The first class of participants has been selected to launch the NCAA's latest professional-development initiative.

The Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males kicks off this month and will conclude in August 2002 after four topic-specific training sessions and a week-long intensive workshop.

Designed as a model for current athletics administrators to receive training and acquire skill sets necessary to advance to leadership roles in athletics, the program is the result of a recommendation from the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee to address the critical shortage of senior-level ethnic minority males involved at the campus and conference levels. According to the NCAA's latest study of race demographics in intercollegiate athletics, minority males held only about 7 percent of positions in athletics administration.

"The NCAA has supported the advancement of ethnic minority women through partnerships and financial allocations to the NACWAA/HERS Administrative Advancement Institute," said Rochelle M. Collins, NCAA director of professional development. "In fact, the NCAA has allocated funds for NACWAA to expand its Institute to two sites annually. So, the NCAA's Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males is designed to address another under-represented group within athletics administration."

The first professional-development session -- Leadership and Administration -- will be conducted June 29-July 1 at the NCAA Conference Center in Indianapolis. That session will introduce athletics administrators to the following:

The current and best practices that successful individuals use to lead and influence people;

Understanding the difference between leadership and management;

Learning how to become an effective business "coach";

Participating in a curriculum that provides a game plan to cope and succeed in a rapidly changing intercollegiate athletics environment; and

Participating in an Online Leadership Influence Assessment that will measure participant skills, attitudes and behaviors in their real day-to-day, on-the-job working relationships.

"The idea behind the introductory session is really to frame the context of leadership for the duration of the Institute," Collins said.

Other topics to be covered during the opening session include writing performance objectives, delegating and monitoring, facilitating change and transition, managing conflict, and developing relationships with outside influences (for example, boosters, trustees).

Three subsequent sessions on Human Resource Management (November 2-4), Finance and Fund-Raising (February 8-10, 2002) and Booster, Public and Media Relations (June 28-30, 2002) also will be held in Indianapolis. The week-long workshop is scheduled for August 5-9, 2002, and will focus on the practical implications of the workshop areas through review and discussion of case studies.

Collins said she was impressed with the number of administrators who have expressed an interest in the program.

"The Institute is a comprehensive initiative to provide ways for ethnic minorities at any level to advance within college sports administration," she said. "Most participants have a pretty good idea of what effective leadership is -- we're just trying to enhance their level of understanding to to develop ways in which they can promote their skills."

To be eligible for the Leadership Institute, staff members must be nominated from NCAA institutions and conferences. Upon selection, institutions and conferences must provide travel and lodging costs, and assist the staff member in completion of practical assignments that enhance the understanding and application of the content areas. Upon completion of the Institute, participants are eligible to apply for a $2,000 scholarship to defray costs incurred during the 14-month Institute period.

Nominations for the 2002-03 Leadership Institute will be solicited in March 2002.