Part 2
GOAL 2
Establish excellence in all areas of external relations to maximize the event experience and to build, sustain and inform our fan base. STRATEGIES
A. DEVELOPMENT - INCREASE ANNUALLY THE CHARITABLE GIVING TO UTEP ATHLETICS TO ALLOW FOR A STABILIZED BUDGET, FULLY-FUNDED INITIATIVES AND PROVIDE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ALLOW STUDENT-ATHLETES TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL • Develop comprehensive capital campaign for Sun Bowl stadium renovation (press box, club seating, luxury suites, concourse, restrooms etc.) • Increase annual giving and Circle of Champions membership • Increase membership to the Miner Athletic Club through the sale of donor season tickets • Make annual event (Orange Fever Fiesta) the premier fundraiser with a goal of raising $500,000 • Express gratitude to donors through annual student-athlete “thank-a-thon” • Add and restructure development personnel (associate athletic director, assistant athletic director, event coordinator, graduate assistants and student workers) • Enhance and formalize the Miner Varsity Club for former student-athletes, creating gathering locations for game day activities • Establish an Advisory Board of former Miners that meets three times a year to discuss ways to enhance and grow the involvement of former student-athletes • Establish funding through former Miners to present graduating student-athletes with a letterman’s ring
B. MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS - ENHANCE THE EXPOSURE OF THE UTEP MINER BRAND LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF ALL 16 ATHLETIC TEAMS • Strengthen resources needed to fully implement daily marketing functions through additional staffing structure (Director of Marketing, Assistant Director, three graduate assistants, three student assistants, fifth-year postgraduate student-athletes) • Increase campus involvement through Miner Maniacs membership (1,500 goal), incorporate student-athletes into campus life, increase faculty and staff participation and attendance, and attend university initiatives (i.e. new student orientation) and university celebrations and events • Target large groups (school districts, Boy/Girl Scouts, youth teams) to increase ticket sales • Amplify fan and athlete interaction via autograph sessions, promotional distribution and themed activities • Collaborate with Fort Bliss Public Affairs office, BOSS program and MRW to enhance marketing efforts to all military personnel • Increase school and youth involvement through initiatives such as Team Days, Miner Kids Club, youth clinics and school visits • Preserve quality media partnerships through placing coaches, players, cheerleaders and Paydirt Pete on live radio and TV shows • Interact with fans through current social media trends, updates and contests • Generate creative radio, television and print advertising to inform the general public of athletic sponsored events • Secure national attention through participation in collegiate initiatives such as National Mascot Challenges, College Game Day and National Cheer competition
• Continue theme days and giveaways to capture additional fan attendance and improve game day atmosphere • Maintain a fully updated website for easily accessible schedules and event information • Efficiently manage channels of communication such as Netitor, mailouts, etc. • Intensify student elements incorporated into game day events such as marching band, pep band, cheer and Golddiggers • Pioneer interactive promotional ideas for potential sponsorship opportunities • Introduce alternative mediums to promote sponsorships such as social media, advertising, events and student organizations C. TICKET SALES - PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT EXCEEDS THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR FANS AND DONORS WHILE IMPLEMENTING PRICING POLICIES TO MAXIMIZE REVENUE FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT • Coordinate with IMG to maximize season and group sales for football and men’s basketball • Redesign the ticket office customer service area to foster the best environment for our walk-in customers; evaluate the feasibility of adding ticket windows • Increase offerings of online ticketing options to our fans through department promotional resources • Produce a sales training manual for all individuals working in the ticket office to include renewal timelines, policies and procedures • Cross-train full time staff on steps and procedures to allow for backup when an unexpected absence occurs • Hire additional full-time staff to manage growth of season ticket base • Provide customer service that exceeds expectations of donors and fans; ensure ticket office inquiries are responded to in a timely manner D. MEDIA RELATIONS - COMMUNICATE THE ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC SUCCESSES OF UTEP STUDENT-ATHLETES THROUGH UTEPATHLETICS.COM, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS • Increase staffing - add full-time social media coordinator, full-time photographer with in-house studio, and full-time sports reporter. Sports reporter will deliver daily practice reports and features in both electronic and print media format on utepathletics.com and social media channels • Continue to increase social media presence and bolster fan interaction with student-athletes and coaches • Translate all press releases into Spanish in efforts to connect with Latino fan base • Update Miner Strong website, produce new video content • Create Athletics Centennial website, to be launched in the