INDIANAPOLIS --- Texas A&M University’s Laboratory for Diversity in Sport and the NCAA together, have announced the recipients of the 2008 Diversity in Athletics Awards.  The awards center on overall excellence in diversity, and also honor NCAA schools in seven specific categories.

The Division I colleges and universities honored for overall excellence in diversity are:

Drexel University; East Tennessee State University; Kansas State University; Long Beach State University; San Jose State University; Stanford University; The Ohio State University; University of Central Florida; University of Colorado, Boulder; University of Miami (FL), University of Texas, El Paso; and Wright State University.

The Division II colleges and universities honored for Overall Excellence in Diversity are:

Queens College (NY); Goldey-Beacom College; Florida Institute of Technology; University of New Haven; Oakland City University; Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania; Palm Beach Atlantic University; Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania; California State University, Stanislaus; California State Polytechnic

    Research is being gathered on Division III colleges and universities.  Awards to recognize those athletics departments for diversity practices will be announced beginning in 2009. 

    "Athletics departments with a commitment to diversity have been shown to excel in terms of ideas generated, creativity, the attraction of a diverse fan base, and overall performance,” said George Cunningham, director, Texas A&M University Laboratory for Diversity in Sport and chair of the Division of Sport Management in the Department of Health and Kinesiology.

    “An athletic department's commitment to diversity provides many benefits to that entity.  Not only does such dedication signal a sense of inclusion for all persons, irrespective of their individual differences, but it also aids in a number of human resources functions, such as the attraction and retention of a talented workforce.  Thus, there are clear benefits with valuing diversity," Cunningham said.

    The NCAA announced its partnership with Texas A&M Laboratory for Diversity in Sport and support of the Diversity in Athletics Awards in January.  The partnership seeks to generate in-depth diversity and inclusion research and identify NCAA institutions that embrace diversity and inclusion with their business practices in athletics.

    “The NCAA is proud to partner with Texas A&M Laboratory for Diversity in Sport in recognition of NCAA athletics departments who embrace all respects of diversity,” said Charlotte

    In addition to the overall excellence in diversity awards, colleges and universities are also recognized in diversity strategy, gender diversity of department employees, racial diversity of department employees, value and attitudinal diversity of department employees, graduation of African-American male student-athletes, graduation of African-American female student-athletes and Gender Equity compliance (substantial proportionality).   These criteria categories were selected by the researchers at the Laboratory for Diversity in Sport.

    The Texas A&M Laboratory for Diversity in Sport and the NCAA Office for Diversity and Inclusion will publicly recognize the overall diversity in sports award recipients at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention.  The NACDA convention is scheduled for June 9-12 in Dallas.  

    For more information on the awards or criteria, please visit Texas A&M University’s Laboratory for Diversity in Sport web site at http://lds.tamu.edu.

Diversity Strategy

Butler University, Illinois State University, Ohio State University, Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania), Southeastern Louisiana University, Texas A&M University, College Station, University of Central Florida, University of Denver, University of Illinois, Champaign, University of Kansas, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, University of Notre Dame.

Gender Equity Compliance (substantial proportionality)

Bucknell University, Clemson University, University of California, Riverside, University of Michigan, University of Richmond, University of Southern California, Washington State University

African-American Graduation: Female Student-Athletes

Drexel University, Hofstra University, Idaho State University, Iona College, Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus, Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania), Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Akron, University of Louisville, Wright State University

Gender Diversity

Central Connecticut State University, Dartmouth College, DePaul University, East Tennessee State University, Long Beach State University, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Tennessee State University, University of Hawaii, Manoa, University of Maine, Orono, University of Nevada, University of San Francisco, University of Texas at El Paso     

 Racial Diversity

Kansas State University, Long Beach State University, New Mexico State University, Pepperdine University, Rice University, San Jose State University, Stanford University, University of Colorado, Boulder, University of Hawaii, Manoa, University of Miami (Florida), University of Texas at El Paso

African-American Graduation: Male Student-Athletes

Austin Peay State University, George Mason University, Marshall University, Southeastern Louisiana University, St. Peter's College, Tennessee State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Western Illinois University

 Value and Attitudinal Diversity

Ball State University, Central Michigan University, Chicago State University, Long Beach State University, Northern Arizona University, Prairie View A&M University, San Jose State University Stanford University, Texas Southern University, University of Colorado, Boulder, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Texas at San Antonio

The following are the Division II award winners in specific categories:

Diversity Strategy

Augustana College (South Dakota)¸Barry University, California State University, San Bernardino, Grand Valley State University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Rollins College, Tiffin University, Upper Iowa University

Gender Equity Compliance

Florida Institute of Technology, Goldey-Beacom College, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Saint Michael's College, Salem International University, South Dakota State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology

African-American Graduation: Female-Student Athletes

Bloomfield College, Georgia College & State University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Mount Olive College, Nova Southeastern University, Saint Leo University, University of Arkansas, Monticello, University of North Alabama, University of West Alabama, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

African-American Graduation: Male Student-Athletes

C.W. Post Campus/Long Island University, Columbus State University, New York Institute of Technology, Oakland City University, Post University, Saint Leo University, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, University of Wisconsin, Parkside, Wilmington University (Delaware)

Gender Diversity

Adelphi University, Augusta State University, Oakland City University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Regis University (Colorado), Saginaw Valley State University, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of New Haven, University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown

Racial Diversity

Bloomfield College, Brigham Young University, Hawaii, California State University, Stanislaus, Columbia Union College, Florida Institute of Technology, New Mexico Highlands