DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
ANNUAL REPORT 2002-03
The Department of Athletics offers successful athletic programs recognized in its conference, region, and on the national level of collegiate competition. The department serves
both student athletes and other groups in the university community. It serves student athletes by providing opportunities and support for personal and social growth in academic achievement and
in athletic participation. The department also serves the general student body, alumni, faculty, staff, families, and friends in the extended university community. It serves the university community
by providing high-quality, entertaining athletic events, which add to the variety and quality of university life, and by being instrumental in the development of student athletes into educated, contributing members of society.
I. Departmental Mission
The mission of the Athletic 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 athletics 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, Processes to Assess These Goals,
and Assessment Results
| Departmental Goal #1 | University Mission | Bread and Butter Goal |
| 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
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| Outcomes/Objectives #1 | Assessment | Results |
| 1. Student athletes meet or exceed graduation rate of general student population. | Freshman Cohort Graduation Rate. Academic Survey of Tutoring for Student-Athletes. | Graduation rate 2002-03: 30% student athletes vs. 28% all students 4-year class rate of males 29% student athletes vs.21% male students 4-year class rate of females: 30% student athletes vs. 28% female students
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Departmental Goal #2 | University Mission | Bread and Butter Goal |
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. Recruitment4. Public Relations 5. 6. The university experience 7. 5.a. Reason to stay on campus |
Outcomes/Objectives #2 | Assessment | Results |
2. Athletic teams were competitive at the conference, region, and national level. | Official rankingsOfficial win/loss records | Men’s basketball and baseball ranked regionally; men’s basketball advanced to the Gulf South Conference Tournament. UWG Co-ed cheerleaders won Div. II National Championship for second consecutive year. All-Girl squad won 2nd place in their category. The softball team set a team record for most games won in a season; ranked regionally for the first time. |
| Departmental Goal #3 | University Mission | Bread and Butter Goal |
| Strengthen academic support services to promote athletes’ academic success by: | Supports a learning community, provides 1.) keeping opportunities for academic loss of athletes due to academics to remain below 3% each year and 2.) student-athletes’ GPA remains above the institution’s GPA for all students
| 2. Retention 3. Academic excellence |
| Outcomes/Objectives #3 | Assessment | Results |
| 3. Athletics promotes academic success of student athletes by providing effective tutoring in a wide range academic courses. | Number of subjects and students tutored, academic survey of tutoring program compiled by all student-athletes at UWG, year-end academic evaluations, university research and planning report on academic standings. | Tutoring increased from 40 to 54 student athletes each semester in 32 academic subjects vs. 9 the previous year. The number of tutors doubled to 18. Loss of athletes to academic ineligibility was 2.76% vs.3.23% of the general student population. Athletes’ overall GPA was 2.68 vs. 2.56 for the general student population.
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| Departmental Goal #4 | University Mission | Bread and Butter Goal |
| 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 |
Outcomes/Objectives #4 | Assessment | Results |
| 4. Upgrade yearly computers and/or facilities available to student athletes for academic coursework. | Budgeted funds spent for new computer(s), tutorial programs, computer lab supplies | Purchased four new computers for the student lab. Upgraded software in each computer; replaced and added new seating.
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Departmental Goal #5 | University Mission | Bread and Butter Goal |
| 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
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| Outcomes/Objectives #5 | Assessment | Results |
| 5. Improve gender equity in the athletic program | Number of women’s sports offered, number of female participants, 2002 NCAA demographics report. | Plans continue to hire a women’s soccer coach Fall 2003 based on ex-pected funding increase. Women’s volleyball and softball teams increased the number of female team participants by 15%.
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III. Example of How Department Used the Assessment of Goals and Outcomes
to Change/Improve a Process
For several years we have conducted a survey of tutors and the student athletes who have received tutoring during the year to evaluate the effectiveness of our tutoring program. The athletics department realized that an expanded survey to include all the department’s student athletes would provide more useful information to evaluate the effectiveness of the tutorial program, but also to assess academic support available to student athletes in general. The expanded survey will assist
us in making future decisions about tutoring offered within Athletics, as well as determining if the academic support we offer serves to keep the athletics program an integral part of the education
of student athletes and in compliance with the university’s educational purpose and mission.
