OCR Text |
Show THE FORUM Athletics - JANUARY 22,2014 11 Griffins eye NCAA affiliation Westminster s Adam Egan attempts a layup against Montana Western, (top left). Westminsters Nick Jenson takes afree throw in the Griffin s game against Montana Western (right). The crowd looks on during the Men's game against Montana Western. Both the Men's and Women's games will highlight Westminster's athletic facilities for the potential change in affiliation from the NAM to the NCAA, (bottom Ift) ' Bryson Lovell that more closely align with the schools Staff Writer within that division. Division II (the possible division for the Griffins), also aims to provide student-athletes with skills to help graduate from college, as well as succeed in life The NCAA is widely known and respected in the world of collegiate athletics. Westminster could become its newest addition. Athletic Director Shay Wyatt, said the college has been given approval by the board of trustees and the president to explore the possibility of an affiliation change. If the change is viewed to be in the best interest of the college, Westminster will leave its current NAIA affiliation for a spot in the NCAA. An email sent to faculty said Westminster has already received an invitation from the NCAAs Division II Pacific West Conference, and also from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. What is the NCAA? The National Collegiate Athletic Association, better known as the NCAA, is an organization that promotes high levels of athletic competition, as well as high academic standards, according to the NCAA website. In addition to the NCAAs primary goals, each of the three athletic divisions maintain their own separate goals post-graduati- on. NCAA Requirements In order for Westminster to become a NCAA affiliated school, a specific list of requirements and recommendations must be met. First, Westminster must decide if it is in the schools best interest to become an NCAA affiliate and must be given the O.K. from the president and the board of trustees. Once the green light has been given, Westminster must undergo a specific p, three to five year process in which certain requirements are fulfilled each year. Some of the requirements include, but are not limited to, meeting the minimum sports requirement of having five mens varsity sports and five womens varsity sports, hiring a NCAA Compliance Director, having an adequate student-athle- te support program and meeting the minimum financial aid requirements. While Westminster currently meets step-by-ste- some of the requirements, there are still some that must be addressed in order to begin the application process. The email sent to faculty said Westminster will be filing its formal NCAA Division II application by Feb. 1, 2014 meaning Westminster will remain an NAIA affiliated team for the duration of the 2014-201- 5 competitive year. Funding Westminster has recently received gifts that will help the college reach some of the initial costs without using institutional resources. In addition to the gifts, Westminster is also implementing a plan, which will address funding and the other costs. Also addressed in the five year plan five-ye- ar how an increase of programing can be used to offset some of the costs of becoming an NCAA affiliate. According to the faculty email, the college is confident that through targeted fundraising and other enrollment strategies, this affiliation change can be is implemented without drawing resources away from the educational core of the college. In addition to targeted fundraising, the college is trying to determine whether the majority of funds will come from private funding, or revenue generated by the athletic department. NCAA & Westminster Advancing to the NCAA level would be a benchmark for the college. Wyatt said the affiliation change would enhance a lot of things being done by providing more excitement and intrigue for students attending games and enhance the overall student experience. The affiliation would open new doors for the college. Wyatt said the change would create a strong, recognized NCAA brand that would give the athletic programs more lifting power, and enhance recruiting efforts of the school. An NCAA affiliation would have 16 of the 17 athletic teams under one umbrella. Since snowboarding is not yet a NCAA sanctioned sport, the mens and womens snowboard team would be the A affiliated teams at only non-NCA- Westminster. Whats next? One of the first steps on the road to a NCAA affiliation was taken on Jan. 18 at the mens and womens basketball games versus Montana Western. These games were recorded and will be used to showcase Westminsters campus and athletic facilities. |