University of Wyoming
Written Plan for Completing the Self-Study
for NCAA Division I Athletics Certification
February 9, 2000 - Final
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the institutional self-study of the University of Wyoming athletics program are to:
· Increase knowledge and awareness of the program both on-campus and throughout the community at large.
· Highlight and publicize the many strong attributes of the program.
· Improve and strengthen the program in areas identified for improvement.
These objectives are designed to be consistent with the overall objectives of the certification program as set forth by the NCAA.
MAJOR COMPONENTS
The Chair
Scott Farris, Special Assistant to the President for Governmental and External Relations, was appointed by President Philip Dubois as chair of the Self-Study Steering
Committee. Mr. Farris is a member of the University's senior management team, has direct access to the President and has clear authority to guide the self-study process.
Steering Committee and Subcommittees
All members of the Steering Committee, the chairs, and other members of the subcommittees were appointed by President Dubois. T he Steering Committee has authority to speak for the University in matters relating to conformity with the operating principles set forth in the self-study process. The names and titles of the Steering Committee and Subcommittee members are listed in Attachment A of this document.
The majority of the members of the Steering Committee and the four Subcommittee Chairs have no day-to-day connection to the Department of Athletics. The Steering Committee is comprised of members of the faculty, staff, administration of the University, a student-athlete, students and representatives from the Alumni Association and the UW Foundation. Also, ex-officio members include a representative from the University Board of Trustees and the Mountain West Conference. The student athlete was recommended by, and served on, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, whose members are selected by other students. The student who was a non-athlete was appointed by the Vice President of Student Affairs.
There is a good balance of members inside and outside the Department of Athletics.
There is good ethnic and gender diversity throughout the committee structure, including the subcommittee chairs. Likewise, students, faculty, and administration are well represented.
There are these following observations:
· Each subcommittee chair is a member of the steering committee
· Each committee and subcommittee member had indicated that he or she had adequate time to devote to the self-study
· Each committee and subcommittee member had access to data
· An ex-officio member from the Department of Athletics was assigned to each sub-committee to facilitate data collection.
Responsibilities
The charges given to the various groups were as follows:
Steering Committee:
· Guide the overall self-study process, including evaluation of the self-study responses against the operating principles and development of the institution's plan for improvement
· Maintain a written record of dates and minutes of meetings, and a record of attendance. Distribution of minutes will occur primarily by e-mail
· Hold regular meetings
· Review the progress of subcommittees; receiving, analyzing and interpreting their reports. Distribution of minutes will occur primarily by e-mail
· Prepare a final report on the self-study, relying heavily on the reports of the subcommittees and aided by a chief report writer who will attend all meetings of the steering committee
· Seek input from the campus community, particularly student-athletes, coaches, and faculty
Sub-committees:
· Maintain a written record of dates of meetings, meeting minutes and record of attendance
· Assure that all subcommittee meetings are accessible, providing opportunities for individuals and campus groups to be heard
· Have assigned an ex-officio member from the Department of Athletics to assist in collecting necessary data
· Collect, organize, and interpret data pertinent to the process
· Respond to Self-Study items
· Evaluate results against Operating Principles
· Develop plans for improvement
· Write the subcommittee report including making preliminary recommendations for the Steering Committee
· Seek input from the campus community, particularly student-athletes, coaches, and faculty
Any statements from the Steering Committee and any communications with the NCAA Office of Public Affairs was done through the Communications Liaison, Jay
Fromkin.
Self-Study Timetable
The timetable for completing the NCAA Division I Athletics Certification is included in Attachment B of this plan.
Liaison
The campus liaison is Mr. H. Keener Fry, Jr., Senior Associate Director of Athletics. Duties include:
· Coordination of the collection and dissemination of information about the self-study and certification process to institutional personnel
· Handling questions from institutional personnel in interpreting certification policies and procedures as contained in the handbook and self-study instrument
· Forwarding difficult interpretive questions to the NCAA staff and communicating answers to appropriate personnel
· Helping coordinate the self-study effort on campus
· Coordinating preparations for the evaluation visit
· Arranging lodging and travel for the peer review team
· Scheduling interviews and other peer review team activities
· Organizing work-related needs for peer reviewers
· Organizing follow-up studies and reports as identified by the University or required by the Committee on Athletics Certification
· Conducting a briefing for student-athletes
· Presenting written update to Faculty Senate
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Regional Accreditation
The University of Wyoming has just completed an institutional self-study through the North Central Association of Colleges and
Schools. The on-campus evaluation is scheduled for March 5-8, 2000 prior to the time of the self-study for NCAA Division I Athletics Certification.
