Principle 5SWA Involvement

or Fifth Representative to the Governance

Structure

January, 2009

An institutional Senior Woman Administrator is the

highest ranking female involved with the

management of an institution’s intercollegiate

athletics program. An institution with a female

director of athletics may designate a different

female involved with the management of the

institution’s program as a fifth representative or the

NCAA governance system. A model Division II

athletics program shall include active involvement

of the fifth representative to the governance

structure in decision making regarding key issues

and in the general operations of the athletics

department. The fifth representative to the

governance structure should be a senior level

administrator and she should have the title of

assistant or associate athletics director. (Service,

Balance)

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January, 2009

SWA or Fifth Representative to the Governance Structure

• SWA is a full-time senior management administrator• Involved in all policy, procedural, and personnel decisions within the athletics department• Oversight responsibilities for sport management, compliance program, event management, budget and finance• Oversees department in AD’s absence• Serves as an institutional representative at conference and NCAA meetings

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January,2009

SWA or Fifth Representativeto the Governance Structure • Active in fundraising and community- relations initiatives• Represents institution on conference and national committees• Represents the athletics department on university committees• Involved with AD in compiling and reviewing the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA)

5

January, 2009

SWA or Fifth Representativeto the Governance Structure • Provided professional development and growth opportunities• “The schools in our conference that have an SWA who is involved in all administrative duties are way ahead of the others and have fewer problems with compliance, student- athletes, recruiting, and event management.”

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