The department is committed to academic achievement that strengthens service learning opportunities and provides an environment where the department is an integral part of the university's educational enterprise.
Objective
Student-Athlete Academic Environment
Provide an environment for student-athletes necessary to enhance the university's educational enterprise, NCAA/Southland Conference policies, promote graduation and enhance life skills experiences.
KPI
Academic Performance Criteria Report-Graduation Rates, NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR), Southland Conference Awards, Grade Point Average
The department reviews key criteria data collected by the NCAA, Southland Conference and appropriate university departments consisting of graduation rates, NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR), Southland Conference awards and grade point average. An ongoing evaluation by the President and the director of athletics is performed.
The department will maintain a graduation rate higher than the general student graduation rate.
All sports teams will maintain an APR ratio where no reductions in scholarships or additional penalties are applied.
The department will place in the top four of the Southland Conference in the number of All Academic Awards and maintain an overall department grade point average of 2.5 or better.
Result
Academic Performance Criteria Report-Graduation Rates, NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR), Southland Conference Awards, Grade Point Average
The department for the first time did not achieve a higher graduation rate than the the general student population. Student-athletes were 9% below the general student rate and for the first time since 2005-06 did not trend upward.
The department did not receive any scholarship reductions based upon APR results.
The department received thirty-two Southland Conference academic awards with a fourth place finish in the conference. Three student-athletes were named Southland Conference Student-Athletes of the Year in their respective sports.
The department achieved the highest grade point average ever by posting an overall grade point average of 3.02.
Action
Academic Assessment
The director of athletics, associate director of athletics for student services, assistant director of athletics for compliance and sports head coaches continue to evaluate and implement individual sport recruiting strategies of prospective student-athletes. The department continues to recruit and retain quality student-athletes who must meet the university's regular admission and progress towards a degree standards. They continue to compete with other Southland Conference and Texas universities sports programs who are not held to the same high admission standards. The department evaluated the reduction in data points and determined that this is an exception due to a poor recruiting cycle in 2008-09 where coaches recruited a higher number of student-athletes who were in the PREP admissions program.
Goal
Athletic Excellence
The department is committed to athletic excellence within the ever changing competitive environment, while fostering an environment where the student-athlete excels on the field of competition.
Objective
Student-Athlete Athletic Recruitment
Identify student-athletes who will assist teams in achieving a top four standing in Southland Conference competition.
KPI
Athletic Performance Criteria Report-Commissioners Cup Standings, Team Conference/Tournament Standings, NCAA Post-Season Participation
The department reviews key criteria data from the NCAA and Southland Conference consisting of commissioner's cup standings, all-sports results, team records, winning percentage and tournament participation. The criteria establishes that the department will finish in the top four of the Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup, Men's All-Sports and Women's All-Sports standings. Additionally, the department will have at least 60% of all its teams achieve an overall winning percentage above 50% and at least 60% will finish in the top four of the final conference rankings. The President and the director of athletics perform annual evaluations on the status of each program and the overall department.
Result
Athletic Performance Criteria Report-Commissioners Cup Standings, Team Conference/Tournament Standings, NCAA Post-Season Participation
The department finished first in the overall cup standings and won the first ever women's all-sports trophy, while finishing second in the men's all-sports trophy.
Thirteen of seventeen sports (76%) had an overall winning percentage of at least 50%, with eleven of seventeen sports (65%) finishing in the top four of the Southland Conference final standings. Five sports, football, volleyball, women's basketball, bowling and baseball participated in NCAA post-season tournaments.
Action
Evaluation
The director of athletics evaluated each department head and program outcomes to determine areas for improvement. Findings were discussed with the President during regularly scheduled one on one meetings. The department experienced another quality performance year that was demonstrated by improving winning percentages, team records, conference and national rankings. The department continues to be one of the best Southland Conference and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs. The program's continued success will only enhance future opportunities to consider a move to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level.
Goal
Compliance, Diversity And Equitable Opportunities
The department is committed to excellence in the areas of compliance, diversity and equitable opportunity that provides an environment that is supportive of all university, NCAA Bylaws and Southland Conference Operating Principles for minorities and women.
Objective
Compliance
Maintain compliance with all federal, state, university, NCAA and Southland Conference policies and guidelines.
