REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION III INITIATIVES TASK FORCE

 

 

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

 

a. 2002-03 Executive Summary. The 2002-03 executive summary of initiative results is being shared with the membership during conference visits, as requested by the task force. It also will be discussed during the NCAA regional seminars later in the spring. [Attachment A]

 

b. 2003?04 Initiative Summary. It should be noted that the 2003?04 summary represents the final year of the four-year plan approved by the Initiatives Task Force. The summary reflects Council-approved reallocations from the 2001-02 initiatives budget. [Attachment B]

 

c.                                           Overview of Grant Recipients.

 

(1) 2002?03 grant recipients are presented for review. [Attachment C]

 

(2) 2003?04 grant recipients are presented for review. [Attachment D]

 

d.                                          Assessment Plan for Overall Review of Initiative Program. In preparation for the overview review by the Initiatives Task Force in October 2003, the staff discussed the assessment plan and tools as directed by the task force and approved by the Council. The assessment tools are intended to assist with compilation of information and evaluation of the programs consistent with the goal to promote the advancement of three key strategic-planning priorities of the Division III strategic plan. Staff is preparing the following information for review by the task force:

 

(1) Initiative/program impact.

 

(a) Chart identifying total number of Division III institutions and conferences that accessed the grant or program.

 

(b) Chart identifying total number of individual participants (administrators, coaches, support staff) by gender, impacted by grant or program.

 

(c) Chart identifying total number of student-athletes impacted by grant or program.

 

(d) Total number of applicants versus grants awarded.

 

(2) Budget breakdown (overall program/initiative cost and year-by-year breakdown).

 

(a) Cost of program development (consultant fees).

 

(b) Facilitator fees.

 

(c) Application/marketing/promotion costs.

 

(d) Selection costs (meetings, mailings, awarding of grant recipients).

 

(e) Orientation/training costs (facilitators/grant recipients).

 

(f) Salary/payments to institutions or grant recipients.

 

(g) Staff travel expenses associated with implementation of initiative (e.g., salaries, benefits, travel, mailings).

 

(h) Other costs associated with initiative.

 

(3) Overview of initiative/program.

 

(a) Membership communication (include samples).

 

l Process timetable of deadlines and key dates.

l Mailings (initial, continuing, final).

l Application brochures/forms.

 

(b) Overview of program/initiative.

 

l Program outline (leadership conference, STARR).

l Names of all facilitators, speakers and presenters involved with initiative ? highlight outstanding ones.

 

(4) Evaluation/assessment of initiative/program.

 

(a) Grant recipient assessment and feedback. (If this is not being done, a process needs to be developed.)

 


l Process for initiative assessment (form) from grant recipients

l Written executive summary of assessments from grant recipients by program to include intended versus actual outcomes, benchmarks, campus/conference benefits. Has the initiative effectively and qualitatively impacted the achievement of the goal (student-athlete welfare, diversity, membership education/communication)?

 

(b) Recommendations to the task force (based on intended versus actual outcomes, budget impact, campus/conference benefits). Each recommendation should include a rationale.

 

l Extended initiative.

 

? Existing funding level.

? Decreased funding level.

? Increased funding level.

 

l Eliminate initiative

l Amended/new initiative.

 

e. Membership Communication Initiatives. Each edition of the Division III Newsletter contains information about the Division III initiatives program including the identification of available 2002-03 grant opportunities and recipients. The January 2003 Convention session, which provided a broad overview including testimonials from grant recipients, received positive feedback from the membership.

 

 
 
Task Force Chair: John S. Biddiscombe, Wesleyan University

Staff Liaisons: Dan Dutcher, Bridget Belgiovine, Kay Hawes, Janice Whitehead