A survey of current administrative policies and practices pertaining to intercollegiate athletic programs in Texas two-year colleges

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to survey current administrative policies and practices pertaining to inter-collegiate athletic programs in Texas two-year colleges. Specifically, the survey determined the prevalent administrative policies and practices in Texas two-year colleges with an established intercollegiate athletic program. The study determined the prevalent athletic administrative policies and practices of Texas two-year colleges with enrollments above and below 1,500 students as well as the athletic policies and practices of the public and private Texas two-year colleges. Procedure: The data pertaining to the administrative policies and practices of intercollegiate athletics in Texas two-year colleges was collected by means of a written survey of all athletic directors of Texas two-year colleges. Permission to conduct the survey was obtained from the college presidents before contacting the athletic directors of each institution. After receiving completed questionnaires, data were tabulated and the results were analyzed and displayed in charts, graphs and percentage tables for interpretation. The findings were summarized and recommendations were made for consideration of all administrators of intercollegiate athletics in Texas two-year colleges. Conclusions: 1. Texas two-year college athletic programs utilize revenue other than gate receipts to finance their athletic programs. 2. The delegation of responsibility for athletic control in Texas two-year colleges had no consistent administrative pattern. 3. Women's athletic programs were inferior to the men's athletic programs in Texas two-year colleges in the areas of number of sports offered, variety of sports offered and financial aid to student athletes. 4. Written policies concerning intercollegiate athletics in Texas two-year colleges showed no consistent pattern with the exceptions where policies were determined by either national or conference affiliation. 5. Admissions standards for student athletes were basically the same as those standards printed and published in the institution's catalogue for non-athletes. 6. Administrative structure of Texas two-year college athletic departments were the results of individual institutional philosophy. 7. Texas two-year colleges did not provide adequate facilities or trained personnel necessary for the proper care and treatment of athletic injuries. 8. Promotion and publicity of athletic events received a very low priority in Texas two-year colleges. 9. Coaches in Texas two-year colleges were also employed as classroom instructors as well as for coaching. 10. The interest, concern and knowledge displayed by athletic directors in Texas two-year colleges toward intercollegiate athletics should be very beneficial to these programs in future years. Recommendations: 1. Each individual institution should review all written policies concerning intercollegiate athletics. All previous written policies should be reviewed and revised if necessary and new written policies prepared for all areas not already covered. 2. Each individual institution should examine the departmental organization on intercollegiate athletics. Departmental organization for intercollegiate athletics should be made consistent with the departmental organization of other departments of the college. 3. An in-depth investigation should be conducted into alternative methods of financing intercollegiate athletics in Texas two-year colleges. 4. In order to better realize community college philosophy of local focus, financial aid to student athletes should be limited to books, tuition and fees to discourage the recruitment of student athletes from outside the geographical location of the college. 5. Each individual institution should place limits on the number of contests played in each sport and the travel distance of each contest to reduce costs and remain consistent with institutional financial policies and educational philosophy. 6. Each institution should have on its athletic staff a person trained in the care, treatment and prevention of athletic injuries. 7. Each institution should review its policies on promotion and publicity of athletic events and that a paid staff member be given the responsibility for promoting and publicizing athletic events. 8. The NJCAA should conduct a feasibility study for the purpose of bringing all two-year colleges in Texas under, the administrative umbrella of the national organization. 9. The NJCAA. should be encouraged to organize member colleges into geographical conferences with uniform rules, for eligibility, admissions, and recruitment. 10. Women's athletics should be offered on a comparable level with the men's programs and a position of director of women's athletics, should be created in the departmental organization on each Texas two-year college. 11. Clinic, workshops and in-service training programs on athletic administration should be conducted for athletic administrators statewide.