App State Athletics Operation Plan

App State Athletics Operation Plan


APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS OPERATION PLAN


SUMMARY OF OPERATION PLAN


Priority 1                  Alignment with University Leadership
 
Priority 2                  Departmental Master Planning
 
Priority 3                  Financial Planning & Management
 
Priority 4                  Culture of Compliance & Risk Management
 
Priority 5                  Academic Achievement
 
Priority 6                  Athletic Excellence
 
Priority 7                  Student-Athlete Life
 
Priority 8                  Enhanced External Relations
 
Priority 9                  Emergence of Athletics Development
 
Priority 10                Facilities Master Planning
 

PURPOSE OF OPERATIONS PLAN

The purpose of this Operations Plan is to continue Department of Athletics alignment with the educational mission of the University and our Chancellor’s plans for the future of the University.
 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PLANNING PROCESS

  • Openness and inclusion in all areas of our work
  • Clarity in defining specific roles and responsibilities, performance standards and accountability measures for every Unit of our Department
  • Unity as a leadership and management team, in order to speak with a unified voice
  • A continuous improvement and best-practices mindset

FORMAT OF OPERATIONS PLAN

The focal points for this plan are our Working Mission, Core Values, Operational Priorities, and related Goals through 2017. These elements are bringing a sense of order, efficiency and accountability, and we are enthusiastic with the challenges that lie ahead.
 

WORKING MISSION OF APP STATE ATHLETICS

Our Mission:
  • In support of the Educational Mission of the University
  • We protect and promote the safety, health, and well-being of each and every one of our Student-Athletes
  • We guide and support our Student-Athletes in their quest for excellence – academically, athletically, and socially
  • We gather and engage our University Community to become a part of our plans

CORE VALUES

Our Core Values guide and govern our actions at all times. They define “what we stand for” and “what we won’t stand for.” They include:
  • Academic Integrity
  • Social Responsibility
  • Competitive Excellence
  • World-Class Experience

OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES & RELATED GOALS

Priority 1 – Alignment with University Leadership

  • Goal – Planning & Reporting
    • Develop and refine Operations Plan for the Department of Athletics, through 2017
    • Reporting to the Athletics Committee for the Board of Trustees, led by the Director of Athletics:
      • Student-Athlete Profile
      • Quarterly Update on Department Operations
      • Coaching Contract Updates
         
  • Goal – Participation in Campus Planning & Activities
    • Develop collaborative relationships for planning and involvement of Department Staff
    • Proactive engagement from Department’s Senior Staff within the University Community


Priority 2 – Departmental Master Planning

  • Goal – Comprehensive Sport Program Assessment
    • Define standards and expectations for all Sport Programs
    • Develop a Needs Report for all Sports Programs
       
  • Goal – Promote and Celebrate Diversity & Inclusion throughout Department
    • Create Recruitment Plans for open positions designed to broaden the applicant pools of qualified individuals and attract individuals from groups that are underrepresented at Appalachian
    • Consult with the Office of Equity, Diversity and Compliance when conducting all searches
    • Create an inclusive, safe, and welcoming culture in the Department
    • Create a Departmental “Commitment to Inclusion” Statement
    • Collaborate with the Chief Diversity Officer to offer student-athlete opportunities to engage in conversations and programming that promote an inclusive environment for all student-athletes, coaches, and employees
 

Priority 3 – Financial Planning & Management

  • Goal – Develop Sustainable Budget Models
    • Maintain Balanced Budget
    • Proactive planning to increase revenue opportunities across the Department
    • Conduct Sport Assessment based on financial sustainability
       
  • Goal – Refined Financial Policies & Procedures
    • Refine robust department policies and procedures manual, specifically outlining best practices and management guidelines
    • Monthly meetings on financial affairs with Administrative Staff and Coaching Staff
    • Refined staffing plan for Business Office
       
  • Goal – Athletics Scholarship Administration
    • Assess budget limitations
    • Determine access to Full Cost of Attendance Scholarships
    • Address Title IX implications
       
  • Goal – Formalized Needs Reporting for All Operating Units and Sport Programs
    • Development of formal Needs Reports for all Operating Units and Sport Programs
    • Direct involvement and support from Unit Managers, Coaching Staff and Key Constituents
       
  • Goal – Conduct Economic Impact Study
    • Conduct study of Department of Athletics’ economic impact on the community
    • Promote in all settings; Department Staff, Coaches, University Community; Department publications


Priority 4 – Culture of Compliance & Risk Management

  • Goal – Increased Compliance Rules Education
    • Produce monthly compliance newsletter to educate athletics coaches and staff
    • Meet monthly with Sport Program coaches and support staff
       
  • Goal – Internal Compliance Operations
    • Submit Weekly Compliance Report to Chancellor’s Chief of Staff, Director of Athletics, and Faculty Athletics Representative outlining significant activities within Athletics Compliance
    • Refinement of Policies & Procedures
      • Update Student-Athlete Handbook
      • Update Coaches Recruiting Manual
      • Update Compliance Policies & Procedures Manual
         
  • Goal – Sports Medicine Risk Assessment
    • Appropriate Medical Coverage of Sport Programs
      • Review, determine and develop plan to ensure all student-athletes receive appropriate medical care
      • Determine appropriate ratio of staff members in regards to number of Student-Athletes
      • Review current staff workload and evaluate need for additional administrative staffing
    • Develop tool for Student-Athletes, Coaches, and Staff to evaluate the Athletic Training Services area
    • Review and update Policies & Procedures for Athletic Training Services area
    • Develop procedures to manage Student-Athlete insurance
       
