Award for Diversity and Inclusion

2013 Recipient - North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) ... Video Recap

Nominations for the inaugural Award for Diversity and Inclusion are no longer being accepted.

The award, established through a partnership between the NCAA and the Minority Opportunities Athletics Association (MOAA), is designed to recognize practices, initiatives and behaviors that embrace diversity and inclusion within intercollegiate athletics. NCAA or MOAA member institutions, athletics departments and conference offices are eligible to receive the award.

Winners will be recognized at the 2013 NCAA Convention and participate at the MOAA Symposium to be held in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics convention in June 2013.

"With an increased focus on achieving an inclusive environment in intercollegiate athletics through respecting diverse populations and backgrounds, the award shines a light on practices and behaviors that are effective," said NCAA Chief Inclusion Officer Bernard Franklin. "These can be through community service, professional development, hiring practices or programming activities that enhance opportunities for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences."

Sean Frazier, president of the Minority Opportunity Athletics Association and deputy athletics director at Wisconsin, said the partnership between the NCAA and the MOAA in this initiative should pay dividends.

"There are a number of outstanding efforts going on in intercollegiate athletics, and the recipients of this award are going to be shining examples of how to promote and support diversity and inclusion," he said.

Nominations should describe how the school or conference has fostered leadership and commitment to enhance diversity and inclusion, and expanded opportunities for students, staff and faculty within the athletics community. Schools and conferences can self-nominate.

Key characteristics of award winners may include:

• Focusing on the importance and the benefits of managing diversity, equality and promoting a culture of inclusion. 
• Raising and deepening awareness of equality and diversity issues, from both an employment and service provision point of view. 
• Providing mentoring opportunities and programming internally or externally. 
• Supporting inclusion- and diversity-related educational and professional development opportunities. 
• Implementing creative and inclusive work policies to support the needs of a diverse staff. 
• Fostering an environment that celebrates differences. 
• Contributions in the last year for innovative initiatives that affect the organization internally or externally.

Information on the nomination process may be found here. Nominations also must include two letters of support sent to award@ncaa.org. Letters of support from self-nominated institutions, athletics departments or conference offices must come from members outside of the athletics department or conference office who have knowledge of the accomplishments or involvement with the programming. Nominations and letters of support must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 14, 2012.

The selection committee will consist of individuals from the MOAA membership, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.