Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS Mission Statement ...................................................................................................................... 2
Listing of Strategic Goals ............................................................................................................. 2
Essentials for Success .................................................................................................................. 3
Goal 1: Institutional Control & Governance ................................................................................ 4
Goal 2: Excellence in Academics.................................................................................................. 5
Goal 3: Competitive Excellence ................................................................................................... 6
Goal 4: Student-Athlete Experience ............................................................................................ 7
Goal 5: Title IX Compliance & Gender Equity .............................................................................. 9
Goal 6: Diversity & Inclusion ..................................................................................................... 11
Goal 7: Facilities ........................................................................................................................ 12
Goal 8: Resource Development/Fundraising/Fiscal Integrity..................................................... 13
Goal 9: Communication/Marketing ........................................................................................... 15
Goal 10: History & Tradition...................................................................................................... 16
Goal 11: Community Service & Engagement ............................................................................. 17
Goal 12: Game Environment ..................................................................................................... 18
2
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Montana State University Billings is to facilitate positive, competitive, and successful academic and athletic experiences for each student-athlete within the framework of NCAA and conference rules; state, university and departmental policies and procedures; and fiscal integrity.
This plan is structured to help MSUB reach its strategic goals outlined in the university’s FUTUREU strategic plan. The core themes and objectives in the plan are also consistent with the mission, vision and core values of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the NCAA Division II conference of which MSUB is a member.
Strategic Plan -- Athletics
It is important that the Strategic Plan for Athletics is developed in a manner consistent with MSUB’s Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Core Purpose. In
Alisha Breen, Women’s Basketball, Class of 2017.
particular, it will focus on student recruitment, student retention, community involvement, and operational integrity. Following are the strategic goals around which the Strategic Plan for Athletics has been developed.
STRATEGIC GOALS for ATHLETICS Institutional Control and Governance: MSUB will embody the NCAA principle of institutional control in administering
its athletics program.
Excellence in Academics: MSUB student-athletes will be excellent students; they will be leaders academically at the institutional, conference and national level.
Competitive Excellence: MSUB will strive to compete for conference and NCAA championships, and will continually pursue finishing in the upper third of the GNAC in all sports.
Student-Athlete Experience: MSUB’s Athletic Department staff will be guided by the mission of providing student- athletes with the best possible experience and will focus on the process of enhancing all parts of student-athletes’ lives from start-to-finish in their careers as Yellowjackets.
Title IX Compliance, Gender Equity: MSUB’s Athletic Department will maintain compliance related to Title IX and will strive to ensure genders are equally represented based on demand and interest in sports among the student population.
Diversity and Inclusion: MSUB’s Athletic Department will strive to maintain a diverse staff and population of student- athletes, and will make every effort to create opportunities to include all individuals in all areas.
Rules Compliance Program: MSUB will explore ways to reinforce its NCAA compliance program, through evaluating its current staffing structure and reconfiguring duties of its officers moving forward.
3
Fiscal Integrity: MSUB will maintain fiscal integrity and responsibility, and will operate within its allocated budget as designated by the university’s financial officers.
Resource Development/Fundraising Efforts: MSUB will continue to explore the broadening of its fundraising efforts and corporate partnerships, through tapping local interest and developing marketing initiatives that have the potential to generate revenue.
Facilities: MSUB will identify its facilities needs and organize requests for improvements strategically based on the mission of enhancing the student-athlete experience.
Communication/Marketing: MSUB will continue to build its athletics brand through effective and interactive communication with a broad audience locally and throughout the region.
History and Tradition: MSUB will embrace its past and use its history to develop relationships with alumni and potential investors in the athletics department.
Community Service and Engagement: MSUB will continue its concerted efforts towards impacting the local community and promoting its brand through effective community engagement activities.
Game Environment: MSUB will strive to provide the best platform of competition possible based around enhancing the student-athlete experience, through exploring game environment initiatives that are being applied by peers across the NCAA.
Essentials for Success
Essential for the successful implementation of a strategic plan is the identification of specific strategies and action steps for achieving each goal as well as the identification of estimated financial impacts, specific timelines for completion of each action step and the individual(s) responsible for each action step. It is also critical that a means of assessing progress on each element of the strategic plan be identified. Following is a template that outlines specific strategies for each of the strategic goals outlined above. The intent is to provide a vehicle for assessing progress as MSUB implements its plan for athletics.