The department reviews key criteria data collected by the NCAA, Southland Conference and appropriate university departments. The criterion consists of NCAA major/secondary violations, Title IX plans and minority hiring. The President, director of athletics, associate director of student services and assistant director of athletics for compliance perform ongoing evaluations. An emphasis of creating a positive NCAA compliance environment continues to be implemented by the department. Attention to policies and procedures set forth by the university, along with the goals set by the university through the Human Resources department, continue to enhance minority and women's opportunities and are a priority.
The department did not have any NCAA major violations and fifteen secondary violations. The higher number of secondary violations can be attributed to increased monitoring by the compliance staff, athletic department staff awareness and reporting of violations in the ever changing rule environment. Implementation of Southland Conference and university internal audits continue to assist the department in identifying and correcting issues. This is a positive process that proactively assists the assistant director of athletics for compliance to promote an environment of NCAA compliance.
The department continues to explore the expansion of women's participation opportunities by identifying potential new women's sports of lacrosse, swimming, equestrian and sand volleyball.
The department continues to expand minority hiring opportunities but has also experienced reductions due to higher paying job opportunities at other universities. Human Resources is assisting the department with market driven data and job description reviews to implement salaries that are competitive with other like athletic departments.
Action
Monitoring Guidelines
The department continues to implement the 2008 NCAA self-study plan and oversees compliance through education, external and internal audits. The Southland Conference, Office of Audits and Analysis and Human Resources assists the department with the necessary tools to promote an atmosphere of compliance and institutional control.
Goal
Superior Branding
The department is committed to superior branding performance in student recruitment, alumni philanthropy, market share increases and visibility of program.
Objective
Attendance, Media Opportunities And University Enrollment
Increase attendance, local and national media opportunities and university enrollment.
KPI
Attendance, Media Opportunities And University Enrollment
The department reviews key criteria data tracked internally by the associate director of athletics for external operations. The criteria establishes that the department will increase attendance of the overall department by a total of 5%. Additionally, attendance levels will continue to exhibit factual levels in order to determine future attendance benchmarks if the university has the opportunity to move to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. The department will continue to expand local and national media market opportunities based upon number television appearances and radio network expansion into the Houston/Montgomery counties market. The department will continue to assist the university with enrollment growth with a highly visiable athletic department. The President and the director of athletics performed ongoing evaluations quarterly and annually.
Result
Attendance, Media Opportunities And University Enrollment
The department continues to experience attendance growth with football season ticket sales increasing by 17% and the chairback seating sold out for the first in the history of Bowers Stadium. Attendance increases in baseball (5%) and softball (22%) were achieved with an overall department increase of 19%.
The department had thirty games appear on television with football (9), men's basketball (9), women's basketball (4), baseball (6) and softball (2) appearing on Southland Conference TV, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU, Comcast Sports Network and Fox College Sports. Additionally, the department bought air time with the Bearkat Sports Minute on SportTalk 790 and Clearchannel Sports 610 that discussed Bearkat sports teams and events.
University enrollment increased 1000 students from the previous year.
Action
Expansion Of Opportunities
The data demonstrates that the branding strategies and quality athletic programs are increasing attendance, media opportunities and university enrollment.
Goal
Financial Participation
The department is committed to promoting active financial participation in student centered athletic programs and activities.
Objective
Revenue Enhancement
Expand game guarantees, ticket sales, concessions, facility sponsorships corporate sales, royalties, annual and major gifts that will generate revenue to enhance academic and athletic services.
The department reviews key criteria data generated by outside revenue streams. The criteria establishes that the department will increase revenues by a total of 5% from NCAA, game guarantees, ticket sales, Bearkat Champions, corporate sales, royalties, concessions, facilities operations and other income. Additionally, attendance levels will continue to exhibit factual levels in order to determine future attendance benchmarks. The President and the director of athletics performed ongoing evaluations quarterly and annually.
The final revenue numbers for 2012-13 have not been completed as of October 2013 and will be provided at a later date.
Action
External Revenue Review
The department continues to implement the external revenue strategic plan that has increased staff, implemented season ticket sales, sponsorships, marketing and improved athletic team performance.
The final external revenue numbers for FY 2013 have not been completed, but based upon the athletic department fund balace report, revenue has increased. At the end of FY 2012 the department had a fund balance of $1.2 million. At close out of FY 2013 the fund balance had grown to an estimated balance of $2.0 million.