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/ Strategic initiatives / Accountability / Accountability Meeting Update: February 2021

Accountability Meeting Update: February 2021

Feb. 25, 2021

Presenters: Doug Gillin, Pierre Banks, Makini Thompson

Related accountability review points:

  • Athletics immediately draft and institute action plans that focus on education, retention, and mentorship in order to end the exploitation of Black student-athletes.
  • Athletics hire more coaches, faculty, staff, trainers, and administration of color.

Summary of presentation:

  • Gillin reported that the Athletics Department uses a 12–18 month operations plan, instead of a traditional strategic plan, so they can more quickly respond to the changing needs of the university and student-athletes. He said the department has created opportunities, particularly recently, to hear directly from student-athletes — citing the Real Talk forums in which students speak and administrators listen.
  • As a result of the Real Talk forums, referenced by Gillin, the staff created the Bridge Builders Mentoring Program, which pairs a student-athlete with an alumnus, faculty or staff member, or community member.
  • Athletics is collaborating with the App State Alumni Association on an alumni-specific mentoring program, and with the Career Development Center to create a series of athlete-specific events, including Career Meetups and a Pro Day career fair and networking opportunity.
  • A career coach in Career Development provides weekly office hours specifically for student-athletes.
  • The department created a Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the first priority has been to amplify underrepresented voices. For example, they created the Black and Gold Tribune to share stories of their student-athletes.
  • The department implemented the Real Response communication platform in response to requests from student-athletes for an option to anonymously share concerns with athletics staff.
  • Gillin concluded the presentation by sharing notable statistics and superlatives:
    • The percentage of underrepresented App State Athletics staff members has increased from 8.6% in 2015 to 18.3% in 2020.
    • 36% of App State student-athletes are from underrepresented populations, which is consistent with the NCAA Division I average, which Gillin said was in the “mid-thirties.”
    • 25% of App State student-athletes are Black or African American, as compared to an average of 16% of NCAA Division I athletes.
    • App State is the only athletic department in the Sun Belt Conference with a black senior women’s administrator, and the department continues to ensure every search committee has minority representation.

Contact

Diversity and Inclusion at App State
Jamie Parson, J.D. Chief Diversity Officer
Phone: 828-262-2460
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