The 2015 GNAC Champion MSU Billings baseball team won 20 of its final 25 regular-season games to claim the first title in program history.
4
GOAL: Institutional Control & Governance
Summary: The goal here is to analyze and interpret the role of key personnel among the administrative staff within the athletic department, and identify areas in which leadership can be expanded. Exploring ways to make workflow more efficient in key areas such as compliance are included here as well, such as the option to purchase software that is being adopted by colleges at all NCAA levels. The fulfillment of many of these goals relies on the establishment of committees or the individual efforts of the director in charge of each goal’s specific area. With the Athletics Advisory Committee already having been established, the most extensive task of this goal is already moving towards completion.
Strategies 1. Establish an Athletics Advisory Committee to represent stakeholders in the athletics program and provide advice to the Director of Athletics and Chancellor.
o Action Steps: Determine structure and role of the Committee
Identify potential members for the Committee
Contact potential members
Finalize members
Schedule first meeting of the Committee
Meet regularly, at least twice a semester, establish regular reporting procedure
2. Use the NCAA Compliance Blueprint Review completed in 2014 as a template to enhance the compliance program.
o Action Steps: Create checklist of things that still need to be done
Evaluate recruiting software options and timeline for acquisition
Prioritize strategies from the Compliance Blueprint Review
Enhance strategies to ensure NCAA governance is a shared responsibility across the entire university
3. Support the Compliance Committee as necessary to include individuals who share direct responsibility for rules compliance.
o Action Steps: Ensure the necessary offices outside athletics are represented by individuals who administer athletic
aid and certify eligibility
Review the role of the Compliance Committee and its membership annually to ensure that it
embodies the concepts of oversight and shared responsibility.
4. Develop and implement a comprehensive, ongoing rules education program for student-athletes, coaches, staff with compliance responsibilities, and boosters.
o Action Steps: B-Informed Compliance Newsletter
Annual compliance meeting with all student-athletes
Regular compliance updates at departmental staff meetings
5. Enhance the role of the FAR to include early identification and advising at-risk student-athletes.
o Action Steps: Active participation in student-athlete progress towards degree
5
Identify at-risk students following each semester for one-on-one counseling/advising
GOAL: Excellence in Academics
Summary: With a department-wide goal to achieve a GPA of 3.00 or higher among all of MSUB’s athletic teams already established, student-athletes have already displayed strength within academics. MSUB had 48 academic all-conference selections in 2015-16, and an overall departmental GPA north of 3.0. The next step is to develop a plan to ensure academic success is sustained, through exploring areas such as merit-based compensation for coaches and establishing further programs to assist student- athletes such as hiring an academic success coordinator.
Strategies 1. Use the Academic Success Rate (ASR) as a means to quantify excellence in each sport MSUB sponsors.
o Action Steps: Identify trending patterns for each sport, based on NCAA ASR data. Use national averages
for Division II as the minimum acceptable standard
Identify a target Academic Success Rate for each sport annually as a means to quantify
academic excellence in each sport
2. Use the Federal Graduation Rate as a means to quantify excellence in each sport MSUB sponsors.
o Action Steps: Identify trending patterns for each sport, based on national data. Use national averages
for Division II as the minimum acceptable standard
Identify a target for each sport annually as a means to quantify academic excellence in
each sport
3. Develop a minimum GPA standard for each sport each semester. o Action Steps:
Identify trending patterns for each sport, based on MSUB data
Identify a target GPA for each sport each semester as a means to quantify academic
excellence in each sport
Coaches establish guidelines for student-athletes to maintain team’s GPA standard (i.e. attend
mandatory study hall if student falls below GPA standard)
4. Support coaches’ involvement in student-athletes’ academic success.
o Action Steps: Conduct annual evaluations Meet with each coach on an annual basis to outline expectations related to academic
achievement of his/her team
5. Acknowledge and honor student-athletes for academic success and hold an annual induction ceremony.
o Action Steps: Maintain and enhance Chi Alpha Sigma status Promote student-athletes selected as academic all-conference/all-region Develop new ways to promote or enhance (honor roll posted)
6
6. Use retention rates as a means to quantify athletic program academic persistence.
o Action Steps: Compare student-athlete retention rates with MSUB retention rates for each team Identify retention trends and patterns for student-athletes Based on findings, take appropriate action to improve rates
