Athletics looked at our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s participation the Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign, a national effort spearheaded by the NCAA for the past four years.
How did this program connect to the social justice domain?
This campaign provides a prime opportunity for student-athletes, administrators, coaches, and fans across the country to use their platform to engage in a discussion about and promote diversity and inclusion. The goal is to create dialogue surrounding diversity and inclusion and to communicate how inclusive environments enhance the student-athlete experience.
The Campaign
My Voice, My Platform
DAY 1: Social media posts on day one explored student-athletes' identities, perspectives, and experiences.
Championing Change
DAY 2: The second day focused on personal and institutional action steps for inclusive excellence.
Belonging Is...
DAY 3: Posts on the final day of the campaign supported fostering communities of belonging within athletics.
Outcome
The most measurable outcome was the number of participants – approximately 10-15 – who were active in the SAAC and Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign. Many student-athletes graduated during the period of virtual instruction when sporting events paused. The social media campaign was a great way of reintroducing athletics and sporting events to the University as we prepared to return to campus.
Next Steps
- Establish yearly programming, speaking engagements, professional development opportunities through our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
- Continue involvement with the CCAA and NCAA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees.
- Continue evaluating student-athletes holistic experiences here and how we can make those better.