Manhattanville University Athletics

 
 ADDITION OF A SPORT TO INTERCOLLEGIATE STATUS
 
A.    Situations for Consideration of Elevation to Intercollegiate Status*:
 
1.   There is adequate funding of all current varsity level sports.
 
2.   The sport has been recognized by the Manhattanville College Intramural program as an official club and has competed at a high level of performance for at least three (3) years prior to the application for intercollegiate status.
 
3.   The sport is sponsored by the Skyline Athletic Conference or other organized, varsity level, collegiate competition should be available at the state or regional level.
 
4.   The sport is sponsored by the NCAA at the Division III level or recognized as an emerging sport.
 
5.   The sport has adequate facilities to operate properly and safely for practice and competition in a manner that does not conflict with the existing intercollegiate athletics activities.
 
6.   The sport has financial support from sources such as alumni and team fundraising.
 
7.   Full compliance with Title IX, College guidelines, NCAA, and Conference rules and regulations.
 
8.   There is an indication of strong student interest based on interest survey results and/or student participation in the club intramural team.
 
9.   The sport is offered in high schools in New York or in the surrounding states to support recruiting efforts.
 
10.The sport enhances the diversity of the student-athlete population.
 
*This list is provided only as a potential starting point for asserting the rationale behind the addition of a sport to intercollegiate status.  This is not an exhaustive list, only a list of potential situations which could occur either independently or collectively with other situations listed here or additional to this particular list.
  
B.   Official Request for Consideration:
 
After meeting the above criteria, a letter requesting “recognition as a varsity sport” should be addressed and submitted to the Director of Athletics and Recreation. The letter must be accompanied with the following information:
 
1.   History and status of the sport (past/current status; leadership; facilities, status of the sport in the conference, region, and/or nationally, student interest, funding sources).
 
2.   Budget projections (coaching salaries, equipment, uniforms, supplies, support staff, officials, travel expenses including meals and lodging, entry fees if applicable, and possible income through fundraising).
 
3.   Schedules
        a. Competitive club schedules for the past two years
        b. Proposed varsity competitive and practice schedule.
        c. Future scheduling goals
 
4.   Facilities (description of facility needs and priorities):
        a. Competitive facility
        b. Practice facilities
        c. Equipment storage
        d. Locker room requirements
 
5.   Future Goals
        a.  recruiting plan for sustained program growth
  
C.   Application Process for Addition to Intercollegiate Status Request:
 
1.   The interested group, through its leadership, must prepare the form (located below), a letter of request along with all the required information outlined above and submit it to the Director of Athletics and Recreation.
  
2.   After the formal request and required information is received and confirmed as completed, the Athletic Director and Assistant Athletic Director will meet to review and determine a recommended response.
 
3.   Once the Manhattanville College Department of Athletics & Recreation determines its recommended response, it will be sent along with the original request and related information, to the Vice President of Student Affairs for consideration and a final recommendation to the President and the President’s Cabinet. 
Note:  The Athletic Department has the discretion to decide if it would be appropriate to invite the individual(s) that submitted the request to be a guest(s) during any segment of discussion and/or presentation. 
 
4.   Final decisions concerning the scope of the athletic program are at the discretion of the President and are considered final once a decision is made.

REQUEST TO ADD / ELEVATE A SPORT TO INTERCOLLEGIATE STATUS (VARSITY)
Please complete the Request to Add/Elevate a Sport to Intercollegiate Status form IN FULL, including all information listed in the above policy.
 
 REMOVAL OF A SPORT FROM INTERCOLLEGIATE STATUS
 
A.   Situations for Consideration of Removal from Intercollegiate Status*:
 
1.    Funding cannot adequately support all offered intercollegiate sports.
2.    There is a history of limited or no participation interest.
3.    There is a history of failed recruiting efforts due to lack of PSA interest.
4.    Student-athlete participation expectations are not being met.
5.    The sport is not sponsored by the NCAA at the Division III level.
6.    The sport is not offered in New York or in the surrounding states’ high schools which limits the ability to properly recruit a roster of student-athletes.
7.   The sport has inadequate facilities to operate properly or safely.
8.   All other strategies to meet Title IX compliance have been exhausted.
 
*This list is provided only as a potential starting point for asserting the rationale behind the removal of a sport from intercollegiate status. This is not an exhaustive list, only a list of potential situations which could occur either independently or collectively with other situations listed here or additional to this particular list.
 
B.   Procedural Guidelines Regarding the Removal of a Sport from Varsity Status
 
Notification of Coaching Staff and Student-Athletes:
 
1. The notification of the coach should occur prior to any team and media notification, and notification of the team should occur prior to release of the information to the media and community at large. Such a message should only be delivered to the student-athletes in a planned meeting setting, with the coaches, athletics and College administration present to provide accurate information and answers to questions.
 
2.    Transfer Assistance: Student-athletes should be assisted with any desire for transfer. The athletics administration can prepare blanket Permission to Contact forms for student- athletes in the affected sport.