7. Develop support programs to enhance student-athlete academic performance.
o Action Steps: Research “best practices” used by peer institutions to monitor and enhance academic performance Academic Success Coordinator or FAR enhanced role Identify and/or modify programs for implementation at MSUB Identify academically at-risk student-athletes for early intervention Develop common standards for study table Implement contracts for fifth-year scholarships Monitor individual sports’ performance compared to national trends Tie missed class time to academic performance
GOAL: Competitive Excellence
Summary: By the current measure of competitive excellence, MSUB has underperformed compared to its peers within the GNAC and across all of Division II. This goal is to identify areas where teams are underperforming and explore ways to enhance competitiveness through increased funding and other areas of support such as strength and conditioning. Much of this goal, including rewarding coaches based on competitive success, is contingent upon budget allocation. As a rule of thumb, coaches and teams should strive to progress towards ranking among the top of the conference by the competitive success measures outlined within this goal. A goal of the athletic department is for every student-athlete to have a championship-winning experience at least once in his or her athletic career.
Strategies
1. Use Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and NCAA championship competition as a means to measure teams’ competitive success.
o Action Steps: Analyze each sport and identify realistic expectations
Conference tournament/regular-season finish
NCAA tournament qualification
Advancement within NCAA tournament
Win a national championship
2. Use Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and NCAA championship competition as means to measure individual athletes’ competitive success.
o Action Steps: Analysis of each sport and identify realistic expectations
Conference tournament/regular-season finish
Individual qualification for NCAA regional
Individual advancement to NCAA national
Individual NCAA national title
7
3. Use National Association of Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Learfield Director’s Cup standings as means to measure program-wide competitive success.
o Action Steps: Monitor performance and establish reasonable goals
4. Develop comprehensive strength and conditioning programs for all sports.
o Action Steps: Maintain agreement with third party for strength and conditioning
Use data collected by coaches to track student-athlete progress
Develop detailed plans for university-wide student fitness
5. Conduct comprehensive review of current recruiting practices and budgets; develop recommendations for enhancements on a sport-by-sport basis.
o Action Steps: Review where recruiting dollars are spent
Compare recruiting yields with university in same geographical areas
Monitor recruiting yields against in-state competition
Analyze recruiting practices to determine appropriateness of current scope of coverage
Evaluate recruiting budgets, compare to GNAC and in-state rivals
Create database to document coaches’ recruiting visits and identify profiles of students who come
on visits
6. Enhance coaching staffs and salaries to match those provided by GNAC competitors in each sport.
o Action Steps: Identify top GNAC competitors in each sports sponsored by MSUB
Outline coaching staffs (numbers and time base) for each team identified as a top competitor and
compare with MSUB coaching staffs
Develop recommendations for enhancements
7. Increase athletic scholarship funding to the levels provided by top GNAC competitors in each sport.
o Action Steps: Identify top half of GNAC competitors in each sport sponsored by MSUB
Ensure comparison is based on equivalencies, not raw dollar amounts
Outline equivalencies for each team identified as a top competitor and compare with
MSUB equivalencies
Develop recommendations for enhancements
8. Monitor coaches and programs based on competitive success.
o Action Steps: Conduct annual program evaluations Develop incentive system based on competitive success Meet with each coach on an annual basis to outline expectations related to
competitive achievement of his/her team
GOAL: Student-Athlete Experience
Summary: Ensure that the athletic department is providing the best possible experience for all of its
8
student-athletes, namely by identifying the threshold that maximizes value for each sport. In this sense, it is important to analyze MSUB’s current sports structure, and consider how inefficiencies may be alleviated through reconstruction or reorganization of sport structure. Student-athlete experience is based on how well the athletic department can serve its student-athletes, and in this sense quality of service may be more significant than quantity of students served. A good rule should be that if the athletic department cannot realistically support an athlete or team to the point of setting them up for success, then a re-evaluation of the current structure and menu of sports offered must occur. This goal also considers unique opportunities based around travel and cultural experience that may be provided to student-athletes based on the nature of required trips within a season’s regular schedule.
Strategies
1. Review and assess current intercollegiate sports configuration and sports under consideration for the future. Make recommendation for change using the following criteria:
Conference affiliation and availability of competition for current sports and sports under consideration for the future
Home game/match opportunities
Public interest
Quality and availability of facilities
Revenue potential from gate, guarantees, booster support, etc.
