NCAA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S ATHLETICS (CWA)
1.
ACTION ITEMS.
a. Committee on
Women’s Athletics Membership Diversity.
(1) Recommendation. The committee requests that the
Management Councils give consideration to diversity when appointing future CWA
members.
(2) Rationale. The committee would like to have a more ethnically diverse
committee.
b. DIVISIONS
II AND III ONLY – Rugby Identified
as an Emerging Sport.
(1)
Recommendation.
That NCAA Divisions II and III identify rugby as an emerging sport for
women.
(2)
Rationale.
The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) reviewed the Divisions II
and III Management Council responses regarding rugby as an emerging sport. The committee heard a presentation from
Randy Dick, staff liaison to the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and
Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) regarding the health and safety of
rugby. The CSMAS noted that there
was no published injury information on women’s rugby that was directly comparable
to NCAA Injury Surveillance Systems (ISS) data. In reviewing the limited injury literature existing on the
sport, the CSMAS noted that the risk of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury
was higher among women than men.
This finding is consistent with ISS data for soccer and basketball. The CSMAS noted that as a collision
sport, the injury risk and medical resources necessary to support the sport
probably would be at least comparable to other collision sports. The rugby sport community (e.g., USA
Rugby) does not have or maintain injury data. The CWA encourages the Divisions II and III Management
Councils to approve rugby as an emerging sport. Rugby meets the required criteria for establishment of an
emerging sport. The committee
believes that each member institution has a responsibility to manage the sport
of rugby as it does all of its varsity sports. The “culture” surrounding a particular sport often changes
dramatically when it becomes a varsity sport due to the guidelines imposed by
the NCAA and the institution.
(3)
Budget Impact.
None.
c. DIVISION I
ONLY – Amateurism Legislation and Emerging Sports.
(1) Recommendation. The committee strongly suggests that
the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Legislative Review
Interpretations Subcommittee (LRIS) or the staff issue an interpretation to
clarify that, for the purpose of applying legislation to emerging sports, NCAA
amateurism legislation be applied to prospects and student-athletes for acts
that occur subsequent to the time a sport is identified as an emerging
sport.
(2) Rationale. In equestrian, it was noted that
prospects and student-athletes violated NCAA amateurism rules prior to the time
equestrian was identified as an NCAA emerging sport. The committee does not support requiring all such prospects
and student-athletes to be reinstated when, at the time their violations
occurred, the sport did not fall under NCAA jurisdiction.
d. DIVISION I
ONLY – Board of Directors Task Force’s Vision Statement.
(1) Recommendation. The committee requests that the Division I Board of Directors consider
amending the vision statement developed by the Board Task Force to include a
separate item related to ethnic and gender diversity.
(2) Rationale. The committee reviewed the NCAA Division
I Board of Directors Task Force’s draft vision statement document and applauded
the Board for development of this statement. The committee
suggested that the Board may want to consider incorporating language similar to
NCAA Constitution 2.2.2, which states, “It is the responsibility of each member
institution to establish and maintain an environment that values cultural
diversity and gender equity among its student-athletes and intercollegiate
department staff.”
2.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
a.
Emerging Sports
Web page. The committee
received an update on the development of an NCAA Web page for emerging
sports. It was noted that the NCAA
staff receives numerous inquiries for information about emerging sports. The Web page will include a list of
emerging sports, a link to applicable sports organizations and governing bodies
and the definition developed by CWA for each sport. The Web page also will
provide the ability to print a list of member institutions that sponsor each
emerging sport.
b.
Homophobia
Educational Initiatives Update. The committee received an update on the
various homophobia educational initiatives that have been conducted and are
planned for the NCAA Convention, the three management councils, the
student-athlete advisory committees (SAAC), and leadership conference. The committee heard very positive
feedback on the Convention session on homophobia and noted that 150 people
attended. However, several
committee members received comments that some attendees did not attend the
session for fear of being labeled a homosexual. The committee suggests that a session on homophobia be a
general session at next year’s Convention. This might help alleviate the “fear factor” and encourage
people to attend.
c.
University of
Minnesota Discussion. The committee received an update on the University of
Minnesota discussions regarding combining men’s and women’s programs. The committee took no action.
d.
DIVISION I ONLY – Financial Aid Survey Comments. The committee reviewed a
draft of the NCAA Division I Committee on Financial Aid survey and made the
following observations for the committee’s consideration. The CWA suggests that any review of the
scholarship limits by sport include balancing the concept of sport equity,
competitive equity and gender equity.
It was noted that such a balancing act must use gender equity as a
backdrop. Additionally, the
committee requests that as part of its review of financial aid limits, the
committee consider reviewing whether a separate equivalency number should be
established for women’s rifle.
Under the current legislation, there is only an equivalency limit established
for men’s rifle.
e.
Update on NCAA
Woman of the Year Dinner. The CWA requested that staff gather information to identify
candidates for this year’s selection committee. It was recommend that Jacqueline McWilliams become the chair
of the selection committee. The
committee also requested statistics regarding last year’s applicant pool. Nomination
forms will be available in June.
The national, conference, and campus SAACs will be asked to announce
periodically the availability of nomination forms.
f.
Anterior
Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries Among Females. The committee heard a report on
the work of the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports regarding ACL injury rates among female
student-athletes. The committee commends
the committee for its work in this area.
g.
Conference
Senior Woman Administrators (SWA).
