Diversity in Athletics Award Announced

Ten universities garnered top honors for overall excellence among recipients of "Diversity in Athletics Awards" announced Wednesday by the Laboratory for Diversity in Sport at Texas A&M University, based on data compiled about NCAA Division I-A athletic departments.

COLLEGE STATION, January 5, 2006 -- Ten universities garnered top honors for overall excellence among recipients of "Diversity in Athletics Awards" announced Wednesday by the Laboratory for Diversity in Sport at Texas A&M University, based on data compiled about NCAA Division I-A athletic departments.

"This award is aimed to highlight the diversity success stories," said George B. Cunningham, lab director and assistant professor in sport management for the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M. "The award recipients are to be commended for the excellence they demonstrate in the area of diversity."

It is possible to have a diverse workplace and provide equitably for all persons, regardless of their individual differences, Cunningham said. "These schools are doing great things and can be looked at as benchmark schools of success when it comes to diversity."

Despite the benefits of diversity, there is evidence that many university athletic departments are not equally open to all persons, reported Cunningham. Athletes in the racial minority graduate at substantially lower rates than do their white counterparts, and on many basketball teams, the graduation rates of African Americans is at zero percent, he noted.

Besides issues of race disparities in athletics, some women do not receive the participation opportunities or funding to which they are entitled under federal guidelines (Title IX), and gay and lesbian athletes, coaches, and administrators oftentimes face hostile workplaces and are subject to discrimination, Cunningham said.

"Because most news on the diversity of athletic departments is negative, we wanted to acknowledge the good things that are being done around the country," said Cunningham. "What is also noteworthy is that many of the schools that excelled in the area of diversity also perform quite well in terms of athletic success. This shows that there does not have to be a tradeoff when it comes to having a diverse workplace."

Data were collected from all NCAA Division I-A university athletic departments. The award recognizes excellence in seven areas: diversity strategy, sex diversity of department employees, racial diversity of department employees, graduation of African American male student athletes, graduation of African American female student athletes, Title IX compliance, and overall excellence in diversity, Cunningham explained.

The Laboratory for Diversity in Sport is dedicated to producing and disseminating research related to all forms of diversity within the sport context. Such research allows for a greater understanding of how diversity impacts individuals and teams, as well as the benefits of diversity, Cunningham said.

Contact: Dr. George B. Cunningham, 979.458.8006

The top recipients in each category are presented in alphabetical order are:

Overall Excellence in Diversity:

Arizona State University

Temple University

University of Arizona

University of Buffalo

University of Louisiana - Monroe

University of Nevada

University of Tulsa

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Washington State University

Diversity Strategy

Arizona State University

Bowling Green State University

Kent State University

University of California - Los Angeles

University of Iowa

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin - Madison

African American Graduation - Male Student Athletes

Ball State University

California State University - Fresno

Indiana University

Kansas State University

Marshall University

Mississippi State University

San Diego State University

University of Akron

University of Cincinnati

University of Louisiana - Monroe

University of Southern Mississippi

University of Toledo

Western Michigan University

African American Graduation - Female Student Athletes

University of Akron

University of Arizona

University of Cincinnati

University of Louisville

Marshall University

University of Missouri - Columbia

University of Toledo

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Title IX Compliance

Boston College

Clemson University

North Carolina State University

Ohio State University

Oregon State University

San Diego State University

Tulane University

University of Buffalo

University of Michigan

Washington State University

West Virginia University

Employee Diversity - Sex

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Michigan State University

Ohio State University

Syracuse University

University of Buffalo

University of Nevada

University of Tennessee

University of Tulsa

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Employee Diversity - Race

Arizona State University

Temple University

University of Arizona

University of California - Berkley

University of Hawaii - Manoa

University of New Mexico

University of Southern California

University of Tulsa

University of Washington

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