Annual net expense
Competitive success and potential to compete nationally Academic Success Rate
Roster size – increase enrollment
Participation at the high school level and the collegiate opportunities that exist in the region MSUB serves.
o Action Steps: Continue sports evaluation on an annual basis
Evaluate public outreach and marketing strategies
Explore possible ways to generate revenue (i.e. program sales, advertisements, etc.)
2. Review and assess current club sports configuration and sports under consideration for the future. Make recommendation for change using the following criteria:
Availability of competition for current sports and sports under consideration for the future
Home game/match opportunities
Student interest
Quality and availability of facilities Roster size – enrollment potential
Annual net expense compared with enrollment potential
o Action Steps: Identify prospective sports
Gauge community interest and potential support
Research club sports offered at other Montana institutions
Establish a club sports rulebook and ‘best practices’ guideline
Establish competition region and travel logistics
Identify funding sources
Perform cost-benefit analysis of expansion of club sport program
9
3. Annually review policies regarding travel and per diem. o Action Steps:
Assess missed class time
Use student-athlete end of year evaluation to gauge
Review actual expenses vs. travel itineraries
4. Enhance the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
o Action Steps: Brainstorm sessions with SAAC and Advisor at least once per year
Chancellor meet with SAAC once per year
Create SAAC board for the lobby
Enhance SAAC presence on the website
5. Evaluate health and safety issues pertaining to student-athletes.
o Action Steps: Annually review secondary health insurance coverage
Annually review injury surveillance reports
Maintain student-athlete health profile information
6. Establish training table meals for teams in pre-season and for winter sports teams when student-athletes are required to be on campus and the dining hall is closed.
o Action Steps: Identify cost and funding
7. Develop rotation schedule for foreign tour/trip to Hawaii or other desirable location for each team.
o Action Steps: Schedule trips around crossover tournaments
Find ways to limit budgetary impact
8. Encourage teams to schedule cultural experiences for teams when traveling (e.g. during days off).
o Action Steps: Many do this (basketball team to Oregon Coast, teams to North Pole at Fairbanks, etc.)
Encourage coaches to collaborate and share cultural experience ideas across sports
GOAL: Title IX Compliance & Gender Equity
Summary: MSUB must strive to meet all requirements of the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX legislation, namely ensuring that proportionality of student-athletes is aligned with that of the overall university. This goal also heavily relies upon assessing the current sport structure, and ensuring that the demand for sports based on demographics within the university and general region are being reflected appropriately through the menu of sports offered at MSUB.
Strategies
1. Assess MSUB’s effective accommodation of athletics interests. Determine if the student-athlete participation rate of each sex is proportional to its corresponding full-time undergraduate enrollment percentages.
o Action Steps: Annually review athletics participation compared to full-time undergraduate enrollment
10
Report findings to the Athletic Advisory Committee
2. Annually update MSUB’s history and continuing practice of program expansion for the underrepresented gender.
o Action Steps: Document history of sports offering
3. Assess whether current sport offerings satisfy the interests of both genders at MSUB. o Action Steps:
Specific to OCR requirements
Share with Athletic Advisory Committee
Survey of student body on sport interest
Annually assess MHSA sport offerings as measurement tool
4. Calculate the percentage of the athletically-related financial aid awarded to student-athletes to determine if it is within one percent of their student-athlete participation rates.
o Action Steps: Review and report annually
Share with Athletic Advisory Committee
5. Assess equivalency of treatment in support of the respective sports programs, including: a. Equipment and Supplies
o Action Steps: Review and report annually
Share with AAC
b. Scheduling of Games and Practice Times
o Action Steps: Review and report annually
Share with AAC
c. Travel and Per Diem Allowances o Action Steps:
Review and report annually
Share with AAC
d. Tutors/Academic Assistance o Action Steps: Review and report annually
Share with AAC
e. Coaches o Action Steps:
Review and report annually
Share with AAC
f. Locker Rooms, Practice, and Competition Facilities
o Action Steps: Review and report annually
Share with AAC
11
g. Medical and Athletic Training Facilities and Services o Action Steps:
Review and report annually
Share with ACC
h. Housing and Dining Facilities and Services
o Action Steps: Review and report annually
Share with ACC
i. Publicity
o Action Steps: Review and report annually
Share with AAC
Create survey for student-athletes
j. Support Services o Action Steps:
Review and report annually
Share with AAC
k. Recruitment of Student-Athletes
o Action Steps: Evaluate and assess recruiting practices and effectiveness
6. Develop a plan to address issues/concerns related to gender equity. o Action Steps:
Review data gathered from above
Identify areas of concern
Draft a plan to address issues
Send to AAC for feedback
GOAL: Diversity & Inclusion
Summary: MSUB is committed to identifying areas in which it can expand its diversity among staff and also monitor its diversity within athletics rosters and through the overall department. Concerted efforts must be made to create opportunities to as wide a range of individuals as possible, in order to fall in line with the diversity and inclusion initiatives set forth by the NCAA.
