SUPPLEMENT NO. 6

DIII Presidents Council 8/01

RELATED TO
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
SUPPLEMENT NO. 8

NCAA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S ATHLETICS

Summary of Recommendations

ACTION ITEMS – MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ONLY

1.	ISSUE:	Developing Rules for Emerging Sports.
Committee's Recommendation:
	Appoint an ad hoc committee to address rule development issues for each emerging sport, when determined necessary by the committee. Such an ad hoc committee would be staffed by NCAA championships and NCAA membership services and include membership and sports specialists (e.g., coaches, athletics administrators, national governing body staff members).
Management Council Action:
	Approved and recommended the inclusion of an NCAA publishing staff member.
2.	ISSUE:	Educational Initiatives on Homophobia.
Committee's Recommendation:
	That educational presentations be conducted regarding homophobia and creating a safe environment for student-athletes at the following meetings: (a) All three divisional Management Councils. (b) 2002 NCAA Convention (Association-wide session). (c) Annual NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference for student-athletes. (d) The joint meeting of the three divisional student-athlete advisory committees (July 2002). (e) 2002 Title IX seminar. Additionally, the committee requests that the diversity training modules on sexual orientation being developed for use in CHAMPS/Lifeskills and the diversity training program be presented to the CWA during its October meeting for review and comment. The committee strongly encourages the NCAA staff to work closely with the curriculum developers to include real life campus scenarios and open discussion about homophobia and creating a safe environment for all student-athletes.
Management Council Action:
	Approved the recommendation, noting strong support from the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
3.	ISSUE:	Additional Component to Athletics Certification and Self-Study Programs.
Committee's Recommendation:
	That the Division III institutional self-study guide (ISSG) include a component on creating a safe environment for all students, including student-athletes with diverse sexual orientations.
Management Council Action:
	Referred to the Membership Committee for inclusion in Division III ISSG.
4.	ISSUE:	Rugby Identified as an Emerging Sport.
Committee's Action:
	The committee endorsed rugby as an emerging sport for women subject to submission of more recent letters from the University of Central Florida and Bucknell University. The committee wants to ensure that there are currently ten institutions with viable interests in rugby.
Management Council Action:
	Expressed concern regarding health and safety issues in women’s rubgy and referred the issue to the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspect of Sport for review.

ITEMS OF INFORMATION

1.	ISSUE:	Division III Proposal Regarding Senior Woman Administrator Appointment.
Committee's Action:
	The committee supported proposed draft legislation that permits an institution with a female athletics director to appoint another female as the senior woman administrator.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information. (See Supplement No. 19-b.)

2.	ISSUE:	Emerging Sport Criteria Amended.
Committee's Action:
	The committee amended the criteria currently used for reviewing potential emerging sports for women to include the requirement that all letters of support from institutional chief executive officers must be dated within one year of the request for emerging sport status.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
3.	ISSUE:	Comments regarding NCAA Senior Women Administrator Job Description.
Committee's Action:
	The committee recommends that the NCAA Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) draft job description document be amended to include a marketing and promotions of women’s sports component that identifies her role in television contract discussions, the marketing and promotions of women’s sports and other executive level decisions on this subject. The committee also recommends that the NCAA SWA conduct select exit interviews of female staff members at her discretion and that this be included in her job description. Finally, the committee recommends the description reflect the need for the national office SWA to have a presence and be visible at major women’s events.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information, noting that the “select” exit interviews should be conducted in addition to the existing interview process.
4.	ISSUE:	Review of National Office Gender Equity Plan Draft.
Committee's Action:
	The committee reviewed the plan outlining the process for developing the national office’s gender equity plan. The committee commended the national office leadership for its support of this initiative. The committee suggests that the document focus: Phase 1 -- internal national office; and Phase 2 -- incorporate external membership issues. The committee noted that member institutions are generally required to have gender equity plans and that this represents an opportunity for the national office to mirror the efforts of the membership. Additionally, the committee recommends that the Executive Committee review and approve the final plan in addition to the NCAA president's leadership team. Finally, the committee requested that the following issues be included in the plan: (1) A review of the grievance procedures for staff members. (2) A review of employee benefits that affect women (e.g., childcare, domestic partner benefits). (3) A review of the work environment for women, including opportunities for communication of sensitive or confidential concerns. (4) A review of salaries and general hiring practices (including employment of interns and mentoring programs).
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
5.	ISSUE:	Benefits for National Office Employees.
Committee's Action:
	The committee recommends that the NCAA national office provide domestic partner benefits for staff members as part of the Association’s benefits package for employees. The NCAA national office should be a leader in helping to educate and promote a safe environment for all student-athletes and athletics professionals and in overcoming homophobia in intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, the committee believes that the significant decrease in the number of female head coaches and athletics administrators is, in part, due to the perceptions associated with homosexuality. The national office can provide significant leadership in this area by providing benefits that are consistent with its equal opportunity/nondiscrimination statement for employees.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
6.	ISSUE:	Survey on Conference Championship Opportunities.
Committee's Action:
	The committee suggests that the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues direct the NCAA research staff to conduct a survey of conference championship opportunities for men and women and conference office staffing by gender and ethnicity. The committee suggests the research staff conduct this survey during the 2001-02 academic year and noted that it could be Web-based and incorporated into sports sponsorship and demographics survey.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
7.	ISSUE:	Federal Legislation Regarding Olympic Sport Funding.
Committee's Action:
	The committee suggests the Association not support federal legislation proposed by Senator Wellstone (D-Minnesota) regarding funding for the revitalization of Olympic sports. The committee has concerns about the possible negative impact this legislation could have on an institution’s ability to comply with its gender equity plan. Additionally, this proposal could result in a few already well-funded athletics programs receiving additional federal monies and would not result in the sustained growth of collegiate Olympic sports, which appears to be goal of the legislation.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
8.	ISSUE:	“Game Face” Book.
Committee's Action:
	The committee reviewed the recently published book “Game Face: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like?” by Jane Gottesman. The committee directed the chair to request that President Dempsey make discretionary funds available for the purchase of an imprinted version of the book. The imprint would recognize 20 years of women’s sports in the NCAA and 30 years of Title IX. The committee believes that the year 2002 represents a wonderful opportunity to celebrate these two important events and has recommended a number of budget initiatives to mark the occasion. However, the Association’s budget cycle would not permit the funding of this project in a timely manner. The cost for this initiative would be approximately $35,000, which would purchase 2,500 books. The committee also believes that this book should be given out at the 2002 NCAA Convention as the annual memento.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
9.	ISSUE:	NCAA Woman of the Year Dinner.
Committee's Action:
	The committee recommends that the book “Game Face” be given to all 2002 Woman of the Year participants in celebration of 20 years of women’s sports in the NCAA and 30 years of Title IX. The committee also supports the staff recommendation to move the dinner to a Saturday night for the year 2002 and beyond, which has been encouraged by the student-athletes.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
10.	ISSUE:	Ice Hockey Officiating.
Committee's Action:
	The committee requested that the staff clarify information received from the ice hockey officiating coordinator regarding money allocated for the honorarium and the commissioners' meeting. Additionally, the committee directed the staff to update the budget information to reflect both men’s and women’s ice hockey officiating improvement expenses.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
11.	ISSUE:	Review Budget Initiatives.
Committee's Action:
	The committee reviewed the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues five-year budget plan and identified priorities for the 2002-2003 and the 2003-2004 years. These recommendations will be reviewed with the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee prior to forwarding to the Executive Committee subcommittee.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association

July 26, 2001 BB/DTD:skt