Conference Involvement
The Mountain West Conference will participate in the self-study process by observing, assisting, reviewing, and editing drafts, and by participating in the evaluation
visit. The person who has been assigned responsibility by the Conference Commissioner is Carolayne Henry, Assistant Commissioner, Compliance, of the Mountain West
Conference. Ms. Henry served as an Ex-Officio member of the Steering Committee.
Self-Study Report
Pam Shuster, Athletics Office Associate Senior, was chief report writer and Donna Bagby, Special Assistant to the President, was the chief editor. Jay Fromkin, Director of University Relations, has been designated communications liaison.
There are two major areas of the self-study document:
The first section is divided into each of the four areas of study:
Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance
Academic Integrity
Integrity
Equity, Welfare and SportsmanshipEach section includes: self-study item responses, followed by an operating principle evaluation and plan for improvement. Attachments are used as needed.
The second section contains the corresponding appendices for each of the four areas. Each appendix contains the specific documentation required by the Self-Study Instrument.
Prior to finalization of the report, an executive summary of the report was presented to the President's Executive Council, the Board of Trustees, the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, the athletics administration staff, ASUW (student government), Academic Deans/Student Affairs Advisory Council, the Athletic Planning Committee, Student Athlete Advisory Council, and the head coaches and assistant coaches. Two to three representatives for each of the aforementioned groups were designated to review the self-study report completely and provide comments to the Steering Committee. The Cowboy Joe Club Board of Directors, the Alumni Association Board, and the Foundation Board did not meet in December or January. However, two members of each group read the report and provided comments. These measures provided opportunity for broad distribution and comment from the campus community.
A news release was provided to the media shortly after the NCAA orientation visit Another news release was made on February 9, 2000 acknowledging that the Athletics Certification project was completed and the report submitted to the NCAA. Prior to the Peer Review visit, a press release will be sent to the media, providing details of the Peer Review visit.
At the conclusion of the project a final press release will be made to communicate the substance of the document to the University's external publics, concentrating on sports media and general news outlets in the community and statewide, as appropriate.
The University of Wyoming has committed the necessary facilities, personnel, and equipment to assure the preparation of a comprehensive report and to support the needs during the peer review visit.
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Other Issues
In the planning of this Self-study, there have been key changes on our campus, since the date of our last Self-Study, which are important to note.
In July 1996, Lee Moon became the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. He succeeded Paul Roach, the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics during the prior Self-study.
On April 1, 1997, Dr. Philip Dubois became the 22nd President of the University of Wyoming. He succeeded Dr. Terry Roark who was the CEO during the prior Self-study.
The University of Wyoming had been a member of the Western Athletic Conference since 1962.In April 1998, the CEO's from eight current members of the Western Athletic Conference (Air Force Academy, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, University of Nevada Las Vegas, and University of Wyoming) determined it was in the best interest of their institutions to leave the Western Athletic Conference and form a new conference. Effective July 1, 1999, the institution became a member of the Mountain West Conference.
As part of the University of Wyoming's commitment to expanding opportunities for women and moving closer to full compliance with Title IX, the University has been conducting a detailed feasibility study and review of options to move the Department of Athletics closer to compliance with the Title IX proportionality guidelines. A formal presentation was made to the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees in March 1999.Further study and evaluation is currently in process.
Since 1996, the DIA has continued to substantially improve women's participation opportunities and has moved closer to substantial proportionality.
As part of this Self-Study, we have reviewed the results from the 1994 Self-Study. We have substantially addressed the following two strategies that were required to be implemented by the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification that were presented in the letter dated March 2, 1995:
1. Develop a more specific plan for addressing minority opportunities in its intercollegiate athletics program. The plan must be submitted to the committee in writing after having been developed through a process that reflects broad-based campus participation. The institutional plan also must include (at a minimum) the following elements: (a) intended end results, (b) individuals or offices that will be responsible for taking specific actions, and (c) the specific timetable(s) for completing the work.
2. Bring the institution's athletics booster group, the Cowboy Joe Club, under the institution's control by June 1995 as proposed by the institution in its self-study report.
In a letter from R. Gerald Turner dated May 3, 1996, the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification accepted the University of Wyoming's response to these strategies.
Further, we have incorporated the following documents in our written plan:
- Equity Subcommittee Plan of Action (March 20, 1996) - Attachment C
- Minority Opportunities Plan (March 1996) - Attachment D
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