The Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee heard an update on the appeals process for schools with American Indian mascots and spent time revising its strategic plan during its January 23-24 meeting in Key West, Florida.

MOIC members noted that of the initial 19 institutions subject to postseason policy restrictions, eight had been removed and nine were engaged in appeals as of February 8. The latter group is not subject to restrictions until the Executive Committee rules on the appeals, which is likely to occur at the group’s April meeting.

Two other institutions that did not file an appeal by the February 1 deadline are subject to the new policy that, among other things, prohibits those schools from hosting NCAA championships.

In addition to the mascot policy review, the MOIC revised its current strategic plan to reflect future initiatives planned between 2006 and 2008. Among areas on which the group wants to focus during that span are ensuring that the plan is aligned with the committee’s mission statement and the NCAA strategic plan, as well as ensuring that the MOIC is involved in an oversight and accountability role in the certification of member institutions. The committee also modified language in the plan to ensure an annual review of membership, student-athlete and national demographics.

Robert Vowels, commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and chair of the MOIC, counted among the committee’s successes over the last two years the launching of NCAA Coaches Academy, the Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and the Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females.

“We’ve seen results from all three as far as hirings and improving the candidate selection for athletics directors, administrators and coaches,” said Vowels. “The challenge is to continue that success and momentum. I would also expand it. We’ve focused so much on coaches — I would like to see more emphasis on administrators, conference commissioners and senior staff members.”

The committee also reviewed a survey from the American Football Coaches Association meetings in January that solicited coaches’ opinions on how the NCAA Coaching Academy addressed their training needs. Survey results will be reported at the committee’s next meeting in June.

The MOIC also noted concerns about the effects of recently enacted academic reforms on student-athletes of color and has requested data from the Division I Committee on Academic Performance and the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet. The committee will invite an NCAA membership services staff representative to its June meeting to discuss that issue.

The committee also met jointly with the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics to review budget priorities. The two committees identified current and new budget requests for 2006-07 and 2007-08. Among them are funding to promote the BCA Hiring Report Card and establishment of an intermediate training program between the NACWAA/ HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement and an executive-level program targeting administrators who desire to become Division I ADs or conference commissioners. Funding for education about the senior woman administrator designation and Title IX also was a priority.

The groups also seek budget support for the Barriers Study, which will research obstacles to attracting and retaining coaches and administrators within intercollegiate athletics. 

Other initiatives of interest to MOIC and CWA that could receive support from allocations other than their own include funding for diversity education, development of materials promoting services available through the NCAA office of diversity and inclusion, and research and outreach related to the life/work balance issue.

In addition, the committees heard a presentation initially given at the Division I Issues Forum at the 2006 NCAA Convention that highlighted research related to hiring and retention practices in Division I. The presentation highlights the racial and gender demographics of student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators.

The MOIC and CWA also applauded the recent hiring of three African-American head football coaches at Division I-A institutions and discussed an initiative launched by the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity to help ensure student-athletes — particularly those of color — have access to and, when possible, take advantage of leadership and development opportunities that are available to all college students.