summer of 2014 • Continue digitization of all file photos • Expand historical sections for individual sports on utepathletics.com to include archived biographical information, photos and statistics • Implement media services website where television, radio and newspaper personnel can obtain practice times, request interviews, download photos and sign up for credentials, among other functions • Work with video production department to produce more feature stories and practice reports for utepathletics.com and social media channels • Work with communications school to develop short video segments on UTEP student-athletes and coaches that can air on Miner Sports Weekly show and be published on utepathletics.com and social media channels • Assist in design process for new Sun Bowl press box • Integrate new live scoring software for media in Sun Bowl press box and courtside at the Don Haskins Center, replacing outdated stat monitors
• Purchase new computers and labtops for all staff members • Purchase SLR Digital camera for staff photographer • Create network server for easy file sharing with all UTEP athletics staff E. VIDEO PRODUCTION AND GRAPHIC DESIGN - ESTABLISH A VIDEO AND GRAPHIC DEPARTMENT CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FIRST-CLASS SCHEDULE POSTERS, SCHEDULE CARDS, BILLBOARDS, PRINT AND DIGITAL ADVERTISING, COMMERCIALS, AND HIGHLIGHT PACKAGES FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT • Increase staffing - hire full-time director and assistant director with a minimum of three student workers annually • Eliminate outsourcing and produce all video and graphic design content in-house • Work with communications school on campus to solicit additional student help. These students can be utilized to shoot home athletic events that are streamed on utepathletics.com and also assist in Miner Vision production for football and basketball games • Install all-new HD equipment in Miner Vision video production truck • Work with campus to install HD video boards in the Sun Bowl and Don Haskins Center • Create Miner Vision studio • Archive football & men’s and women’s basketball games on utepathletics.com • Upload one-minute highlight reels to utepathletics.com at conclusion of every football and basketball home game • Produce more in-depth video content to upload to utepathletics.com and social media channels • Update and renovate Miner Strong website
F. IMG MEDIA RIGHTS - IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN UTEP ATHLETICS AND IMG TO MAXIMIZE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES FROM THIS PARTNERSHIP • Include head coaches and the Director of Athletics during sales presentations and closings • Create crossover partnerships that support IMG media rights, fundraising, ticket sales and marketing initiatives • Facilitate upgrades to video board and scoring systems at the Sun Bowl and the Don Haskins Center to help IMG maximize sponsorship revenue to enhance the fan experience • Work with main campus during university corporate contract negotiations to increase dollars allocated through sponsorship to IMG and Athletics G. RADIO & TELEVISION - INCREASE EXPOSURE AND PENETRATION OF FOOTBALL, MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL • Explore means of televising more football and men’s basketball road games in the El Paso market • Hire a professional radio play-by-play announcer for women’s basketball • Pursue a radio home for all women’s basketball games (home and away) • Explore opportunities to carry all football and men’s basketball Spanish radio broadcasts on the FM dial
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE GOAL 1
Graduate student-athletes at a higher rate than the overall student body and be recognized for academic excellence within the university, the conference and nationally STRATEGIES
A. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RATE (APR) / FEDERAL GRADUATION RATE / GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE (GSR) - STEADILY INCREASE GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE AND IMPROVE APR SCORES TO EXCEED NCAA MINIMUM • Recruit academically prepared student-athletes with desire to graduate • Work directly with the MAAC to identify and address issues or concerns that could impact individual teams APR and ensure broad base participation in sustained APR improvement • Emphasize to each coach their individual responsibility for student-athletes’ academic success
B. ENHANCE FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE • Establish minimum academic standards with coaches for student-athlete recruitment
• Implement policies with coaches to ensure student-athlete attendance at academic appointments and obligations including tutoring, mentoring, advising • Expansion of progress report program to increase percentage of return from faculty through GradesFirst • Establish computer replacement program • Examine feasibility of iPad distribution for student-athletes • Establish MAAC website to better serve all student-athletes GOAL 2
Enhance relationships with faculty, the MAAC, and academic units on campus STRATEGIES
A. MINER ATHLETE ACADEMIC CENTER - ENHANCE COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION • Coaches collaborate with the MAAC to identify academically underprepared student-athletes during recruiting process to manage admission profiles and determine resources necessary for success • Increase communication regarding academic progress through regularly scheduled meetings • Include MAAC staff in recognition of academic success of student-athletes
