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NCAA News Release
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NCAA Division II Leadership Academy To Discuss Model Athletics Program, Student-Athlete Self-Awareness
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For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
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Contact(s)
Gail E. Dent
Associate Director of Public and Media Relations
317/917-6117
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INDIANAPOLIS --- A diverse representation of Division II student-athletes, athletics administrators and coaches will convene at the Division II Leadership Academy in Atlanta on February 17-19 to develop leadership skills, become more familiar with divisional, national and institutional issues and generate ways to implement positive change on their respective campuses.
Student-athletes selected to attend the Academy have exhibited impressive leadership qualities at their institutions. The goal of the Academy is to provide an educational experience that will nurture the leadership abilities of the participants and enable them to continue to make a significant difference on their campuses.
The mission of the Division II Leadership Academy is to engage participants in leadership education to enhance self-awareness and facilitate partnerships that will affect progress on campuses, within conferences, throughout Division II, and beyond the collegiate realm.
"The NCAA Division II Leadership Academy is one of the most important educational and learning opportunities offered by the national office for the Division II membership," said Mike Racy, Division II vice-president. �The Leadership Academy is an event that celebrates the special attributes that exist in Division II, and provides student-athletes, coaches, faculty and administrators with tools to provide leadership at the local level."
Throughout the Leadership Academy, participants will reflect on their own leadership abilities and become more aware of the roles they play on their campuses as well as in the greater community. On Saturday afternoon, participants will be introduced to the action-planning process, which will culminate on Sunday with student-athletes and administrators from each institution coming together to discuss what they have learned and to identify issues on their campuses they want to affect as leaders.
Participants will spend Saturday afternoon discussing the Division II model athletics program, a concept recently approved by the NCAA Division II Presidents Council. Principles of the model athletics program include: integration of the athletics department into the overall educational mission of the institution; involvement of CEO's, athletics directors, faculty athletic representatives, senior woman administrators, coaches and campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committees; commitment to academic success; and promotion of citizenship, leadership and sportsmanship within the athletics community.
The NCAA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of women's championships this year, and participants will have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the evolution of women's athletics and the impact felt on college campuses today.
Throughout the weekend, participants will hear from a number of renowned speakers, including David Sokol, a member of the NCAA Leadership Advisory Board and Chairman and CEO of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. Sokol will be the keynote speaker at Sunday's closing session.
Leadership Academies are held twice each academic year with each Division II institution placed in one of five geographic regions. Each institution must send one male and one female student-athlete, as well as one coach or administrator. This Academy marks the beginning of the second cycle of Division II Leadership Academies, which began in Indianapolis in February 2003. Thirty-six institutions and nearly 130 participants are expected to be in Atlanta.
The 36 institutions are: University of Arkansas, Monticello; Arkansas Tech University; Augusta State University; Barry University; Benedict College; Christian Brothers University; Clark Atlanta University; Clayton College & State University; Columbus State University; Delta State University; Eckerd College; Florida Institute of Technology; Florida Southern College; Fort Valley State University; Francis Marion University; Henderson State University; Kentucky State University; Lane College; Lincoln Memorial University; Lynn University; University of Montevallo; Morehouse College; University of North Alabama; Nova Southeastern University; Paine College; University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez; University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; Rollins College; Saint Leo University; University of South Carolina at Aiken; University of South Carolina-Upstate; University of Tampa; Valdosta State University; University of West Alabama; University of West Florida; University of West Georgia
Upcoming Division II Leadership Academies include the Central Region in September 2006; Mid-Atlantic Region in February 2007; West Region in September 2007; and Northeast Region in February 2008. Additional information may be found at www.ncaa.org/leadership.
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