REPORT OF THE

NCAA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S ATHLETICS (CWA)

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

Association-wide.

a. Office for Diversity and Inclusion. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) welcomed Charlotte Westerhaus, vice-president for diversity and inclusion, who provided an overview of her external and internal responsibilities, including existing initiatives promoting gender and ethnic diversity in intercollegiate athletics.

b. Review of male practice players. After thorough consideration of the dichotomy between the philosophical and competitive issues regarding the use of male undergraduate students to participate in practice activities with women’s teams, the sentiment of the CWA is that the use of male undergraduate students in such situations is in conflict with the mission of this committee to promote opportunities for women, and violates the spirit of gender equity and Title IX.

The CWA seeks input from other entities, which may include: Divisions I, II and III Management Councils; the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport (CSMAS); Divisions I, II and III Student-Athlete Advisory Committees; National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators; and the appropriate sport committees and associations. Finally, the committee requests that the staff educate the membership about the rules and interpretations regarding male undergraduate students participating in practice activities with women’s teams as well as other circumstances in which non-members of a team are allowed to practice with a team.

c. Emerging sports update. The committee reviewed the emerging sports list and concluded there is a need to legislate a “sunset clause” for those emerging sports failing to demonstrate a perceivable growth in sponsorship at member institutions. A subcommittee of the CWA will develop recommended criteria for determining when emerging sports status should be retained or removed (NCAA Bylaw 20.02.5.2).

d. Homophobia survey. The committee endorsed the recommendation of the CSMAS to survey the membership on homophobia in athletics to identify the perceived frequency of discrimination, athletics department non-discrimination and harassment policies; and institution-based education and support resources for athletics staff and student-athletes. The survey should be complete in August 2006.

e. Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) update. The committee applauded the formulation of a working committee to generate a more precise distinction of the SWA designation. Further, the committee reaffirmed the need for continued membership education clarifying the purpose and the function of the SWA designation. The committee also anticipates the results of the SWA survey being conducted in Division I.

f. Transgender issues. The committee received an update from the working group addressing transgender student-athletes. The working group will continue to gather and analyze information concerning the legal, medical and eligibility facets of the matter prior to making any formal recommendations to the committee concerning legislative guidelines.

g. Awards for combined championships. The committee supports the recommendation of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Fencing Committee to provide separate awards for women’s and men’s fencing teams competing in the combined championships. The addition of awards for the top women’s programs broadens the opportunity for national championship recognition for female student-athletes, especially at women’s institutions and for teams that may only sponsor a women’s program.

h. NCAA Woman of the Year. The committee voted to adopt a proposal altering the nomination and selection processes of the annual Woman of the Year award. Planned for implementation in 2006, the NCAA will recognize conference winners in each division, thereby replacing the state winner awards. The new process will be reviewed in greater detail at the committee’s October meeting.

i. Women Coaches Academy. The committee received an update about the continued success of the Women Coaches Academy in the professional development of and retention of women coaches. The committee will continue to monitor this program and other similar programs designed to enhance opportunities for women in coaching and athletics administration.

j. Life-Work Balance Summit. In response to ongoing expressions about the challenges confronting athletics personnel attempting to balance professional and personal commitments, the staff has organized a working group of various constituents to determine the parameters of a forthcoming summit intended to address the cultural matter. The committee requested that staff remain inclusive of multiple perspectives, both traditional and nontraditional, in the development of the summit content.

k. 25th anniversary of women’s championships. The committee received an update about the celebration plans for the 25th anniversary of women’s championships, scheduled to begin fall 2005 and continue in conjunction with the NCAA centennial celebration.

l. Title IX. The committee received an update from Janet Judge, Verrill & Dana LLP attorney, about the recent Title IX clarification issued by the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, as well as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII-related employment issues and the subsequent effects on intercollegiate athletics. Ms. Judge has previously addressed these issues at the Gender Equity and Issues Forum and the Regional Rules Compliance Seminar educational sessions.

m. Cheerleading. The committee supports the CSMAS efforts to monitor and address the rate of catastrophic injury insurance claims in cheerleading activities.

n. National office staff demographics. Staff provided an update about the gender and ethnicity demographics of the national office staff. The committee requested more specific information about transitions at the managing director level and above. The committee also requested that ethnic minority figures also be separated by gender.

Committee Chair: Darlene Bailey, Southwest Missouri State University.

Staff Liaisons: Rosie Stallman, education services, and Matthew Stach, education services.