Department of Athletics

Intercollegiate Athletics provides a unique diversity environment daily with student-athletes/teams/coaches/administration/staff/genders interacting constantly through practices, games and matches, travel, meals, meetings, study tables, counseling, strength training, rehabilitation, etc. that is not duplicated in any other area of campus life.  The opportunity to learn, grow, share and enjoy diverse activities with future life long friends is a living classroom in diversity that cannot be replicated elsewhere.  A review of our web site: www.athletics.ucr.edu will quickly reveal the diverse composition of our programs through an evaluation of the rosters and photos in press guides.

Mission Statement

With a goal of attaining national prestige, it is the mission of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of California, Riverside to facilitate and enrich equitable educational and personal growth opportunities for our students through their participation in UCR’s evolving NCAA Division I athletics program.  Intercollegiate Athletics is committed to the complete welfare of all student-athletes and advocates an environment that promotes excellence in athletic and academic performance, ethical conduct, sportsmanship, diversity, and equity, regardless of gender and ethnicity.  Through full integration into the fabric of the UCR campus community, Intercollegiate Athletics supports the University of California’s mission of public service and seeks to generate a unifying spirit among all institutional constituencies, without exception.

Diversity Activities

  1. There is a high degree of diversity inherent in Intercollegiate Athletics as demonstrated in recruiting.  While the issue of diversity may not be a motive in recruiting specific student-athletes, the end result is a highly diverse population as strongly demonstrated in our sports of Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Women’s Golf, Baseball and Softball.
  2. There is a high degree of diversity concern in hiring for open administration, staff and coaching positions in Intercollegiate Athletics with postings in appropriate journals, etc. to attract women and minority candidates.
  3. Periodic staff presentations have presented diversity issues through topics including: lifestyle choices, gender equity (Title IX), sexual harassment, etc.
  4. Because we are a diverse operation, there has not been a specific “Diversity Training” session in Athletics, to my knowledge, since Debbie Artis’ presentation 3 years ago..

Future Diversity Activities

The following represents part of a report titled “Minority Issues” from the March 12, 2004 Self-Study Report on Equity, Welfare and Sportsmanship.

  • UCR and the Athletics department are committed to diversity.
  • The Athletics Department monitors its consistency with diversity goals.
  • UCR has a very diverse undergraduate population, but the student-athletes are less diverse with respect to Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander populations.
  • It would be advantageous to have more minority staff at all levels in the Athletics Department, especially administrators and head coaches.
  • UCR has developed a Minorities Opportunity Plan for Athletics (see Institutional Plan for Improvement #8), designed to maintain minority opportunity where there are no problems and to improve minority opportunity where improvement is needed.
  • Minority issues will be reviewed regularly by the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (CACIA).

Additionally, “Plan for Institutional Improvement #7”:  Plan for Addressing Gender Equity for the Future in the Intercollegiate Athletics Program.

  1. Athletic Scholarships:  No deficiency re: gender equity.
  2. Accommodation of Interests and Abilities:  No deficiency re: gender equity.
  3. Equipment and Supplies:  Improve equipment and supplies for female student-athletes.
  4. Scheduling of Games and Practice Time:  No deficiency re: gender equity.
  5. Travel and Per Diem Allowances:  No deficiencies re: gender equity.
  6. Tutors:  No deficiency re: gender equity.
  7. Coaches:
    • Provide better locker facilities for female coaches.
      •           
    • Assure Salary equity for coaches of women’s teams.
    • Hire separate men’s and women’s coaches for golf.
  8. Locker Room, Practice and Competitive Facilities:
    • Renovate lockers for female teams.
    • Maintain equity in other facilities.
  9. Medical and Training Facilities and Services:  No deficiency re: gender equity.
  10. Publicity:  Increase interest in all sports, especially female sports.
  11. Support Services:  No deficiency re: gender equity.
  12. Recruitment of Student-Athletes:  No deficiency re: gender Equity.

Contacts

  • Glenda Love
  • Debbie Artis