REPORT OF THE
NCAA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S ATHLETICS (CWA)
ACTION
ITEMS.
1.
Legislative.
None.
2.
Nonlegislative.
Association-wide.
a. Membership
Sports Sponsorship Demographic Report.
(1)
Recommendation. Endorse
a recommendation to revise the Membership Sport Sponsorship Report to include
the Race and Gender Demographic
Report currently compiled by the NCAA research staff.
(2)
Effective date. Fall
2007.
(3)
Rationale. The
membership services and research staff recommends combining the Membership
Sport Sponsorship Report with the Race and Gender Demographic Report. The goal of the proposal is to increase
efficiency by combining two data collection efforts. Furthermore, inasmuch as the sports
sponsorship report is mandatory and the race and gender demographics report is
voluntary, combining the two research requests would increase the overall
response rate and provide real time data.
The committee unanimously approved the recommendation.
(4)
Estimated budget
impact. None.
(5)
Student-athlete
impact. None.
b.
CWA Appointments.
(1)
Recommendation. Approve CWA’s request for the opportunity to review potential
members prior to divisional Management Council appointments, to have greater
communication with divisional nominating committees and greater awareness of
conference nominations. The
committee will invite members of the national office governance staff to its
January 2007 meeting in
(2)
Rationale. The committee
continues to express concern about the need to ensure ethnic diversity is
represented among those appointed to the committee.
(3)
Estimated budget impact.
None.
(4)
Student-athlete impact. None.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
Association-wide.
1. Male
practice players. The committee
requested that staff continue to examine legislation related to the issue and
provide information to the membership via communication vehicles such as The
NCAA News. The committee also
inquired about the current position of the NCAA Committee on Competitive
Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports on this issue. Staff was asked to seek clarification
from the U.S. Office for Civil Rights on the definition of
“participant” and whether or not male practice players are
considered participants under Title IX.
Based on this premise, if male practice players continue to be allowed
the following guidelines should be considered:
a. First
and foremost, it is critical that all male practice players must be NCAA certified
to participate as all other student-athletes.
b. Second,
male practice players should be provided appropriate medical coverage to ensure
the health and safety of their experience.
c. Third,
male practice players should only be allowed to be used if that particular team
already carries a number of female participants that is equal to or exceeds the
average squad size listed for that team as determined by the NCAA.
d. Fourth,
male practice players should only be allowed in the championship season.
e. Fifth, the use of male practice players should be limited to two hours per week, not to exceed three at one time, in a drill or practice setting in any sport during the championship season.
f. The CWA is committed to providing equitable practice and competitive opportunities for female student-athletes as part of its mission. In support of this, the CWA believes that the use of male practice players is in conflict with this mission.
2. NCAA
Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues update. The committee was informed that the
April in-person meeting was postponed until June 27 and was conducted as a
telephone conference. The committee
affirmed the importance of its reporting relationship to the subcommittee in
the governance structure. The
committee also expressed concern that the June 27 agenda did not include
committee updates from the Committee on Women’s Athletics and NCAA Minority
Opportunity and Interests Committee.
3. National
office senior woman administrator (SWA) update. Judy Sweet provided an update to the
committee that the title of director of education outreach will change to
director of women’s initiatives and student-athlete well-being. There is a requirement for a
demonstrated commitment to gender equity and Title IX for the vacant senior
vice president for championships and director of women’s initiatives and
student-athlete well-being.
President Brand will determine who among the president’s cabinet
will be designated the new national office SWA. The committee was encouraged to provide
recommendations for the aforementioned vacant positions. Additionally, the education services
group will report as part of the governance, membership services and research
group. The committee was notified
that the request for funding for the National Association of Collegiate Women
Athletics Administrators/Higher Education Resource Services Level II program
has been approved.
4. Emerging sports update. The committee requested that staff provide clarification about the process for applying the “sunset clause” for those emerging sports that have not made reasonable progress toward being a championship sport during their legislated 10-year period. While the CWA is not in a position to enforce legislation, it seeks to stimulate discussion and action to ensure the current legislation is followed.