Strategies
1. Assess the racial or ethnic composition for athletics department staff members, head coaches, and assistant coaches.
o Action Steps: Review report that is currently submitted to NCAA annually
2. Assess the racial or ethnic composition for student-athletes and for students generally.
o Action Steps: Adjust recruiting as needed based on pursuit of racial and ethnic balance
12
3. Assess issues/concerns related to inclusion.
o Action Steps: Identify inclusion-related concerns by polling student-athlete population
4. Develop plan to address issues/concerns related to inclusion.
o Action Steps: Discuss potential options to enhance diversity and inclusion among athletics department
staff and student-athletes
GOAL: Facilities
Summary: Facilities are one of the top priorities listed within the strategic plan, and are essentially a subsection of the Student-Athlete Experience goal. For purposes of identifying specific timelines and prioritizing facility enhancements, it appears here as its own individual goal. Each facility project will be listed below within its own category, and will feature a specific timeline. Many of the facility upgrades listed below are based on hosting conference and regional tournaments, as a minimum standard is established when soliciting bids to host these events. Items such as lights at the softball field and expanded locker rooms are major factors that are considered when championship bids are reviewed. Hosting championships is a unique opportunity with the potential to drive local interest and promote MSUB’s brand, and facilities play a major role in the first step of winning a hosting bid.
Athletics facility upgrades are contingent upon approval by the MUS Board of Regents, and all projects are prioritized along with the university’s overall facilities plan and projects. Many of the projects listed below are contingent upon the completion of the university’s Yellowstone Building for Science and Allied Health Professions, and cannot be started until other projects with higher priorities are completed. Additionally, each project will contain a note identifying whether it is for use by varsity teams only, recreational students only, or both.
Strategies
1. Short Term Athletics Facilities. a. Relocate men’s and women’s soccer fields to main MSUB campus
o Action Steps: Begin field layout and design process
Identify funding dollars
Consider sponsorship opportunities and field naming rights
b. Renovate laundry facilities in P.E. Building
o Action Steps: Identify funding dollars
Obtain price quote
Install new machines
c. Construction of a fully functional baseball practice facility
o Action Steps: Identify funding dollars/sponsor
Identify location for construction
13
Develop blueprints/layout (include batting cages/indoor facility, etc.)
2. Long Term Athletics Facilities. a. Construction of a 60,000 square foot field house, including a 200-meter indoor track equipped to host meets
o Action Steps: Begin fieldhouse layout and design process
Identify funding dollars
Consider sponsorship opportunities and fieldhouse naming rights
Consider sponsorship opportunities and field naming rights
b. Avitus Group Stadium (softball facility) upgrades and enhancements – specifically addition of lights (both varsity & rec students)
o Action Steps: Obtain pricing quote for installation of lights
Identify other upgrades necessary
c. Renovate team locker rooms and coaches’ offices for all sports to ensure adequate space and equitability across sports (both varsity & rec students)
o Action Steps: Identify specific renovation needs
Obtain pricing quote for necessary upgrades
Obtain blueprint/layout and spacing for necessary upgrades
o Construct state of the art video room for teamsAction Steps: Explore video room standards across Division II level
Identify space and technological requirements
Obtain pricing quote for required room elements (size, technology, seating, etc.)
d. Construct conference room suitable to house entire athletics department staff
o Action Steps: Identify space for construction of conference room
Obtain pricing quote for necessary equipment/seating
e. Video board and Plexiglass railings for Alterowitz Gym
o Action Steps: Obtain pricing quote for installation of video board & railings
Identify standards across Division II
GOAL: Resource Development/Fundraising/Fiscal Integrity
Summary: Perhaps the most untapped resource to date for MSUB is its athletics alumni, which is an area that must be explored further. With the need for improved facilities and increased scholarships, securing funds and donations is crucial to the department achieving these goals. This goal also covers the potential for an apparel contract with an individual supplier, and assessing the current capital fundraising campaign strategy and adjusting with the mindset of enhancement and growth.
