Babson Athletics Strategic PlanAs is done regularly in all areas of the College, the Board of Trustees undertook a thorough review of our athletics and recreation program in the 2011-12 academic year. The charge from the Board was to review our Department of Athletics and Recreation in light of our focus on creating a global community that strives to challenge and develop our students, both inside and outside the classroom. This included benchmarking our programs and resource investment with the institutions we compete with for students in general as well as those we compete with for student-athletes.Executive Summary: * Babson's Athletic program is stable and well-operated. The program achieves episodic but not program-wide success and rarely engages the community as broadly or passionately as many of its peers. * A plan to move all Athletics (Varsity, Club, Intramural, Recreation) to a position consistent with Babson's Centennial vision has been identified and is actionable. * Athletic success can be leveraged to increase brand equity, community engagement, and fundraising. * An increased annual operating investment is required to move spending from 4th quartile to lower 2nd quartile against a NEWMAC/NESCAC peer group. * Advancement opportunities will significantly lower net investment. * Athletic plans are dependent upon fulfillment of master plan.Babson College AthleticsBCA_9f887b80-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b_9f887d9c-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9bAt Babson College, athletics is an integral part of the Babson Experience. Babson supports comprehensive programs for its diverse community at the varsity, club and intramural level. Babson athletes are expected to excel athletically as well as academically while exhibiting the highest level of sportsmanship, leadership, integrity and honor. Babson's academic and athletics missions reinforce each other through the practice of entrepreneurial thought and action._9f887e78-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9bVarsity SportsWin and consistently compete for conference championship while delivering rewarding student experiences._9f887f36-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b1Varsity Goals -- Our varsity programs focus on excellence by winning and consistently competing for their conference championship while delivering a rewarding student experience.Sports PortfolioCreate systematic review process to evaluate sports portfolio._9f887fe0-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b1.1Coaching ModelImplement and invest in new coaching model._9f888094-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b1.2Coaches & StaffEvaluate market data to ensure a high level of coaching, as well as retain quality coaches and support staff._9f88813e-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b1.3Club Sports[Achieve] sustained participation, effective student leadership, rewarding student experiences and positive representation of the College._9f8881e8-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b2Club Goals -- The Club Sport programs (student-led and College supported teams) will focus on sustained participation, effective student leadership, rewarding student experiences and being a positive representative of the College.Transparency & StructureImplement new club sport model to provide greater transparency and structure to our students._9f8882a6-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b2.1This will be a three-tier club sport model with different clubs being afforded specific resources based on tier.Intramurals & RecreationMaximize participation and inclusivity and blend the entire Babson Community in common space._9f88833c-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b3Intramurals and Recreation -- Intramurals and recreation programs are a diverse set of activities influenced by demand where success is defined by maximizing participation, inclusivity, and the ability to blend the entire Babson Community in common space.ParticipationInvigorate intramural program/recreational programming to maximize participation across the entire Babson community._9f8883f0-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b3.1Recreation & FitnessEvaluate current recreational/fitness programming opportunities across campus._9f8884a4-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b3.2Consolidation & ProgramsConsolidate opportunities under one office and create additional programming._9f88854e-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b3.3Strategic & Operational Support_9f88860c-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4Findings: * Operational support (sports medicine, equipment, strength and conditioning) is not equipped to meet current needs of programs, let alone new goals. * Financial benchmarking against 20 peer institutions illustrates Athletics is in 3rd /4th quartile for overall expenditures, overall expenditures minus football, and overall expenditures per sport. * Opportunities exist to make immediate impact on student-athlete experience with regards to meals, travel and equipment. * Admission practices with regards to student-athletes are excellent. Collaboration between Athletics and Admissions is exemplary and could be used as a model for other areas. * Minor facility improvements cannot wait 5-10 years.RecruitingIncrease financial support for recruiting to provide coaches the resources to establish relationships and attract top prospects from around the globe._9f8886ca-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.1Sports InformationModernize the sports information model to provide greater efficiency, adaptability and flexibility._9f888788-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.2InvestmentsRe-establish an athletics advisory committee to assess the investments made by the College based on these findings._9f88885a-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.3Summer CampsCreate a group to reengineer the summer camps model to provide optimal solutions for Babson and for coaches._9f888918-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.4Advancement StrategyDevelop and implement a specific advancement strategy around athletics and recreation._9f8889e0-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.5PriorityIdentify athletics as a Centennial priority._9f888aa8-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.6Student-Athlete Development & ProgramsInvest in student-athlete development and programming to support student-athlete life skills and reinforce athletics and recreational goals against institutional learning priorities._9f888b66-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.7Student-AthletesSports Medicine, Strength & Conditioning & EquipmentExpand support in sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and equipment._9f888c24-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.8Institutional SupportQuick Fix-Increase institutional support for "required" training trips, student-athlete meals, and equipment._9f888d46-b531-11e4-be03-dd1cfc454b9b4.92015-02-15http://babsonathletics.com/strategicplanOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net