An important result of the data collected spring, 2003 from the expanded tutorial survey indicated student athletes would benefit from more direct information each semester about academic support. Thus, beginning fall semester 2003, the academic coordinator will conduct a detailed tutoring orientation with each team, which will include specific information of tutoring available through the athletics department as well as other academic support available on campus.
Based on the academic standing report from Institutional Research and Planning, we can assess the correlation between our academic support system in relation to academic achievement
of athletes. We currently lose on average less than 3% of student-athletes due to academic ineligibility, which is consistently lower than the general student population. In addition, the athletics department by the use of academic support has been able to consistently maintain a GPA higher than that of the regular student body at UWG.
IV. General Statement of Department Conditions
The athletics department remains busy and productive year round recruiting, signing, practicing, and competing in eight sports. Athletic budgets were increased based on student enrollment, which remained stable despite the current economic conditions. Student athletic activity fee revenue allowed the department to maintain its scholarship budgets to cover tuition increases and increases in team operating costs, which continue to increase because of industry travel and transportation costs. The department was not able to completely meet its goal concerning gender equity because of its decision to postpone hiring a women’s soccer coach based on enrollment and economic uncertainty following September 11, 2001. However, enrollment has remained stable or increased since that time, so the department’s plans to hire a women’s soccer coach in 2003 to begin building a soccer program for competition in fall, 2004 have been reinstated.
The athletics department continues to consider which additional team sport to add to comply with an NCAA requirement to offer 10 sports by 2005. Enrollment and economics will continue to influence that decision. 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. Teams continue to increase rosters and are constantly striving to build strong and competitive programs. Our safety plan is reviewed each year, and based on the latest findings, the department purchased a defibrillator. Our weight room facilities and sports medicine department continue to improve with the addition of new and updated equipment. Due to the feedback from the head coaches and athletes, as well as the expected increase in student-athletes at West Georgia in the next two years, we established the need for another fulltime athletic trainer to be hired in time for fall sports programs fall semester, 2003.
V. Department Achievements
The 2002-2003 academic year and athletic seasons produced some very impressive results
in our program. Last year the athletic department produced a record 42 Gulf South Conference academic awards, and currently we are on track to exceed last year’s record. The graduation rate and GPA 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 competed in the Gulf South Conference tournament. Our Men’s basketball, baseball and softball teams were ranked regionally, (the first ever for our softball program). Both co-ed and all girl cheerleading squads earned national awards: the All-Girl ranking 2nd nationally, and the Co-ed winning 1st place in Division II with a replay of the competition on ESPN. The athletic program attracted over 235 student athletes to the university and awarded athletic financial aid to approximately 170 student athletes and student workers.
VI. 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 the current eight teams. Coaches and staff handled or supervised the athletic operations that included purchasing, planning, filming, scheduling, recruiting and coaching for 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 compliance seminars; the sports information and sports medicine directors attended national conferences in their respective job areas. In addition, all head coaches belong to their governing bodies of sport and attend their yearly annual conventions
and Division II meetings. All athletic staff who work with athletes are now Red Cross certified in CPR and First Aid. The Athletic Director, FAR, SWA, and compliance Coordinator attend annual Gulf South Conference and NCAA meetings. Many of the coaches serve on Division II committees for their respective sports. We are currently planning for our annual fundraiser (“Braves Super Night”), which involves the coaches, athletes and all athletic staff to plan and coordinate.
VII. Student Achievement
1 Women’s Basketball player First Team, All-Conference
2 Men’s Basketball players Second Team, All-Conference
3 Football players First Team, All-Conference
3 Football players Second Team, All-Conference
1 All-American Football Player
2 Men’s Football players involved in NFL Draft
25 Honor Roll from fall sports, with a projected final number of 35 including spring sports
VIII. Other Awards, Distinctions, Achievements
Athletic teams participated in the following community service projects:
- Women’s volleyball team coordinated and conducted a volleyball camp for the Georgia School of the Deaf and donated their time to work with Whitesburg Elementary students on volleyball skills and academics.
- Men’s baseball team conducted a free clinic for the Georgia School of the Deaf.
- The football program coordinated a fundraiser to help a fellow student who was injured in an intramural accident.
- NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship awarded to softball player Megan Davis.
Many athletes, coaches and staff participate in the Relay for Life, as well as many other
community service and volunteer efforts throughout the year.