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Clarion Athletics

Procedure for Reviewing Request to Add/Elevate an Intercollegiate Program

  1. Any requests made by, or on the behalf of, a student, student organization, club program or group of students representative of Clarion University for a sport or program to be considered for sponsorship as an intercollegiate varsity sport will be submitted to the Director of Athletics. A request is defined as any formal or informal inquiry submitted to a Clarion University administrator, coach and/or staff member, either in writing or verbally, seeking the process for a sport or program to be considered for intercollegiate status. All requests will be submitted to the Director of Athletics within fourteen (14) calendar days.
    1. When a formal/written request is submitted for consideration, the Director of Athletics will contact the student, group of students, organization, etc. making the request to obtain the following information, if not included in the initial submission:
      1. Specifics as to what is being requested (i.e. elevation of a current program to intercollegiate status, addition of a new intercollegiate sport, etc.).
      2. Number of students supporting the request.
      3. Justification for submitted request.
    2. When an informal/verbal request is submitted to a Clarion University administrator, coach and/or staff member they should attempt to ascertain as much information as possible.
      1. Name and contact information of the student, group of students, organization, etc. making the request.
      2. Specifics to what is being requested (i.e. elevation of a current program to intercollegiate status, addition of a new intercollegiate sport, etc.).
      3. Number of students supporting the request.
      4. Justification for submitted request.
 
The request, and all accompanying information, will then be forwarded to the Director of Athletics. The Director of Athletics will contact the student, group of students, organization, etc. making the request to obtain any other pertinent information.
 
  1. The Director of Athletics will then share the request and information with a review committee comprised of the Vice President of Student Affairs, Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR), and the Associate Athletic Director. This review committee will cross reference the specifics of the submitted request with the following institutional data and criteria:
    1. Most current assessment of Interest and Abilities survey data.
    2. Current inventory of institutionally sponsored intercollegiate sports.
    3. Current inventory of institutionally sponsored intramural and club programming.
    4. Established list of intercollegiate varsity programs not currently sponsored by Clarion University, but previously identified as potentially viable per the existence of varsity competition at the NCAA Division II level within the institution’s normal competitive region. Clarion University’s normal competitive region shall be considered a seven state area comprising the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, Mountain East Conference and CIAA (PA, MD, NC, SC, OH, VA, WV).
    5. Participation rates of students in interscholastic sports from areas the College draws a majority of its enrollment.
    6. Any other assessment or observation information made by coaches or staff during tryouts and/or participation in intramural/club programming.
 
If necessary, the committee will conduct and interview with the student, group of students, organization, etc. making the request to obtain any other pertinent information. The College’s staff member in charge of intramural and club programming may be contacted as a part of the review process.
 
  1. The Director of Athletics, Vice President of Student Affairs, FAR and Associate Athletic Director will make a recommendation for a proposed plan for the best method to accommodate the interests of the submitted request to the Clarion University President for review and feedback within ninety (90) days of received the program request. This plan will include the required funding, staffing and other allocated resources needed to support the recommended programming.
    1. If it is determined there is not significant interest supporting the submitted request this finding will be submitted to the President for review. Along with the information supporting this finding will come forth a recommendation of “No Action Required (NAR)”. This will be a recommendation not to move forward with the requested program change based on lack of significant interest and abilities justification.
    2. If it is determined there is significant interest supporting the request the proposed plan will include any of the following accommodations: elevation of a current club/intramural sport to intercollegiate status, creation of a new club/intramural program, elevation of a current club program to elevated club status. The President will be given all information obtained through the request review process.
 
  1. After consideration of the submitted plan or NAR recommendation the AAB will either:
    1. Endorse plan OR the NAR recommendation as submitted; or,
    2. Provide questions, feedback and/or recommendations for the review committee (Athletic Director, VP, Assoc, AD, and FAR) to address within the submitted plan OR the NAR recommendation. If necessary, the submittal will be vetted and edited for further review by the President. The final plan will be submitted to the President for review and final approval within sixty (60) days of the review.
 
A final implementation timeline will also be decided per the President of Clarion University. The finalized decision and timeline will be communicated to the representatives submitting the request along with all pertinent information and findings.