5. Transgender
and transsexual issues in intercollegiate athletics update. The committee received an update on
transgender and transsexual matters, including instances arising at
institutions within the Association.
First, the committee will seek input from the Executive Committee
Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity issues. Secondly, in order to satisfy continued
requests from the membership to address this issue, the committee will continue
to depend on national office staff to address eligibility, championships competition,
medical and legal questions. The
committee also will review policies and best practices established by other
higher education organizations.
6. Evaluating the hiring of women in athletics. The committee continued discussions about the potential development of a hiring report card to track progress for women and ethnic minority women in athletics, similar to those conducted by the Black Coaches Association (BCA) and Richard Lapchick. After staff discussions with the BCA, the committee remains committed to collaborative efforts with those who have already undertaken similar efforts.
7.
8. Branding
and communications update. The
committee received an update from members of the national office branding and
communications staff regarding the initiatives undertaken by that group,
especially concerning women’s athletics. The staff has advocated for women in
athletics through its public service announcement campaign and by working with
the ESPN network to feature the 2005 NCAA Woman of the Year award winner. The committee applauded the staff for
their continued efforts. The staff
expressed gratitude for the committee’s support and honest feedback.
10. Woman
of the Year update. The
committee received an update about the status of the newly implemented
nomination process and requested that staff make the timeline earlier for the
2007 award process. The committee
also requested that participation and demographic reports be provided at the
October meeting.
11. Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee (DLSPC) update. The committee chair provided an update about the progress of the DLSPC. The DLSPC is examining hiring practices and determining how to generate greater accountability in the areas of gender equity and Title IX. The DLSPC’s report will be provided at the 2007 NCAA Convention.
12. Education
outreach update. The committee
received an update about the 2006 Gender Equity and Issues Forum. The committee discussed future forum
dates and frequency, as well as the possibility of including a community
service component in 2007. Additionally,
the committee expressed their support for the emerging use of Web casting to
generate dialogue and provide information about Association-wide issues and
educational initiatives. With
regard to the 2007 NCAA Convention, the committee recommended that some
educational sessions be conducted in a round-table discussion format. With regard to specific topic ideas, the
committee suggested sessions about the recruitment, retention and professional
development within the coaching profession, and best practices for athletics
administrators seeking women and ethnic minority candidates in their hiring
processes.
13. Life
and Work Balance Task Force update.
The committee received an update about the life and work balance
task force which exists to actively promote an environment within
intercollegiate athletics that fosters a balance between personal and
professional commitments. The task
force will meet in August and intends to ultimately provide recommendations for
institutional policy and tools for individual assessment.
14. SWA
education. The committee
discussed continued education, especially for institutional and athletics
department leadership, about best practices for empowering and involving senior
woman administrators in the conduct of the athletics program. The committee’s recommendations
will also be carried to the DLSPC and Executive Committee Subcommittee on
Gender and Diversity Issues.
15. Lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender think tank.
The committee received an update about an October 30 think tank
meeting to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues within
intercollegiate athletics. The
committee was asked to consider the issues that exist at the institutional
level that could aid the think tank in its assessment and attempts to create awareness. The committee identified the student-athlete
advisory committees and the CHAMPS/Life Skills program as avenues by which
student-athletes can further engage in LGBT dialogue. The committee will have representation
at the think tank session.
16. NCAA
awards. The committee expressed
concern about the lack of female and ethnic minority representation among
winners of the Theodore Roosevelt and President’s Gerald R. Ford
awardees. It was noted that
President Brand is aware of the concern, and the committee was encouraged to
provide nominees for these award programs.
17. Office
for Diversity and Inclusion Programs update. The committee was provided an update
on the Office for Diversity and Inclusion programs where CWA members were assisting
with program selections. Committee
members were provided the opportunity to resign from and commit to continued
service.
Committee Chair: Darlene Bailey,
Staff Liaisons: Rosie
Stallman, Education Outreach
Kimberly
Ford, Office for Diversity and Inclusion
Matthew
Stach, Education Outreach