NCAA’s ‘After the Campaign’ Initiative Helps College Campuses Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Year-Round
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NCAA’s ‘After the Campaign’ Initiative Helps College Campuses Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Year-Round
Executive Summary
It is vital for NCAA schools to carry momentum from Black History Month initiatives and celebrations into year-round DEI initiatives
The NCAA national office outlines a series of actionable steps NCAA member schools can employ to advance DEI on their campuses
Involving and training student-athletes and staff in planning and leadership roles are key to traction
As attendance capacities recover from pandemic restrictions, schools can utilize home athletic events to amplify campus DEI initiatives
Campus units outside of Athletics could partner with Athletics to support DEI initiatives
Intentional efforts to provide resources and platforms to underrepresented student-athletes from marginalized groups
NCAA hosting a virtual Inclusion Forum June 2 - 4, 2021
As Athletic Departments and campus communities move from February and Black History Month celebrations and initiatives to the recent March Madness college basketball tournaments on to spring NCAA championships concluding in the coming months, it’s important for campus leaders to pause and account for how their school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) educational outreach and initiatives can be carried out through the year. The NCAA national office has cultivated actionable steps and programming ideas for campuses to consider.
The NCAA national office has hosted its Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign, which is meant to be a week of awareness, education and engagement emphasizing the importance of cultivating inclusive environments in college sports. The following are some ideas that NCAA schools can implement throughout the year to show your support.
Hold a training session for student-athletes and athletics staff based on diversity and inclusion
Encourage athletics staff and student-athletes to attend a webinar or seminar series to learn more about diversity and inclusion in sports.
Discuss ways student-athletes and athletics staff can create an open dialogue where diversity and inclusion can be freely discussed.
Have guest speakers such as team coaches and SAAC members discuss what they see on a day-to-day basis within their specific sport, and what changes they would like to implement.
Discuss guidelines that student-athletes should follow to help make their campus environment a place where all feel welcome and safe.
Discuss methods that athletics staff should follow to further work with student-athletes from marginalized backgrounds or underrepresented groups, such as helping these student-athletes achieve their educational and athletic goals.
Designate home events to support diversity and inclusion
As home athletics events begin to slowly expand attendance capacities per local, state, and federal guidelines, Division I schools could encourage teams to declare one of the home athletics events during their season a “Diversity and Inclusion Game/Meet.” At that event, SAAC representatives and athletics departments can do the following:
Highlight and draw attention to the Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign or to specific programming/social media activities taking place during the week.
Invite offices and campus organizations focused on diversity and inclusion to the contest and showcase their work during media timeouts/halftime/breaks/etc. Example organizations/offices/programs: Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Black Student Union, Latinx Student Union, etc.; Groups focused on gender and/or sexuality issues (e.g., Queer Student Union); International Student Offices; TRIO Programs; Etc.
Highlight departments that focus on diversity and inclusion work, such as women’s studies, ethnic studies, American studies, sport management, cultural studies, sociology, gender studies, queer studies, disability studies, etc.
Create a community for underrepresented student-athletes from marginalized groups
Work with student-athletes, coaches and staff from underrepresented or marginalized groups to create support groups bringing together individuals who identify similarly:
Provide a platform for marginalized groups to have their voices heard (e.g., support group, mentoring night, etc.)
Showcase the value underrepresented groups bring to your department (e.g., during Women’s History Month, Black History Month, Pride Month, etc.)
Put together a list of resources for marginalized and underrepresented groups at your university and within the wider community (e.g., LGBTQ organizations, resources for people of color, international student resources, etc.)
Build strategic partnerships across campus and the community to drive diversity and inclusion action
One of the best ways to optimize diversity and inclusion efforts in your department is by forming alliances and partnerships with resources on campus. Put together a list of contacts with units across campus and in the community that can serve as resources when developing and implementing your own DEI efforts:
Form a diversity and inclusion committee for your athletics department, SAAC, or with the university community at large
Webinars can be led by diversity and inclusion staff at the university to discuss key topics affecting student-athletes, staff, and coaches (e.g., bias, microaggressions, etc.)
Make sure that a member from the athletics community is represented on university-wide diversity and inclusion committees/councils.
Work with your school’s alumni association and athletics department to identify alumni from diverse backgrounds to connect with current student-athletes
After the campaign, continue posting about alumni that have helped drive diversity and inclusion on your campus. Participants can conduct brief interviews with these alumni that allow the alumni to reflect on the importance of diversity and inclusion to their career and life after sports.
Make diversity and inclusion resources on campus available to student-athletes, coaches and administrators
Your school will likely have resources available related to diversity and inclusion. For instance, work with offices or academic departments dedicated to diversity and inclusion (see list above) to provide training opportunities for student-athletes, coaches and/or administrators. Administrators, in addition, can think about inviting instructors to one of their head coaches meetings to facilitate training on topics such as microaggressions, engaging in difficult conversations, allyship, etc.
Attend NCAA inclusion programming
The NCAA Office of Inclusion has many resources to help you in your DEI efforts. For example, the office hosts an annual NCAA Inclusion Forum. The next NCAA Inclusion Forum will be held June 2 - 4, 2021, in a virtual programming format.
For more ideas on how to promote diversity and inclusion at your school, the NCAA has provided examples of schools and conference offices that have succeeded at creating inclusive cultures.
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
