2002-2003 Committee Goals

The Mountain West Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee met in Colorado Springs, CO, March 2-3, 2002. The committee reviewed the goals set for the 2001-2002 academic year and agreed that while some progress had been made, it would like to continue to work on several of the 2001-2002 goals during the 2002-2003 academic year. The committee then identified one additional goal for 2002-03. Below are the goals for 2002-2003 and drivers and restrainers for each of the goals.

GOAL ONE

To network with campus student-athlete advisory committees and to create a link between the Conference SAAC and the institutional SAACs through the use of the Conference web site. This will help to strengthen campus committees and create awareness of student-athlete welfare issues.

Identified drivers and restrainers:

a. Drivers:

• Create a SAAC link to Mountain West Conference web site.
• Sharing ideas between campus committees.
• Implementing shared ideas on campus.
• Mandatory SAAC and team meetings.
• Each institution submits its meeting minutes to the Conference for inclusion on the Conference SAAC web site.

b. Restrainers:

• How often the web site will be updated and who will update it.
• Time conflicts.
• Identifying the individual who will be make meetings mandatory.
• Lack of commitment.
• Apathy.
• All institutional SAACs must submit.

GOAL TWO

To facilitate better communication with campus faculty as it relates to missed class time policies and to pursue this as an issue for all students rather than for student-athletes only.

Identified drivers and restrainers:

a. Drivers:

• Conference Academic Initiatives Committee.
• Create uniform missed class time guidelines that allow student-athletes who miss class due to competition to make up work missed during his or her absence. This includes providing assistance to a student-athlete.
• Enhance relationship between the athletic department and faculty.
• Provide faculty advanced written notice of absence.
• Provide competition schedules to faculty.
• Conduct an annual forum with the athletics department and faculty to discuss missed class time and other academic and athletic issues.
• Keep faculty informed on athletic issues (may use electronic communication).
• Invite faculty to athletic meetings and events.
• Communication with other institutional organizations regarding whether missed class time due to events is a problem for those groups.
• Review schedule of general university events, including athletics, to determine how other groups might be affected.
• Provide written statement to provost or academic committee on campus regarding student-athletes' position on missed class time policies.
• Provide information to student-athletes at the first meeting of the year outlining the expectations for each student-athlete as it relates to missed class time due to competition.

b. Restrainers:

• Time constraints of faculty and student-athletes.
• Identifying an individual(s) who will be responsible for keeping faculty informed on athletic issues.
• Tentative athletic schedules.
• Personal accountability.

GOAL THREE

To facilitate a positive student-athlete image by promoting good sportsmanship and publicizing the accomplishments of student-athletes. This may include athletic and academic accomplishments as well as community service activities.

Identified drivers and restrainers:

a. Drivers:

• Campus newspapers.
• Community media (newspapers, radio and television).
• Working with media representatives.
• SAAC providing information to the various forms of media.
• SAAC newsletter.
• Provide information to student-athletes related to Conference expectations of sportsmanship and ethics.
• Continue to emphasize sportsmanship through the use of the signed sportsmanship statement.
• Recognize institutional staff members who promote student-athletes and intercollegiate athletics.
• Forward information on acts of good sportsmanship to the Conference.
• Team captains participate in the process by nominating student-athletes (and coaches) for their acts of good sportsmanship.
• Each institution establishes a sportsmanship award.
• Institutions select the name of the sportsmanship award; name after a significant person or event. Make the award an honor to receive.
• Support from administrators, coaches and student-athletes.

b. Restrainers:

• Time and effort.
• Negative media coverage.
• Negative faculty response.
• Hierarchy of information (or lack of information).
• Little dissemination of information - stories on good sportsmanship.
• Lack of participation.
• Identifying significant person or event in which to name the award.

GOAL FOUR

To bridge the trust gap between student-athletes and coaches/administrators.

Identified drivers and restrainers:

a. Drivers:

• Prior relationships with coaches and/or administrators.
• Getting to know key people in the athletics department (e.g., AD, SWA, FAR, Compliance Coordinator).
• Rules Education.
• Use of the Champs/Life Skills Program.
• At the annual team meeting, provide student-athletes with a list of responsibilities/duties of the key people in the athletics department.
• Determine the coaches/administrators responsibility to report confidential discussions with student-athletes.

b. Restrainers:

• Lack of knowledge - not knowing who to go to with certain issues.
• The stressful nature of certain situations.
• Prior relationships with coaches and/or administrators.
• Fear.
• Consequences - good/bad.
• Time and effort.

GOAL FIVE (*New Goal)

To raise awareness at the institutional as well as the conference level on student-athlete safety issues. This shall include, but not be limited to the following:

• Drug and alcohol issues.
• Student-athlete safety as it relates to necessary information needed at airports.
• Financial issues related to grants-in-aid.
• Gambling issues.

Identified drivers and restrainers:

a. Drivers:

• Education and accessibility to the student-athlete through the use of seminars, meetings, pamphlets, support staff, etc…
• Support from coaches, athletic administrators and the community.

• Lack of support from coaches, athletic administrators and the community.