  • Goal – Comprehensive Review and Installation of Title IX Plans
    • Address recommendations and comments contained in Title IX Assessment completed in 2015
    • Conduct Sport Assessment based on effective Accommodation of Interests and Abilities section of Title IX

Priority 5 – Academic Achievement

  • Goal – Academic Performance
    • Surpass NCAA APR rates of 950 for all Sport Programs
    • Exceed national averages for sport specific graduation rates
    • Surpass average University grade point average
    • Program of Distinction in the Conference
      • Achieve Student-Athlete APR amongst the top 4 schools in the Conference
      • Achieve Student-Athlete GSR amongst the top 4 schools in the Conference
         
  • Goal – Student-Athlete Testing
    • Work with the Psychology Clinic, and Athletics Learning Specialist to determine appropriate testing and accommodation needs for Student-Athletes
       
  • Goal – Enhance Learning Support Services
    • Develop and fund new Learning Specialist position
    • Develop formal Academic Plan for each Sport Program
    • Work with campus partners who specialize in areas of need
       
  • Goal – Celebrate Academic Achievement
    • Enhance Scholar-Athlete recognition programs and events
    • University Leadership, Department Leadership and Coaching Staff to comment on academic performance at public events
    • Highlight Academic achievement in all publications (Annual Reports, Media Guides, etc.)


Priority 6 – Athletic Excellence

  • Goal – Clearly-Defined Roles & Responsibilities
    • Define expectations of Sport Program Administrators
    • Define expectations of Coaches
    • Define expectations of Student-Athletes
       
  • Goal – Formalized Sport Reports
    • Sport Program Administrators complete Monthly Sport Reports using standardized metrics
      • Competitive Performance; Schedule; Academics; Budget; Compliance; Community Outreach; Equipment; Facilities; Fundraising; Life Skills; Marketing; Recruiting; Sports Medicine; Strength & Conditioning; Team Travel, etc.


Priority 7 – Student-Athlete Life

  • Goal – Student-Athlete Surveys
    • Assess survey questions using NCAA membership best practices
    • Analyze outcomes of end-of-year surveys to enhance departmental performance evaluations
    • Develop plan to address Student-Athlete Time Demand issues
       
  • Goal – AppFuel Stations
    • Compile detailed AppFuel data to determine future needs:
      • Individual station usage
      • Total student-athletes served (Women’s Sports vs. Men’s Sports)
      • Total snacks served
      • Staffing requirements
    • Determine need for additional AppFuel station
       
  • Goal – Life Skills Training
    • Conduct financial literacy training for all Student-Athletes
    • Organize and facilitate professional workshops for Student-Athletes
       
  • Goal – Student-Athlete Empowerment Meetings
    • Consult with SAAC to determine topics for Student-Athlete meetings
    • Achieve average meeting attendance of 10% of total Student-Athlete population
       
  • Goal – Mountaineer Moves Community Service Program
    • Develop system to track total hours of Student-Athlete community service
    • Promote in all settings; Departmental Staff, Coaches, University Community; Department publications


Priority 8 – Enhanced External Relations

  • Goal – Develop Comprehensive Brand Strategy
    • Promote Define the Moment
    • Consult with Chancellor’s Office on Logo update
       
  • Goal – Develop External Communications Calendar
    • All engagement initiatives and promotions
    • Advertising and social media schedule for each initiative
    • Collateral support needed with deadlines
       
  • Goal – Increased Ticket Sales
    • $ 2.0 million in total sales – Football
    • $ 85,000 in total sales – Men’s & Women’s Basketball
    • $ 8,000 in total sales – Wrestling
    • $ 10,000 in total sales – Baseball
       
  • Goal – Increase App State Athletics Social Media Reach
    • Develop and implement strategies to increase Facebook likes from 14,000 to 16,000
    • Develop and implement strategies to increase Twitter followers from 23,000 to 26,000


Priority 9 – Emergence of Athletics Development

  • Goal – Increased Membership in Annual Fund
    • Achieve 4,000 Donors in 2017
    • All-In Campaign for Department and Graduating Seniors
    • Former Student-Athlete Campaign
       
  • Goal – Cultivation & Increase in Leadership/Major Gifts
    • Cultivation of key prospects for endowments and/or capital projects
    • Presentation of Operations Plan and Needs Reports to all current and prospective donors
    • Set minimum number of calls per week
      • Per staff member
      • Define commitment goals
    • Develop Stewardship program involving AD & Executive Team
       
  • Goal – Increase in Endowments
    • Progress toward total endowment value of $10 million by 2020
       
  • Goal – Meetings with Staff and Coaches
    • Create PowerPoint presentation for Coaches presentations
    • Create portfolio for presentations and meetings
       
  • Goal – Installation of Professional Delivery System
    • Development of formal process map, scripts and outlines, correspondence templates and presentation portfolio for all Unit Managers
    • Comprehensive Educational System
    • Develop Portfolio of Educational Materials
    • Installation of AD’s Folio
    • Refinement of Database & Constituent Portfolios
      • Refinement and ongoing segmentation of database for all Unit and Senior Staff
      • Define prospective Corporate Donors


Priority 10 – Facilities Master Planning

  • Goal – Facilities Master Planning
    • Develop and implement an athletics facilities master plan for 5, 10, and 20 years
    • Maintain an updated and prioritized facility project list and deferred maintenance plan
       
  • Goal – Kidd Brewer Stadium Enhancements
    • Evaluate opportunities for additional revenue in Kidd Brewer Stadium
    • Invest in facility enhancements that provide opportunity for revenue generation
       
  • Goal – Scheduling of University Facilities
    • Evaluate overall use of athletic facilities by App State sports teams
    • Determine appropriate rental strategies for all outside groups (including club and intramural sport teams)