National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

November 3, 1997

Women's committee seeks annual reporting process

The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics has endorsed the Association's Division I athletics certification program but recommended that each institution submit an annual report to the Division I Committee on Athletics Certification to better monitor progress in implementing gender-equity plans.

At its meeting October 14-15 in Denver, the women's athletics committee acknowledged the progress that has been made in achieving gender equity through implementation of the certification program.

But in response to recent media coverage criticizing the program, the committee suggested that a component be added to certification that would require institutions to give an annual accounting of their progress in implementing their gender equity plans. Any modifications to the plan also would be noted in the annual report.

An institution's chief executive officer would be required to submit the annual report to the Division I Committee on Athletics Certification.

To further promote gender equity, the Committee on Women's Athletics recommended approval of proposed modifications to the equity component of the self-study instrument. The modifications reflect the need for more specificity and detail when an institution does its self-study.

"The committee remains enthusiastic and supports the certification process as it continues to play an important role in gender equity on campuses. Some fine-tuning still needs to be done. A strong recommendation of this committee is to have an annual review of the institution's plan," said Patty Viverito, chair of the Committee on Women's Athletics.

"The committee strongly believes in the value of the gender-equity plan. It has been an asset in improving gender equity on campuses. As we continue the cycle, it will improve."

The committee asked that a representative of the certification committee meet with the Committee on Women's Athletics during its January meeting to foster a better understanding of the role that each committee can play in achieving gender equity, Viverito said.

The committee has forwarded a memorandum stating its recommendations to the certification committee.

Woman of the Year program

In another action, the women's athletics committee discussed the pool of candidates for the 1997 NCAA Woman of the Year award. Judith M. Sweet, athletics director at the University of California, San Diego, and chair of the Woman of the Year selection committee, said the committee was successful in encouraging more nominations this year and in creating a more diverse pool of candidates, but more progress is needed.

The committee discussed ways to encourage all colleges to submit nominations. Using conference offices to support and help motivate institutions to submit nominations was discussed.

The possibility of changing the approach to the awards -- such as selecting a winner from each division rather than one overall winner -- was examined.

The committee reviewed the site for future Woman of the Year dinners.

The possibilities of having the dinner in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) Fall Forum or of continuing to have the dinner at the NCAA headquarters city were discussed.

The Committee on Women's Athletics, which scheduled its meeting in conjunction with the 1997 NACWAA Fall Forum, met with Sharon Taylor, NACWAA president, and Jennifer Alley, NACWAA executive director. Continuation of NCAA support for the NACWAA/HERS program, which assists women in intercollegiate athletics in gaining leadership skills for advancement, was discussed.

The NCAA's initial three-year grant for the program has expired but the women's athletics committee noted the NCAA's commitment to developing leadership opportunities for women. In line with that philosophy, the committee recommended that the NCAA continue funding the program and that the program become more broad-based to include opportunities for more individuals to participate.

In addition, the committee recommended that conference offices be encouraged to use the conference grant money from the NCAA for scholarships for women to attend NACWAA/HERS.

Other highlights

Committee on Women's Athletics
October 14-15/Denver

  • Noted the need for nominations to fill four vacancies that will occur on the committee in January. Nominations for persons representing each of the three divisions, all ethnic backgrounds and both genders are needed. The process for submitting nominations was announced in the October 20 issue of The NCAA News.

  • Discussed the need for the NCAA Professional Sports Liaison Committee -- which existed in the former governance structure and is under consideration for establishment as an Association-wide committee in the new structure -- to become more familiar with the women's professional leagues that are developing.

  • Announced that there will be one Title IX seminar in 1998 -- May 12-13 in Chicago.

  • Met with Charles Whitcomb, chair of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, to discuss issues of mutual interest. Agreed that it would be beneficial to meet with a representative of the committee annually.

  • Noted that the National Wrestling Coaches Association and USA Wrestling have committed $5,000 each to Project Fair Play, a project of the Independent Women's Forum intended to affect Title IX issues through education, public relations, grassroots activism and congressional influence. The Independent Women's Forum is a Washington, D.C.-based, women's organization active Title IX discussions that is concerned about misuse of proportionality.

  • Discussed the committee's strategic plan. It has three phases - establishing the NCAA's role for women, defining the role of women in the NCAA, and student-athlete welfare issues. A subcommittee was appointed to review and revise the plan, which the full committee will review in June.