I. Departmental Mission

The mission of the Athletics Department is to promote the successful academic and athletic development of its student athletes while operating a competitive, respected, and successful intercollegiate program that strives to meet the standard of excellence aspired to by the university mission. To do so, the athletic department encourages and supports the athletic and academic success of student athletes of diverse backgrounds and interests. It also seeks to be a source of pride to the university community in the success of its athletic teams, in the academic success of its student athletes, and in the manner in which it conducts its activities. The department also strives to encourage the interest and participation of all the university community in the success and activities of its athletic teams and to foster their lifelong commitment to the university.

II. Departmental Statement of Goals, Process to Assess These Goals, and Assessment Results

Departmental Goal	Bread and Butter Goal	University Mission
1. Graduation rates of student athletes meet or exceed that of the general student body.	Supports status as a comprehensive university meeting the needs of undergraduate students.	2. Enrollment Management 2.c. Retention
2. Produce athletic teams that are consistently competitive in the conference, region, and national level of competition.	Provides opportunity for students’ personal develop- ment and enhances the quality of campus life.	2.a. Recruitment 4. Public Relations 5. The university experience 5.a. Reason to stay on campus
3. Strengthen academic support services to promote athletes’ academic success.	Supports a learning community, provides opportunities for academic success.	2. Retention 3. Academic excellence
4. Increase or upgrade yearly computers and/or facilities to support student athletes’ academic coursework.	Supports a learning community, provides opportunities for academic success.	9. Information technology 10.d. Campus Infrastructure
5. Continue efforts toward gender equity in the athletic program.	Affirms the equal dignity of each person by promoting gender diversity.	5. The university experience 5. e. Diversity, opportunity

III. Departmental Statement of Outcomes, Processes to Assess These Outcomes, and

Assessment Results

Outcomes/Objectives	Assessment	Results
1. Student athletes meet or exceed graduation rate of the general student body.	Freshman Cohort Graduation Rate.	Graduation rate 2001-02: Male student athletes, 30% vs. 21% male non- student athletes; Female student athletes, 41% vs. 32% female, non-student athlete.
2. Athletic teams were competitive at the conference, region, and national level.	Official rankings Official win/loss records	Football and baseball ranked nationally; Men’s basketball won conference, region, and advanced to national tournament; Co-ed cheerleaders won national championship; All-Women’s team ranked 3^rd.
3. Athletics promotes academic success of student athletes by providing effective tutoring in a wide range of academic courses.	Number of subjects and students tutored, semester grades.	Tutored 40 student athletes each semester in nine academic subjects. All students successfully completed course for which tutoring received.
4. Upgrades yearly computer and/or facilities available to student athletes for academic coursework.	Budgeted funds spent for new computer(s), tutorial programs, computer lab supplies.	Purchased three new computers in student lab. Replaced and added seating.
5. Improves gender equity in the athletic program	Number of women’s sports offered, number of female participants.	Athletic department’s goal of hiring a women’s soccer coach to begin program Fall, 2003 delayed a year because of budgetary concerns

IV. Example of How Department Used the Assessment of Goals and Outcomes

to Change/Improve a Process

The athletics department realized that more useful information could be gathered to evaluate the effectiveness of the tutorial program and to make future decisions about the program. Currently, we consider primarily whether a student athlete receiving tutoring successfully completes the course for which tutoring is needed. Beginning fall, 2002, the department will consider several factors, such as previous semester grade in a similar course, course grade at the time tutoring begins, subsequent test/assignment scores, and final grade in the course to assess the effectiveness of the tutorial program.

