NCAA COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S ATHLETICS

Summary of Recommendations

ITEMS OF INFORMATION

1.	ISSUE:	Secretary of Education's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics.
Committee Action:
	The committee reviewed the formation of the Department of Education’s Commission on Opportunity in Athletics. The committee discussed various ways to interact with the commission and noted that a letter was sent to Secretary Roderick Paige outlining its interest and willingness to participate in this review of Title IX. The committee strongly supports equal access and opportunity for men and women in intercollegiate athletics and will request the NCAA Executive Committee to endorse the committee's position and forward a letter to the commission suggesting the following five actions needed to strengthen Title IX (Attachment): · More education at all levels about the law; · Consistent interpretation of the law by the Office for Civil Rights regional offices; · Stronger enforcement of the law; · Greater understanding of the flexibility of prong three of the three-part test; · Greater awareness and understanding that each prong of the three-part test stands along as a viable compliance tool.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
2.	ISSUE:	Future Committee Appointments.
Committee Action:
	The committee reviewed its roster of committee term appointments. It noted that four members’ terms expire next year and discussed the importance of maintaining a diverse membership by gender, position, division and ethnicity. It was agreed that the committee would actively encourage the nomination of a diverse group of potential committee members.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.

3.	ISSUE:	Subcommittee Assignments.
Committee Action:
	The committee appointed its three new members to the CWA subcommittees as follows: Carlyle Carter, Outreach Subcommittee; Tanya Rush, Gender Equity and Women’s Advocacy Subcommittee; and Darlene Bailey, Strategic Planning and Budget Subcommittee. Additionally, Marcia Saneholtz was identified as the new chair for the committee’s Outreach Subcommittee.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
4.	ISSUE:	NCAA National Office Gender-Equity Plan.
Committee Action:
	The committee received an update on the NCAA national office gender-equity plan from the national office senior woman administrator. Progress is being made on the plan, and it is anticipated it will be available for review during the committee’s October meeting. The committee also reviewed the NCAA national office gender-equity survey executive summary.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
5.	ISSUE:	NCAA National Office Staffing Statistics.
Committee Action:
	The committee reviewed national office staffing statistics sorted by administrative level, gender and ethnicity. The committee noted its disappointment that little progress, if any, has been made at the vice-presidential level relative to the hiring of women and minorities. In particular, the committee noted that the move to Indianapolis provided a greater than usual number of openings at this level, but that these openings did not result in improved diversity at the vice-presidential level. It was also noted that the national office has made progress in diversifying the staff by gender and ethnicity at the director level.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
6.	ISSUE:	Domestic-Partner Benefits for National Office Employees.
Committee Action:
	The committee was informed that the national office will provide same-sex domestic-partner benefits as part of its employee benefits program effective with the annual benefit enrollment process late this fall.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
7.	ISSUE:	Strategic Planning Initiatives.
Committee Action:
	The committee discussed its priorities for the coming year as part of its strategic planning efforts. The committee identified the support of and education about Title IX as its priority item for the coming year and the need to develop and mentor female coaches as an area of focus over the next several years.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
8.	ISSUE:	Title IX Seminar.
Committee Action:
	The committee discussed the 2002 Title IX seminar conducted in Washington, D.C. in May and reviewed attendance statistics. It was agreed that the Title IX seminar should continue to be conducted in the future and that it should rotate around the country geographically in order to provide participants from various regions the opportunity to attend. Also, issues such as homophobia should continue to be part of the program. The committee discussed the possibility of changing the name of the seminar so that it reflects a broader scope of topics covered in addition to Title IX (e.g., sexual orientation).
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
9.	ISSUE:	List of Conference Senior Woman Administrators (SWA).
Committee Action:
	The committee reviewed the list of conference office senior woman administrators and agreed to forward the list to the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators as a reference source for potential candidates for its institute for athletics executives. The committee also agreed to forward the list to the Divisions II and III nominating committees as potential appointees to various governance appointments.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
10.	ISSUE:	Institutional Responses to Gender-Equity Plan Request.
Committee Action:
	There were 180 responses to the committee’s request to Division I institutions’ chief executive officers regarding institutions’ willingness to share their gender-equity plans. The committee requested that staff make available on the NCAA Web site the contact person for institutions that indicated a willingness to share their plans. In addition, it was suggested that the Web site link be provided in the Divisions II and III newsletters.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
11.	ISSUE:	Response to NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee’s (MOIC) Report to the Committee.
Committee Action:
	The committee reviewed the MOIC’s January minutes. MOIC’s efforts related to diversifying coaching ranks was noted and applauded.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
12.	ISSUE:	SWA Brochure.
Committee Action:
	The committee received a copy of the recently finalized NCAA SWA brochure. The brochure will be distributed to member institutions by mid-September.

Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.

13.	ISSUE:	Mixed-Sport Sponsorships/Championships.
Committee Action:
	The committee discussed issues surrounding mixed-sports sponsorship and consideration of participation opportunities for females. Particularly, the committee noted the application of current legislation and championships policies to the sports of rifle and Nordic skiing. The staff was asked to provide additional information and statistics related to mixed sports so the committee can review this item during its October meeting.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
14.	ISSUE:	Woman of the Year (WOTY) Dinner.
Committee Action:
	Staff provided an update on preparation for the NCAA WOTY dinner. It was noted that the dinner will be held Saturday, November 2, in Indianapolis. The change from its traditional Sunday date to Saturday was prompted by continued requests from participants to move to a Saturday format to provide greater opportunity for participants’ family members to attend. Additionally, the committee recommended revisions to the 2003 nomination form to better assist the committee in identifying a diverse group of nominees.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
15.	ISSUE:	Definition of Sport.
Committee Action:
	The committee amended its definition of “sport” as follows: “For the purpose of reviewing emerging sports for women proposals, a sport shall be defined as an institutional activity involving physical exertion with the primary purpose of competition versus other teams or individuals within a collegiate competition structure. Furthermore, sport includes regularly scheduled team and/or individual, head-to-head competition (at least five) within a defined competitive season(s); and standardized rules with rating/scoring systems ratified by official regulatory agencies and governing bodies.” These changes are intended to clarify the intent of the definition in response to periodic confusion in the membership and among outside organizations. The committee intends to use this revised definition when reviewing future requests for women’s sports to be granted emerging-sports status.

Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
16.	ISSUE:	Emerging Sports.
Committee Action:
	The committee reviewed an update on the status of judo and wrestling.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
17.	ISSUE:	Vice-Chair Selected.
Committee Action:
	Lynda Calkins was identified as the vice-chair of the committee and will become the chair September 1, 2003, when the current chair’s term expires.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.
18.	ISSUE:	Review of Institutional Self-Study Guide (ISSG) and Compliance Blueprint Programs.
Committee Action:
	The committee determined that the Division II compliance blueprint program was not intended to evaluate an institution’s gender-equity progress. However, the committee continues its work to identify ways that the Division II and III ISSG element on gender equity can be strengthened. The committee intends to forward to the two respective Management Councils a recommendation on this issue in a future report.
Management Council Action:
	Accepted the information.