Strategies
14
1. Explore exclusive apparel contract with Nike or other vendor.
o Action Steps: Collect vendor and product data from each sport
Collaborate with university purchasing director to create RFPs
Form committee to review RFP bids
2. Seek athletic booster support to enhance competitive excellence through funding scholarships and capital improvement projects.
o Action Steps: Continue letter-writing campaign
Create database of former student-athletes
Solicit sponsorship opportunities to student-athlete alumni
Strengthen Booster Club by engaging current boosters and attracting new members
3. Coordinate capital campaign for athletics facilities and scholarships as a part of a broader MSUB effort.
o Action Steps: Begin architectural renderings
Identify potential corporate sponsors for field and facility naming rights
Collaborate with MSUB Foundation
4. Enhance Corporate Partner Program; grow by 10 percent in each of the next five years.
o Action Steps: Identify corporate categories
Compare with other peer institutions
Create vendor list
Compare current vendor list with historic list
Maintain comprehensive list of all advertising locations
5. Enhance scholarship events (dinner auction and golf tournament) and opportunities for student-athlete and coach involvement in fundraising.
o Action Steps:
Explore ways to grow fundraising and scholarship events
Apply Dinner Auction money towards specific project
6. Add a special event (e.g., on-campus youth basketball tournament) once every five years at a minimum.
o Action Steps: Hoops in the Hive Basketball Tournament
Identify target market & dates compatible with MSUB varsity basketball schedules
Identify high school or other events to be showcased on campus
7. Continue to operate within allocated budgets.
o Action Steps: Assess financial status of tournaments, events, etc.
Continue practice of regular budget meetings between all staff members & department
accountant
8. Develop ongoing education program on the university budget for coaches and staff.
o Action Steps:
15
Provide bi-annual budget briefings available to full athletics staff
GOAL: Communication/Marketing
Summary: MSUB should continue to expand and grow its communication and marketing strategy, with the goal of providing the most comprehensive and expansive coverage possible for its student- athletes. The development and execution of targeted marketing campaigns figures to be a key factor in expanding MSUB’s promotion of its athletes, particularly within local markets and the Billings community. This goal also identifies what strategies are currently in place and how they will be developed and potentially restructured moving forward.
Strategies
1. Enhance sports information initiatives.
o Action Steps: Quarterly newsletter
Expand media platforms (video, digital publications, graphic design, etc.)
Enhancement of game programs
Improve production value of live event streaming; new Tri Caster OR HD computer
Create a ‘video production’ internship in conjunction with MSU Billings communications
department to help offset cost of new equipment
Create a full-time graduate assistant position(s) in sports information/operations
2. Develop and implement targeted marketing campaigns to promote and raise awareness of MSUB Athletics within specific groups.
o Action Steps: On campus students
Students with families
Prospective students/families
Faculty/staff
Recognize at halftime
Business owners/leaders
Retirement communities
Youth groups
Feature somebody at each halftime
Make an event of outreach, i.e., Alumni games outside of Billings
MHSA events – get on the calendar before GNAC schedules
Every year find a new focus (dads day, etc.)
3. Promote MSUB Athletics specifically within communities in the states from which MSUB draws students.
o Action Steps: Games on the road
Promoting in specific locales where we draw students from
Add local media outlets to press release list of hometowns of student-athletes
Tailor press release distribution to local market of student-athletes who stories are associated with
16
Create MSUB Welcome Package to send to schools of recruits when they sign letters of intent
Materials that can be distributed among that recruit’s high school/home town (posters, cards,
stickers, etc. – work with admissions on this)
Take MSUB on the road – Alumni Association, Cheer, Band, Rally in Miles City, etc.
4. Work with University Relations to get MSUB gear and clothing into stores in the local community.
o Action Steps: Develop ideas/strategies that will go viral and are student driven
Marketing campaign packages delivered to local businesses in fall of 2015
Get materials into Billings Logan Int’l Airport
Schedule cards, posters, ‘Go Jackets’ signs, Newsletter
5. Place MSUB flags on the city street light poles around campus.
o Action Steps: MSUB events on the bottom
Identify locations of banners and funding for installation
6. Enhance local media coverage of MSUB’s athletic events.
o Action Steps: Have another feature at the event
Pitch local interest stories to local media
Send tailored invitations to media partners
Continue to foster relationships with local media outlets
7. Enhance promotion of competition schedules in local establishments.
o Action Steps: Coach and team take a day to shake hands and deliver posters, etc.
