REPORT OF THE
NCAA JOINT MEETING
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
WOMEN’S ATHLETICS (CWA)
AND MINORITY
OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERESTS COMMITTEE (MOIC)
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
Association-wide
a. Association-wide
committee biennial budget process update. The committees received an
update regarding the biennial budget process and reviewed both existing
allocations and new initiatives. In order to determine budget requests,
the committees request that evaluative information and assessment tools be
provided for existing and new programs.
b. 2004
Racial and Gender Report Card and the Coaching and Gender Equity Project (CAGE).
Staff reviewed two studies noting the lack of women and ethnic minorities
in coaching and athletics administration.
These reports will assist both committees in the definition of future
initiatives and strategic planning. Staff discussed the statistics and
conclusions of the report card while pointing out that Division I-A conference
offices, head coaches, athletics directors, presidents and faculty athletics
representatives received either an “F” or “D+” with
regard to gender and racial diversity. Staff will obtain further
clarification about the methodology used to determine grade assessments.
The CAGE report urges greater inclusion within athletics organizations for
women, people of color and individuals with non-traditional sexual orientation,
while also addressing sexual discrimination, work/life balance, the role of the
SWA, and the challenges preventing the recruitment and retention of women in
athletics careers. Multiple facets within the reports will be addressed
by the office for diversity and inclusion.
c. Perceived
barriers of women in intercollegiate athletics careers. Staff reviewed the 1988-89 study of perceived
barriers of women in intercollegiate athletics careers. Efforts are
underway to update the study by surveying both female and male student-athletes
at approximately 30 to 40 institutions. Unlike the previous study, this
study will also track race demographics of responders.
d. Senior
woman administrator (SWA) update. Staff provided an update about edits made to the definition of the SWA
designation after consideration of the matter by their divisional
committees. Education remains necessary for the membership in order to ensure
the inclusion of females as SWAs in meaningful, decision-making
positions. Already addressed at the recent NACWAA Convention, the
clarification will also be addressed at the 2006 NCAA Convention. The
committees voted to strongly encourage conference offices to appoint a SWA, as
do member institutions.
e.
Life-Work Balance Summit. Staff
provided an update about the working group currently examining the challenges
confronting athletics personnel attempting to balance professional and personal
commitments within the collegiate athletics profession. Through research
and the collection of best practices, efforts are underway to determine what
policies and procedures may be useful within the Association that address this
matter, including a session at the 2006 NCAA Convention.
f.
NCAA Convention update. Staff reviewed several
sessions planned for the 2006 NCAA Convention that address diversity and
inclusion, including a reception sponsored by the President’s Cabinet. The committees voted to send a letter
to President Brand noting their disappointment about the invitation extended to
President Bush to speak at the 2006 NCAA Convention. In the interest of
advancing the Association’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the
group supports the position that tolerance is paramount and values the broad
range of perspectives inherent to diversity and inclusion. The committees
believe the policies of President Bush and his administration are often in
conflict with the Association’s commitment to race and gender issues,
particularly in terms of
Title IX enforcement and affirmative action issues.
g.
Office for Diversity and Inclusion update.
Staff noted the forthcoming
provision of a national office staff demographics update. Additionally,
an update was provided about staffing within the office for diversity and
inclusion, the office’s external Web page, the review of diversity
education consultants and programming, the review of current budget
allocations, as well as
Committee Chair(s):
Darlene Bailey,
Robert C.
Vowels, Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Staff Liaison(s): Charlotte
Westerhaus, Diversity and Inclusion; Rosie Stallman,