V. General Statement of Department Conditions

The athletics department remains busy and productive year round recruiting, signing, practicing, and completing all the coaching and administrative tasks to make it possible to compete in (currently) eight sports. Athletics budgets are based on student enrollment, which remained stable despite concerns after the events of September 11. Athletics activity fee revenue allowed the department to maintain its scholarship budgets to cover tuition increases and increases in team operating costs, which are largely related to increased industry travel/transportation costs. Two teams, football and volleyball, experienced changes in head coaches and will be headed by new coaching staffs in the upcoming season. The department was not able to meet its goal of employing a women’s soccer coach in spring 2002 and beginning play in fall 2002. The possibility of lower enrollment revenue to fund the position and concern for more important issues surrounding the events of September 11 supported the decision. However, the department plans to hire a women’s soccer coach in Spring 2003, pending USG approval of an athletics fee increase, and must also decide which additional team sport to add to comply with an NCAA requirement to offer 10 sports by 2005. With the addition of women’s soccer, we will have five women’s and four men’s sports. Strong enrollment will continue to be very important to maintain the level of competition and quality of student athletes the department has developed over the past several years.

VI. Department Achievements

The 2001-2002 academic year and athletic seasons produced some very impressive results in our program and few disappointments. The department produced a record 42 Gulf South Conference academic award winners, up from 40 the previous year. The graduation rate for student athletes also continues to exceed that of the general student body. Our athletic teams also competed well in fall and spring seasons. The men’s basketball team won the Gulf South Conference (GSC), the NCAA Regional, and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Elite Eight. Along the way, they won the Conference title for the first time since 1987 and won six postseason games in 11 days. Our football and baseball teams ranked nationally, and football finished its 7^th consecutive season of winning at least eight games. Softball earned its first postseason conference appearance since 1994. Both Co-ed and All-Women’s cheer squads earned national awards: the All-Women’s squad ranking 3^rd nationally, and the Co-ed squad winning first place in Division II and a replay of the competition on ESPN. The athletics program attracted over 200 student athletes to the university and awarded athletics financial aid to approximately 150 student athletes and student workers.

VII. Staff Productivity

In general, athletic department coaches and/or staff are involved in hosting and/or traveling to approximately 200 athletic events a year for currently eight teams. Coaches and staff handled or supervised the athletic operations of ordering, planning, filming, scheduling, recruiting and coaching over 200 student athletes. Administrative staff successfully coordinated field maintenance/setup, gate operation, press/radio operation, booster club activities, and sports medicine services for over 200 students at approximately 50 home events, often on nights, weekends, and in inclement weather. Several coaches attended Conference pre-season meetings and their sport’s national conferences. The compliance coordinator attended Conference and NCAA seminars; the sports information and sports medicine directors attended national conferences in their respective job areas. The fundraiser planned and coordinated the department’s annual athletic auction and social event, raising about $60,000.

VIII. Student Achievement

3 All Americans

8 All South Region Performers

42 GSC Academic Awards

GSC Defensive Player of the Year in Football

New York Giants Football Signee

IX. Other Awards, Distinctions, Achievements

Head Men’s Basketball Coach voted Georgia Div. II Coach of the Year

I. Departmental Mission

II. Departmental Statement of Goals, Process to Assess These Goals, and Assessment Results

Assessment Results

Outcomes/Objectives

Assessment

Results

1. Student athletes meet or exceed graduation rate of the general student body.

Freshman Cohort Graduation Rate.

Graduation rate 2001-02: Male student athletes, 30% vs. 21% male non- student athletes; Female student athletes, 41% vs. 32% female, non-student athlete.

2. Athletic teams were competitive at the conference, region, and national level.

Official rankings Official win/loss records

3. Athletics promotes academic success of student athletes by providing effective tutoring in a wide range of academic courses.

Number of subjects and students tutored, semester grades.

4. Upgrades yearly computer and/or facilities available to student athletes for academic coursework.

Budgeted funds spent for new computer(s), tutorial programs, computer lab supplies.

Purchased three new computers in student lab. Replaced and added seating.

5. Improves gender equity in the athletic program

Number of women’s sports offered, number of female participants.

Athletic department’s goal of hiring a women’s soccer coach to begin program Fall, 2003 delayed a year because of budgetary concerns