Term-in-ology. College athletics is not immune to industry acronyms or opaque concepts that can throw off the scent. With that in mind, Term-in-ology seeks each week to educate our readers on key NCAA definitions, terms of art, and policies and procedures encapsulating modern-day college athletics. If you are connected in any way to higher education, the business of education, or simply a college sports fan---this weekly morsel can help you decode college sports.
Division I’s Principles, Commitments, and Expectations in Supporting Diversity & Inclusion
It is timely for athletic department and university leaders to review member institutions’ stated principles, commitments, and obligations regarding how we support diversity and inclusion as outlined in the NCAA Division I Manual. Here are several key Division I provisions:
It is the responsibility of each member institution to establish and maintain an environment that values cultural diversity and gender equity among its student-athletes and intercollegiate athletics department staff.
The NCAA shall promote diversity of representation within its various divisional governance structures and substructures. Each divisional governing body must ensure gender and ethnic diversity among the membership of the bodies in the division’s administrative structure.
From the standpoint of conditions and obligation of membership, an active member institution shall complete an equity, diversity and inclusion review at least once every five years and provide written confirmation of completion to the national office. Failure to complete an equity, diversity and inclusion review at least once every five years shall subject an institution to a penalty pursuant to a penalty structure and timeline maintained by the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee.
An active member institution and conference shall select an athletics diversity and inclusion designee to be the primary contact and conduit for diversity and inclusion-related information.
The Division I Board of Directors shall include at least one person who is an ethnic minority and at least one person of each gender, and a single member shall not be considered to meet both minimums. The combined membership of the Council, Committee on Academics and other Division I governance entities (other than sport committees) shall include representatives who comprise at least 20 percent persons who are ethnic minorities and at least 35 percent persons of each gender.
Giving due weight to gender and ethnic diversity, the Division I Presidential Forum shall consist of one president or chancellor from each of the conferences identified in Constitution 4.2.1-(a), (b) and (c). As a minimal goal, the group membership shall include at least one person who is an ethnic minority and at least one person of each gender, and a single member shall not be considered to meet both minimums.
The NCAA’s Nominating Committee shall: (a) Recommend representatives for all Division I committees (e.g., sport committees) other than Division I Council standing committees and recommend representatives to fill Division I vacancies on Association-wide committees; and (b) Conduct a semiannual review of demographic data of Division I governance entities and Division I representation on Association-wide committees, including a review of gender and diversity pursuant to the requirements of Constitution 4.02.6, and provide a report to the Council Coordination Committee and the Council.
The above list is not intended to be an exhaustive summation of policies or programming that support diversity within the NCAA membership’s constructs. These featured principles and provisions, though, should help our readership understand how the NCAA membership (including your institution!) has expressly prioritized diversity and inclusion as a whole.
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.
