Mississippi Colege Athletics

From its’ beginnings, Mississippi College has had a strong commitment to diversity.  In December 1831, Mississippi College made history as the first coeducational college in the nation to grant a degree to a woman.  This honorable heritage has been the foundation for the college’s continuing commitment to diversity. Today, Mississippi College is proud that its undergraduate population comes from various racial or ethnic minority groups.  The Athletic Department has continued to meet or exceed the college’s undergraduate minority population.  Mississippi College’s commitment to diversity is much more than initiatives taken by the Athletic Department.  It has been a part of our campus culture from the very beginning. 

Athletic Department Diversity Statement:
Mississippi College is a proud member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Gulf South Conference.  As such, Mississippi College is committed to abiding by all applicable rules and regulations.  It is the mission of the Department of Athletics to promote the spiritual, social emotional and physical development of our student-athletes while embracing the Division II model for a balanced program of learning and development.
 
The University’s non-discrimination statement more fully expresses the position of Mississippi College.  The University does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability of the provision of services.  Based upon the religious exemption of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Mississippi College has the right to discriminate on religious grounds in employment of faculty and staff to the extent that applicable law respects its right or act in furtherance of its religious objectives and mission.  Pursuant to this exemption, Mississippi College does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation per se, but does discriminate on the basis of sexual misconduct, including, but not limited to non-marital sexual misconduct, homosexual conduct, or the encouragement or advocacy of any form of sexual behavior in conflict with the Christian and Baptist identity or faith mission of Mississippi College.
 
The Department is committed to providing an educational environment for our student-athletes and a work environment for our coaches and staff that provides equal opportunity and is free from illegal discrimination.
 
Athletic Department Diversity Plan:
 
1.  Program Area: Institutional and Athletics Department Commitment
The Athletic Department has developed a Strategic Diversity Plan for Athletics and will continue working to ensure compliance with its commitment to diversity and increase awareness of the plan and its’ goals.
 
Objective 1:  Continue to ensure the Athletic Department’s commitment to and increase awareness of its diversity policies and procedures, programs, and projects as well as taking distinct steps to promote and affirm diversity in athletics.

    - Publicize this plan on http://www.gochoctaws.com/.
    - Properly publish in athletics related publications.
    - Distribute to and educate staff and student-athletes.
    - Engage the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee to provide leadership and advocacy for this plan.

 Objective 2:  Develop a diversity statement for the Athletic Department to be incorporated into the Athletic Department Mission Statement.

    - Engage Intercollegiate Athletics Committee to write a diversity statement consistent with Mississippi College’s anti-discrimination statement.
    - Modify the Athletic Department Mission Statement to include the new statement on diversity.
    - Include the modified mission statement in the Student-Athlete Handbook, the Strategic Diversity Plan, and website. 



2.  Program Area: Enrollment & Assessment
The Athletic Department will continue to pursue the recruitment of diverse student-athletes and work with the Office of Institutional Research to assess athletics related diversity data to ensure its continual commitment to diversity.

Objective 1:  Monitor the Athletic Department’s activities related to its commitment to diversity.

    - Address issues that arise in athletics diversity and develop strategies to address deficiencies.

Objective 2:  Maintain the percentage of minority student athletes at or above the percentage of minorities in the general student body population.

    - Continue the recruitment of minority student athletes 



3.  Program Area: Organization and Structure
The Athletic Department will continue to observe and evaluate its organization and structure annually with an emphasis on encouraging and ensuring diversity.

Objective 1:  Maintain, and improve as needed, educational efforts on diversity for all Athletic Department staff and student athletes.

    - Incorporate commitment to the diversity statement in new athletic department employee appointment letters.
    - Incorporate commitment to the diversity statement in all student athlete recruitment materials. 



4.  Program Area: Participation in Governance and Decision-Making
Continue to maintain and increase involvement of staff and student athletes from diverse groups in decision making and leadership roles.

Objective 1: Continue to increase involvement in decision making and leadership roles within the athletic department and campus community.

    - Encourage diverse participation in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
    - Recommend diverse candidates to represent the Athletic Department in University Committees. 



5.  Program Area: Employment Opportunities
Maintain the number of diverse Athletic Department staff and make new hiring decisions with the Athletic Department’s commitment to diversity in mind.
 
Objective 1:  Continue to seek diverse candidates for positions within the Athletic Department.

    - Encourage all staff involved in the hiring process to practice the Athletic Department’s commitment to diversity in the hiring process.
    - Provide employment and/or volunteer opportunities for recent student athlete graduates from diverse populations within the department after graduation.



6.  Program Area: Programs & Activities
Maintain and strengthen support for student athletes from diverse populations.
 
Objective 1:  Provide a support system for student athletes from diverse populations to increase retention and success in these populations.

    - Implement a Study Hall Policy that requires all student athletes to have designated study times.
    - Host a required Student Athlete Orientation that includes presentations from: Office of Student Success, Counseling, Teaching and Writing Center, & Career
       Services that educate student athletes about the academic resources available to them.
    - Require student athletes who have been identified by their professors as “at risk” to meet weekly/bi-weekly with the Academic Advisor for Athletics.
    - Provide academic scheduling tips by sport at Freshmen and Transfer Orientation sessions and by request to encourage academic success.