Athletics Affiliation

Holy Names University recently submitted an application for membership in Division II of the NCAA. The following executive summary provides further information about HNU's application.

Executive Summary
Holy Names University (HNU), sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Names, was founded in Oakland, CA, in 1868. As an academic community, HNU is committed to the full development of each student, offering a liberal education rooted in the Catholic tradition, and empowering a diverse student body for leadership and service in a diverse world. HNU is a private, coeducational institution with a total enrollment of 1,200 students.

During the last year, HNU has thoroughly studied the issue of athletics affiliation and whether it should pursue membership in Division II of the NCAA. Beginning in May 2010 with discussions between staff, administrators, and Trustees, the investigations have been all-encompassing and transparent. During summer 2010, HNU enlisted the services of Oliver and Lindemenn Athletic Consulting (O & L) who provided an initial assessment of the state of readiness and its fit as a member of NCAA Division II. A task force task force of students, faculty, staff, and Trustees was appointed by the President and asked to make a recommendation by November 2010. The task force defined the issues facing the University concerning affiliation, analyzed O & L’s report, sought advice from members of the PacWest Conference, surveyed the University community, held forums with students and faculty, met with the Faculty Senate and HNU Board of Trustees, and created a web page that contained information about the issues. The task force identified resource needs related to any potential change in affiliation, and eventually recommended (see: final report and a set of recommendations) to President Hynes that HNU pursue application to the NCAA Division II. The following links provide further information about the process and the findings of the task report:

• Background
• Time-Table/Critical Dates for the Task Force
• O & L Consulting Report
• HNU Athletics Affiliation Survey
• Project Plan

President Hynes accepted the recommendation in November 2010 and surveyed the campus community for its perspective one more time before presenting the recommendation at the HNU Board meeting in late November. At that meeting, the Trustees unanimously approved moving forward and applying for membership in the NCAA Division II.

Upon approval of the Board of Trustees, HNU Athletics embarked on a detailed feasibility study of its programs and operations. A second task force was formed and project plan established. Complementing this feasibility study was a vision and strategic planning process that led to a renewed vision and strategic plan for HNU Athletics: HNU Hawks 2016: Mission, Vision and Goals.

HNU Hawks 2016 articulates core values and strategic goals underscoring HNU Athletics. It also includes the mission statement: Holy Names University Athletics is committed to the full development of all student athletes through their engagement in the total educational experience.

HNU Hawks 2016 includes six core values, each associated with the strategic goals of the program:

• Goal 1: Pursuing Excellence – By using a reflexive approach that informs practice and is complemented by the intentional application of theory to practice, we will cultivate the academic and athletic success of students.
• Goal 2: Developing Scholar Athletes & Promoting Student Success - By expecting that students enroll in college to learn and that growth and development are at the heart of program/degree completion, we will provide guidance and support leading to graduation and success in life.
• Goal 3: Achieving Athletic Success - By working hard, embracing accountability, and devoting one’s self to excellence, success, and integrity, we will provide outstanding athletic experiences for students.
• Goal 4: Cultivating Integrity - By engaging in mission-oriented educational experiences that integrate the educational, athletic, and student life missions of the University, we will promote leadership, civility, cultural competence, social justice, and respect of self and others.
• Goal 5: Improving Quality - By seeking continuous improvement in all operations, we will enhance operations, maintain compliance, and realize equity.
• Goal 6: Building Community – Through the core values of hospitality and diversity, we will pursue a total educational experience for students, emphasizing engagement with and between all members of the community.

The feasibility study was an extensive process, lasting several months. It included data collection about HNU Athletics as it pertains to the 21 guiding principles for a model athletic program, developed by the Division II Athletics Directors Association (DII ADA). SWOT analyses were conducted by administrative staff and recommendations made for next steps. In essence, we discovered that HNU Athletics was stronger on all of the principles than initially conceived.

Moving forward with considerations of applying for membership with the NCAA Division II, there are several keys:

• HNU Athletics has the personnel to administer a NCAA II athletics program:

• Director of Athletics, full-time, 100% to administrative duties
• Associate Director of Athletics/SWA, full-time, also coaches softball
• Assistant Director of Athletics, full-time, 100% to administrative duties
• Compliance Coordinator, full-time, 100% to compliance duties
• Director of Athletic Training, full-time, 100% to training duties
• Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), full-time, tenured professor

• Diversity is a core value for HNU, and as one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in the United States, the University realizes the power this value has on student learning and development every day.

• Service is a core value for HNU, and student athletes are involved not only on campus, but in a multitude of ways off campus.  They provide tutoring, serve meals to the homeless and do a variety of other service work in Oakland, surrounding communities, and in Tutwiler, MS.

• There is a demonstrated history of leadership and oversight by the President and other senior officers at the University as it pertains to HNU Athletics. This extends to the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, which provides oversight for HNU Athletics. HNU believes fully in the concept of integration and the principle of institutional control and consistently acts on both items.

• The University has provided generous athletic scholarships to students, and has a plan for bringing the number of those scholarships into line with the numbers allowed the NCAA Division II.

• HNU has been accepted for membership in the PacWest Conference and will begin competing officially in fall 2012.

• The University offers ten varsity-level sports, and competes as a member of the NAIA in the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac). Since becoming a charter member of the Cal Pac in 1996, HNU Athletics has earned:
  
  
  • 53 Academic All-Americans
  • 7 California Pacific Conference All-Sports Awards
  • 50 conference championships
  • 38 NAIA national tournament appearances
  • 23 regional tournament appearances
  • 2 regional championships
  • 32 conference MVP’s
  • 30 NAIA All-Americans
  • 25 conference coach of the year awards

• The financial commitment HNU has made to athletics exceeds the average funding spent by active member institutions. HNU has outlined plans for to add baseball and women’s tennis by fall 2012 and men’s tennis and women’s golf by fall 2013.  The university has developed a capital campaign plan that includes $5,000,000 in sports facilities additions.

• This past year, a Student Athlete Advisory Committee was formed and is operating on campus. Officially named the Hawk Student Athlete Advisory Committee, it provides a regular forum for students to be an integral part of the governance process.

• Working closely with institutional departments and systems, the Department of Athletics tracks the academic progress of student athletes and has implemented programs and interventions to enhance academic success. Presently, the graduation rate of student athletes at HNU significantly exceeds the rate of other students.

• Under the leadership of its full time Compliance Coordinator and Compliance Committee, HNU is in the process of drafting detailed step-by-step procedures to properly monitor and document rules compliance.  Facets of the program governing countable athletically-related activities and recruiting activities will be implemented over the summer and fully functional next fall.  Other components will be added throughout the year.  HNU will fully function under NCAA and PacWest conference rules when it first competes as a conference member in fall 2012.

Finally, Holy Names University fully embraces the NCAA Division II Strategic Positioning Platform.  We are committed to excellence, and the idea that the total educational experience of students is critical to their academic and athletic success. HNU Athletics has a road map in place, through its strategic plan, for pursuing excellence, emphasizing the total educational experience, and helping students succeed socially, academically and athletically.