Deliver media packages
Assembly with full team at local schools; Develop relationship with elementary school principals
Develop relationship with retirement community
GOAL: History & Tradition
Summary: With the potential for capital to be raised through alumni, it is essential that MSUB’s athletic department work with the MSUB alumni association to maintain and foster relationships with alumni of all ages. With many athletic teams hosting annual alumni games, the opportunity to cultivate these relationships in person is present and must be capitalized on.
Strategies
1. Work with MSUB Alumni Association to develop a coordinated plan for alumni events (i.e., rotate larger events every other year for each sport).
o Action Steps: Events outside Billings
2. Enhance annual Hall of Fame and enhance/update selection process.
o Action Steps: Feature story series on each HOF inductee (“Where are they Now?” already begun)
Re-think display of MSUB HOF
17
Interactive video monitor board to complement plaques
Improve Hall of Fame page on website
Better bios for inductees
More photos
Interactive
Reconfigure HOF selection process and criteria
Revamp entire HOF structure in time for Jan. 2016 meeting with committee
3. Maintain Corridor of Champions and develop guidelines for items to be displayed. o Action Steps:
Identify individuals who have made an impact on the program to be recognized
Create a giant display board/mural with action photos of student-athletes
Use NCAA enhancement dollars for branding opportunities
GOAL: Community Service & Engagement
Summary: With more than 1,100 hours of community service recorded in the 2015-16 academic year, MSUB’s athletic department has displayed its commitment to giving back to those in need. This is an initiative that is healthy in its current state, and should be monitored to ensure it remains a focal part of the mission of the athletic department.
Strategies
1. Set and achieve a departmental goal of a 1,000 community service hours annually o Action Steps:
Recruiting: Identify ways to tie service to potential recruitment
We promote select community involvement events (i.e. women’s soccer at
elementary school or men’s soccer’s work with Team IMPACT) with video, press releases,
extended media coverage that potential recruits can see on our website and access via
social media
Retention: Try to tie efforts to other students on campus – involve other students, groups
2. Develop a plan for enhancement of community engagement events; ensure events meet the NCAA Division II definition of community engagement.
o Action Steps: Continue elementary school activity once per year, increase to once per term potentially
Satellite camps in different cities
3. Set a goal of winning the GNAC community engagement activity award at least once every three years.
o Action Steps: Review past GNAC winners
Set standard for achievement at beginning of each academic year
GOAL: Game Environment
Summary: This goal is tied directly to student-athlete experience, as creating a positive and energetic
18
game environment is essential. MSUB needs to assess its supporting cast in terms of the environment being created during games, and needs to identify ways in which to enhance this environment through the initiatives set forth by the NCAA. Continuing to bid for and secure hosting rights for GNAC and NCAA Championships is another way to enhance game environment, and data from community surveys should be closely examined to identify key areas in which game environment may be enhanced.
Strategies
1. Survey those who attend events about the game environment at athletic events. Include fans, visiting teams and officials.
o Action Steps: Polling groups on campus
Determine subsets of students, review admissions demographics
Promotions task force
Explore ideas for in-game entertainment - “kids place”, getting young children interested
Increase attendance of MSUB students at athletic events
Work with student union, residence life, housing, to develop ideas to incentivize attendance
at games
2. Review open-ended comments in the student and faculty/staff and community surveys to identify specific ideas for enhancing game environment and increasing attendance at athletic events.
o Action Steps: Analyze feedback from various groups, explore implementation possibilities
3. Develop and implement plan to address game environment issues.
o Action Steps: Halftime performer at every home game
National Anthem performer every game
‘Jackets Nest full every game
Campus partners at each game
4. Improve Concessions/apparel sales at athletic events. o Action Steps:
Concessions/apparel run through ‘Jackets & Co. Campus Store
5. Enhance Buzz the Mascot guidelines and appearances on campus and in the community.
o Action Steps: Spontaneous rallies and appearances
Create schedule for Buzz with regular appearances throughout year in community and at events
6. Enhance Cheer and Spirit squad.
o Action Steps: Develop a concept with pep band director, cheer coach, play by play, admins
Increase funding for cheer team members (scholarships)
Encourage participation in cheer-specific competitions/events
7. Maintain and support MSUB Pep Band.
o Action Steps:
19
Continue to feature band at home events
Broaden spectrum for performances – feature pep band at Buzzies, other Athletics events
Related Documents
