PROFESSOR: What is the role
of intercollegiate athletics
within the mission of
the American university?
If athletic programs
are to be justified,
they must be able to
identify themselves
with the mission
of the university.
To a greater or lesser
extent, D2 universities
have a three-pronged mission,
namely teaching, research,
and public service.
How does your
athletic department
fit within the mission
of your university?
This is a critical question
that needs to be addressed.
After assessing the fit between
the mission of the university
and the Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics,
the next step is to evaluate the
department in terms of the three
generally accepted quality
fit indices utilized
in the academy, namely
excellence, uniqueness,
and centrality.
There are many justifications
that can be proposed.
However, one of the
strongest arguments
for the continued presence and
expansion of athletic programs
in our D2 universities are
the educational opportunities,
participation offers
for student athletes.
While the lessons
learned in math, science,
and the languages are
important, the teachable moments
and lessons learned
in athletics are
vital to the overall development
of each student athlete.