends that the president consider elevating the vice-president serving as the SWA to the senior vice-president level.

e. National Office Gender Equity Plan Documents. The committee reviewed the planning document for developing the national office’s gender equity plan, the working time line for development of the plan and the definition of gender equity for national office use. It applauded the efforts of the national office in this regard and complimented President Dempsey for his directive and support of this plan. In addition, the committee encourages continued progress.

f. Domestic Partner Benefits for National Office Employees. The committee heard a report from the national office SWA regarding the possibility of the NCAA national office providing domestic partner benefits for staff members. The committee expressed its support for such benefits and encourages the national office to move forward expeditiously.

g. Ice Hockey Officiating. The committee commended the NCAA championships staff for adding a women’s ice hockey officiating coordinator, with pay equal to the men’s coordinator, and requesting that the two coordinators work together. The committee requested that its support for this action be communicated to the directors in NCAA championships.

h. Strategic Plan, Mission Statement and Audit. The committee reviewed a sample document that blends its mission statement and strategic plan with the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues five-year budget plan. The committee provided the NCAA staff with suggested changes to the format and requested the staff continue its work on this project. The committee will review a final draft at a future meeting.

i. Budget Initiatives. The committee reviewed the joint Committee on Women’s Athletics and Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) budget priorities for 2002-03 and 2003-04, which will be reviewed by the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues in October.

j. NCAA Title IX Seminar. The committee discussed the future of the Title IX seminars and made several recommendations to the staff, including the rotation of sites annually to ensure that every four years each quadrant of the country hosts a seminar. The committee endorsed having a letter encouraging participation sent to the chief executive officer of each institution that has not had an attendee at the Titles IX seminar in the past five years.

k. Foundation Leadership Conference. The committee reviewed statistical information regarding Foundation Leadership Conference.

l. "Game Face" Touring Schedule. The committee received a copy of the “Game Face” exhibits touring schedule.

m. Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act Form. The committee discussed the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act form and requested that the NCAA staff work with the DOE to determine the timeframe for making revisions to the form. The committee would like the DOE to consider changing the due date of the form for institutions so that university year-end financial reports are available before completing the form. Additionally the committee would like the DOE to consider adding a signature line for senior woman administrators.

n. 20-Year Celebration. The committee received a report that the book “Game Face” and an NCAA bookmark are being provided to the each attendee at the NCAA Woman of the Year Dinner and the NCAA 2002 Convention in celebration of 20 years of NCAA women’s championships.

o. Pregnancy Language in NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook. The committee reviewed concerns raised by the membership regarding the pregnancy language in the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook. The committee is forwarding these concerns to the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and
requests that it review the issues. The committee requests that the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports provide a response to the Committee on Women’s Athletics regarding these concerns.

p. MOIC's Report to the Committee on Women’s Athletics. The committee reviewed a report from the MOIC to the committee and provided the following response. With regard to the diversity education program, the committee appointed two members, Ms. Saneholtz and Ms. Bradley-Doppes, to work with selected MOIC members to review proposals and selected consultants to develop and solicit new diversity education workshops addressing race, gender and sexual orientation. With regard to the NCAA summit on athletics opportunities for minority women, the committee appointed Ms. McWilliams and Mr. Pergolizzi to work with selected MOIC representatives on the summit agenda.

q. MOIC Mission Statement. The committee reviewed its and the MOIC mission statements simply to familiarize its new members with the mission and purpose of each committee. It noted the MOIC mission statement includes language that could be interpreted as indicating its mission includes a review of all women’s issues. The committee will communicate with the MOIC regarding the following possible clarification: “The NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) was formed by the Association in January 1991 to review issues related to the interests of ethnic minorities. ~~and women~~. These issues focus on the education and welfare of minority student-athletes, as well as the enhancement of opportunities for ethnic minorities ~~and women~~ in coaching, athletics administration, officiating and the NCAA governance structure.”

r. Sexual Orientation Presentation at Convention. The committee reviewed tentative content for the sexual orientation and homophobia session for the Association-wide session at the NCAA Convention and provided input with regard to possible panelists and content. The committee encouraged session planners to include at least two student-athletes among the panelists.

s. Officiating for NCAA Championships. The committee requested that the NCAA championships staff begin to collect data on the number of officials officiating all NCAA championships, given the following breakdowns: male, female, ethnic minority male and ethnic minority female.

t. Division I Management Council Diversity Minimums. The committee requests that the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues direct a review of the appointment process for Division I Management Council representatives. The committee expressed concern that diversity minimums have become maximums. (See NCAA Constitution 4.5.1)