The committee requested staff to obtain a list of all the
conference SWAs. Additionally, the committee
agreed to send a letter to each conference commissioner regarding the executive
level of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators/Higher
Education Resource Services program.
h.
Update on NCAA
SWA Job Description. The committee
heard an update from the national office SWA regarding the SWA job
description. It was noted that no
changes in the description have occurred recently.
i.
National Office
Senior Vice-President. The
committee discussed its continued strong interest in having a female senior
vice-president at the national office and the related work of the Executive
Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues. The committee agreed to continue to
voice its position on this issue, given the upcoming change of leadership.
j.
NCAA
Presidential Search. The
committee agreed to write a letter to the NCAA Executive Committee chair
requesting careful consideration of gender and minority representation on the
NCAA president search committee, as well as in the final pool of applicants. Additionally, the letter will request
that the selected candidate has a demonstrated commitment to gender and ethnic
diversity. [Note: It was subsequently agreed that the CWA
and the Minority Opportunity and Interests Committee (MOIC) would send one
joint letter on this topic and that the entire Executive Committee would be copied.]
k.
Update on
National Office Gender Equity Plan Draft.
The committee heard a report from the national office SWA regarding the
national office gender equity plan. The national office conducted focus groups that provided the
background information necessary to develop and conduct a confidential survey
of all national office employees.
The survey had a 66 percent response rate. The national office staff is in the process of analyzing the
data from the survey and culling critical information that will assist with the
development of the national office gender equity plan. The committee was reminded that the
survey was created as a result of internal focus groups, and, therefore,
questions focus on issues identified in those groups. The next step is the development of the plan. Finally, the committee requested to
review the staffing numbers that were provided to the Executive Committee
Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity.
l.
Benefits for
National Office Employees. The committee
heard an update regarding the NCAA national office providing domestic partner
benefits for staff members as part of the Association’s benefits package for
employees. The national office
leadership is continuing to review this issue and is working with insurance
carriers to gather information.
The committee requested to receive another update during its July meeting.
m.
Pregnancy Language in Sports Medicine Handbook. The committee received a report from
Randy Dick, NCAA staff liaison to the Committee on Competitive Safeguards. The competitive safeguards committee
has sent the CWA’s comments to the medical doctor who regularly advises the
committee on medical issues. The
Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports intends to
revise the pregnancy language in the 2002 handbook and welcomes the CWA’s
feedback.
n.
NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification (CAC)
Gender Plans Precedent. The
committee heard a report on the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics
Certification (CAC) precedent regarding gender equity plans, particularly those
schools that failed to institute their plans from the first cycle. The CWA encourages the CAC to consider
taking a strong position and not certify institutions that fail to fulfill
stated plans from a previous cycle or meet some appropriate equivalent
alternative plan. Also, the CWA
applauds the CAC for incorporating safe environments for all students including
those with diverse sexual orientations in the next cycle. The CWA believes that gender equity and
student-athlete welfare are critically important to the certification process
and should be strongly supported by the CAC. The committee strongly believes in the need for written
plans and encourages the CAC to hold schools accountable for making progress
towards equity. The CWA recognizes
that the first cycle was to work cooperatively with institutions to help
educate them. The intention for
the second cycle schools should include accountability.
o.
Executive Committee Subcommittee Five-Year Audit Report. It was noted that the five-year audit
report was updated for the October 2001 Executive Committee Subcommittee
meeting. The committee requested
that the staff update this document and highlight those items that have not yet
been addressed. The committee
intends to spend
time during its
July meeting on strategic planning, and will use the updated audit.
p. Editorial
Revisions to the Manual(s) Based on Emerging Sports Time Line Legislative
Changes. The committee noted the recent legislative changes to the emerging sports
time line. It reviewed NCAA Bylaws
13.01.8, 14.01.5.1 and 14.01.5.2, all of which refer to the emerging sports
time line based on the previous legislation. The committee recommends that a review of these bylaws be
performed by the NCAA staff so that appropriate editorial revisions to these
bylaws can be incorporated, consistent with the recently revised emerging sport
time line.
q. SWA Brochure. The committee reviewed a final draft of
the NCAA SWA brochure. Final edits
were suggested. Selected members
of CWA will review and approve the final draft of the brochure. The final brochure will be available at
the end of spring of 2002.
r. MOIC Report. The committee reviewed the report of
the MOIC and the MOICs report to the CWA.
s. CWA List of
Accomplishments. The
committee reviewed an updated version of its chronological list of
accomplishments.
t. Divisions
II and III Only – Gender Equity Plans for Divisions II and III member institutions. The committee is in the process of
collecting and reviewing information regarding Divisions II and III gender
equity requirements as part of the institutional self-study guides and the
Division II Compliance Review Blueprint program. The committee would like to consider mechanisms for
strengthening the gender equity plan requirements in these divisions. As part of its consideration of this
issue, the committee will also review the Division I athletics certification
gender plan requirements. The
committee plans to review this issue in greater detail during its July
meeting.
u. Future
Meeting Dates and Sites. The committee
reviewed the following future meeting dates: July 15-17, 2002; October 15-16, 2002; January 27-28, 2003;
and July 14-16, 2003.
v. Minutes
Approved. The committee
approved the minutes from its October 16-17, 2001, meeting.
Committee Chair:
Marilyn McNeil, Monmouth University, Northeastern Conference
Staff Liaisons:
Diane Dickman, Membership Services; Rosie Stallman, Education Services;
Wendy Walters, Membership Services
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
March 20, 2002 RS