REPORT OF THE
NCAA MINORITY OPPORTUNITIES
AND INTERESTS COMMITTEE
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
a.
NCAA Diversity Education Program.
In an effort to enhance the effectiveness of the NCAA diversity education program, the committee revised guidelines for the “Understanding Diversity and Creating Community” workshop to provide training in a one-day format. In addition, the committee reallocated resources in order to conduct a limited number of workshops at member institutions for student-athletes, coaches and/or administrative staff. The institution-based workshops will complement workshops scheduled in conjunction with annual conventions, seminars and conferences (See Attachment A).
b. Advanced
Diversity Education Workshops to Address Issues Related to Race, Gender and
Sexual Orientation.
Consistent with the committee’s five-year strategic plan, the committee requested proposals from qualified consultants to develop curriculum design and materials and to facilitate advanced diversity education workshops that address gender, race and sexual orientation. These workshops will complement the Association’s existing diversity education workshop that provides a foundation in the basic concepts of diversity. The workshops will debut at the 2003 NCAA Convention. In partnership with the Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA), the committees narrowed the field to three consulting groups and will entertain in-person presentations from facilitators in January 2002 before selecting the final group(s).
c. Review of the Use
of American Indian Mascots in Intercollegiate Athletics.
The committee finalized a strategic plan and timetable to review the use of American Indian mascots in intercollegiate athletics in order to forward recommendations to the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues. The committee’s data collection phase will include a historical overview of the issue; impact on NCAA colleges and universities; the fan experience; current institutional and Association policies and procedures; interviews and testimonials from the membership/public; and, other educational-based reviews. The committee will forward a final report to the Executive Committee subcommittee in August 2002.
d. NCAA Summit on Athletic Opportunities for Minority Women.
The committee, in partnership with CWA, invited participating organizations to the 3rd annual summit, to be held January 30, 2002. Each organization provided status reports of progress in the areas of promoting coaching as a career, partnership efforts and professional development strategies for minority women coaches. The committees agreed to announce guidelines for matching grant funds for coaches’ associations to provide professional development programs for female and ethnic minority coaches at all levels to summit participants. The committees will finalize the agenda in December.
e.
NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority
Males.
The committee finalized workshop materials for the second session (Human Resource Management) of the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males. The committee reviewed the recruitment process for the 2002-03 class and requested national office staff include recruitment strategies to increase representation of American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic and other ethnic minority staff members.
f.
2001-02 Race Demographics of NCAA Member
Institutions’ Athletics Personnel.
To continue to provide vital data to the membership, governance groups and the public, the committee reviewed the Race Demographic of NCAA Member Institutions’ Athletics Personnel survey form. Since 1995, the committee has collected demographic data regarding the participation of ethnic minorities and women in athletics administration and coaching positions at member institutions. The data assists in reviewing current circumstances and effectiveness of enhancement programs instituted by the Association and to measure changes over time. Information gathered will be compiled and published in spring, 2002 in the Race Demographics of NCAA Member Institutions’ Athletics Personnel Report.
g.
NCAA Football Study.
To assist the Division I Football Oversight Committee with its review of issues related to Division I football, specifically in the area of diversity, the committee revised its strategic plan and timeline to include data collection to assess determinants of opportunity and advancement for minority football coaches at member institutions via survey. The committee reviewed and finalized with NCAA research staff a survey instrument to be distributed to chief executive officers, directors of athletics, and head and assistant football coaches at all member institutions that sponsor football. Data collected will be reported only in aggregate form and will be included in the committee’s final report to the Football Study Oversight Committee.
h.
Committee Mission, Objectives and
Accomplishments.
The committee welcomed five new members, including two student-athletes, to the committee. To orientate new committee members, the committee reviewed its mission and objectives. In an effort to complete its charge, the committee revised its objectives to reflect the Association’s compliance with the principles of nondiscrimination, sportsmanship and ethnical conduct, and cultural diversity and gender equity. The committee also reviewed accomplishments achieved since its inception in 1991 (Attachment B).