Principles and Assumptions
Our approach to achieving gender equity at Western Illinois University has been guided by the following principles and assumptions:
As an integral part of the educational experience and within the context of the University's mission, the intercollegiate athletics program strives to attract a diverse group of highly qualified student-athletes and staff; and to provide those students with premier academic and athletic experiences. Through coaching, competitions, mentoring activities, and specialized student athletic support services, the program encourages participants to achieve at the highest possible level on the courts, fields, and in the classroom; and seeks to build a sense of pride in representing the University in athletic competition.
Western Illinois University is fully committed to the advancement of a gender neutral environment in juxtaposition with the fair and equitable treatment of male and female student athletes.
The University is committed to maintaining a gender neutral and broad-based program for men and women at the NCAA Division I level (NCAA Championship Sub-Division in football). Therefore, achieving gender equity will not be predicated on the elimination of men's sports.
To the extent possible, funding needed to achieve gender equity in athletics will be based on newly generated revenues and private giving.
In light of limited state resources for athletic facilities improvements, construction of new or renovated facilities must be funded from private contributions and non-state and non-institutional resources. The Target: Western Forward Facilities Initiative addresses this principle. With the impending renovation to the football stadium in Fall of 2006, (funding approved in the fall of 2005); within the past 5 years, approximately $8.2 million in athletics facilities improvements will have been realized.
To the extent possible, football, men's basketball, women's basketball, softball, and volleyball are supported at a level that assumes they have the potential to be competitive with the strongest programs in their respective leagues, thus allowing potential for success at the regional and/or even national level. All other sports are supported at a level to be competitive with the stronger programs in the Mid-Continent Conference (The Summit League in 2007). Western Illinois University is one of only two Mid-Continent Conference member institutions having designated two women’s sport teams (volleyball and softball) as “core sports” beyond the requirement of men’s basketball and women’s basketball. Western Illinois University has certified volleyball and softball as core-sports to the Mid-Continent Conference in each of the preceding academic years (2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06).
