Decisions to be Made

I have been asked many times over the past few months, why has CSU Channel Islands decided to start its new Department of Athletics, at this time, considering the state of our economy here in California? My answer to that has been, "We are looking outside of the box, in terms of developing our athletic department and we are going to do things differently than other universities." The question that usually comes next is, 'How and what are you going to do considering that the state as no money and people are holding on to their money until the economy situation turns around?" My answer has been, "We are developing plans now, so when the economic situation turns around we are ready to hit the ground running and present those plans to individuals that are interested in helping us." If you develop long term plans, make sound judgments and have options, we will build an athletic program that will be successful.

Now with all that said, where do we go? Over the past few weeks I have been reviewing budget numbers from other CSU athletic departments (Division II) to get a sense of how much each department is spending on their athletic teams. I'm looking at salaries, travel cost, scholarships, equipment purchases and recruiting costs. I am also review how successful the teams have been in the classroom and on the playing surface; whether that is finishing in the top half of the league to winning an outright conference championship to participating in and winning a NCAA National Championship. There is a misconception out there that says in order to win and to be successful, you need to spend more than everyone else. Success is defined in numerous ways: 1) Graduating your student-athletes, 2) Developing your student-athlete as a whole person 3) Winning.

I have received numerous phone calls and emails from students, faculty, staff and local community members wondering when the decision will be made on which sports we will start first. I can tell you that we can getting closer to making that decision. I have most of the financial information that I need to determine how starting sport "x" or sport "y"will impact our budget. The next factor that plays into this decision is what sport our student body will rally behind and support. I will be holding various discussions with students in residence halls and various brown bag sessions for faculty, staff and students during the month of September. It is our goal to have an announcement sometime this fall.

What still seems to be the million dollar question is what sports are we considering? The first few sports that we offer will have to be sports that do not require building a new facility on campus. With that said, we are currently reviewing the option to offer Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's Golf, Women's Volleyball and Men's and Women's Cross Country. Along with the sports that
I just mentioned, other sports that are under consideration to are: Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Baseball, Softball, Track and Field, Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving.

Membership Requirements for the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association)

It is our plan to apply for membership to the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) within the next few years as we build our new athletic department. Below is a listing of requirements needed to apply and to become a member of the CCAA. All information listed below has been taken from the 2008-09 CCAA Manual.


2.1 HISTORY
The CCAA was organized in December 1938. Charter members were California State University, Fresno, San Diego State University, San Jose State University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

2.2 NCAA MEMBERSHIP
To be a member of the CCAA, an institution must be an active member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and compete in Division II of the NCAA in all sports where CCAA status is desired.

2.3 PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Provisional members of NCAA Division II are considered to be provisional members of the CCAA until they are defined as an active member according to the NCAA.
2.3.1 In the first year of the NCAA four-year provisional membership status, CCAA member institutions shall not be eligible for individual awards (e.g., Players of the Week, All-CCAA Teams, All-Academic Team, etc.) and voting privileges at all CCAA meetings.
2.3.2 Beginning with the second year of the NCAA three-year provisional membership status, CCAA member institutions shall be eligible for individual awards and voting privileges.
2.3.3 Provisional members are not eligible for CCAA Championships until they are active members of NCAA Division II as defined by the NCAA.

2.4 REGULAR MEMBERSHIP
2.4.1 To be a regular member of the CCAA, an institution must participate in and sponsor five (5)sports for men and five (5) sports for women or four (4) sports for men and six (6) sports for
women, at least two being team sports with the following designations. Men - four (4) of the
following with one (1) being either basketball or baseball: basketball, baseball, soccer, cross
country, track and field, and golf. Women - four (4) of the following with one (1) being either
basketball or volleyball: basketball, cross country volleyball, soccer, softball, tennis, and track and field.
2.4.2 If a regular member maintains an intercollegiate team in an active CCAA sport, then that team must compete in the CCAA, with the exception of the option of one men’s and one women’s team which may elect to participate in Division I.
2.4.3 A CCAA sport must be sponsored by six (6) CCAA institutions to have championship status.
2.4.4 Regular members will be issued CCAA athletics passes. These passes admit bearer and guest to all regularly scheduled CCAA events. The CCAA Commissioner shall distribute the appropriate number of passes to each institution by September 1, each academic year.

APPLICATION FOR CCAA MEMBERSHIP
2.6.1 Letter of interest is sent to CCAA Commissioner.
2.6.2 Commissioner forwards letter of interest to Presidents/Chancellors’ Group for approval.
2.6.3 Upon approval, formal application is submitted to the CCAA Commissioner from the
President/Chancellor of the applicant institution.
2.6.4 Upon approval of the Presidents/Chancellors’ Group, a nonrefundable application fee equal to 1.5 times a single year’s dues of all other regular full-time members will be submitted. The
institution will reimburse costs incurred by the Site Visitation Team.
2.6.5 Application shall include scholarship levels, sponsored sports, athletics mission statement,
strategic plan, admissions policy, basic philosophy, budgets, facilities, operations and staff, and
an organizational chart.
2.6.6 Review by Administrative Committee with recommendations following a campus visit.
2.6.7 Review by Executive Council with recommendations.
2.6.8 Institutions shall be provided one-year lead time for completion of the application. The
application must be accepted by September 1 of the year prior to the first year of competition.
2.6.9 Review by Presidents/Chancellors’ Group to approve or deny institution’s application for
membership. Presidents/Chancellors’ Group shall notify the Commissioner, and the Commissioner shall subsequently notify the applying institution.
2.6.10 The CCAA reserves the right to terminate or grant an extension to an institution subject to its CCAA and/or NCAA status.
2.6.11 A two-thirds majority of present and voting Presidents/Chancellors’ Group members is required to accept any future CCAA members.
2.6.12 Applicant institutions shall review the CCAA Membership Criteria (Appendix XVII) prior to submitting an application.