B. FACULTY - BUILDING TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH UTEP FACULTY AND STAFF • Establish plan with Intercollegiate Athletics Committee to improve communication between athletics and faculty and staff
• Increase communication with Faculty Athletics Rep regarding life skills, athletic and academic awards, student-athlete concerns, etc. • Promote academic success of student-athletes among faculty on campus • Enhance faculty coach program; create faculty participation opportunities through pre-game special events (i.e. faculty free throw contest)
GOAL 3
Reward and celebrate academic excellence of student-athletes STRATEGIES
A. INTERNAL CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION • Implement new program
STUDENT-ATHLETE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT GOAL 1
Provide opportunities in areas of personal growth through programming and interaction STRATEGIES
A. HEALTH AND SAFETY - PROVIDE SUPERIOR MEDICAL COVERAGE AND TREATMENT FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES • Schedule speakers addressing personal health issues and well being (i.e. eating disorders, drugs and alcohol, sexual health and responsibility) • Provide educational programming addressing domestic violence, sexual harassment and hazing • Create policies and procedures to reduce the cost of non-injury related expenses • Provide education to ensure emergency action plans (i.e. Miner Alert) are followed by coaches and training staff • Ensure concussion plan and protocol are properly followed • Add one full-time member to training staffs to recognize student-athlete academic success (i.e. student-athlete breakfast, GPA recognition clubs 3.0/4.0) • Expand recognition of student-athlete academic success at athletic events • Continue recognizing student-athlete academic success at Dinner with the Miners banquet
B. MEDIA RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS - KEEPING MEDIA OUTLETS INFORMED AND MOTIVATED TO RECOGNIZE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF STUDENT-ATHLETES • Promote student-athlete academic success locally and nationally through media relations • Continue to publicize academic accomplishments of student-athletes and athletic teams
B. CAREER DEVELOPMENT - PROVIDE CONTINUED PERSONAL GROWTH AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES AFTER GRADUATION • Further develop resume writing workshops • Further develop “career day” concept to expose our student-athletes to potential employers and future employers to our quality student-athlete graduates • Develop peer advising program • Implement graduate school preparation workshops for all student-athletes C. SOCIAL ENHANCEMENT/ADJUSTMENT • Provide student-athlete social opportunities to interact • Counseling for at-risk or special needs student-athletes • Social media training • Utilize SAAC to advise problems/opportunities for interaction and growth • Execute a minimum of 3,000 hours of community service from coaches and student-athletes • Encourage student-athlete participation in SGA and other on-campus organizations • Expand and support the Athletes Supporting Athletes (ASA) program for all athletics home events • Create a support program for international student-athletes tranistioning to UTEP
GOAL 1
To maintain a quality athletic department based on the commitment to integrity in all areas STRATEGIES
A. NCAA, OCR, UNIVERSITY RULES AND REGULATIONS - CONTINUE EMPHASIS TO ENSURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THE RULES • Update our compliance risk assessment document • Implement the head coaching control policy • Continue to emphasize rules education and compliance from the top down • Maintain and adjust to ongoing NCAA rules changes • Develop comprehensive compliance calendar • Examine an “elite student-athlete” policy • Develop a more comprehensive education plan for boosters, donors, parents and the university community including, but not limited to, hotels and restaurants • Enhance compliance website
PROGRAM INTEGRITY B. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY • Work with VP of university finance and staff to coordinate efforts in the budgeting process • Consider construction of budgets based on “zero base” concept • Develop manual to demonstrate team travel cost savings opportunities and strategies • Examine a plan to initiate student athletic fee • Update financial risk assessment
• Operate Department of Athletics in a fiscally sound manner while minimizing expenditures • Work with Vice President of Business Affairs together with other key university staff members to coordinate the budget development process • Implement PeopleSoft software through education and training of department personnel • Stabilize Athletic Business Office by fully staffing all positions • Maintain current online Athletic Department Policy Manual together with training to provide operating policies to all department personnel • Provide coaches and staff travel research data and information to minimize team and recruiting travel costs • Focus on improving fiscal controls for travel, service awards, equipment, cell phones and M&O accounts • Improve internal control and risk management through in-house and campus training programs, including emphasis to coaches and staff through the annual employee performance review
C. GENDER EQUITY - DEVELOP PROCEDURES TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS AND OBJECTIVES OF GENDER EQUITY • Evaluate the Title IX university survey to determine possibility of additional women’s programs • Continue to examine sports programming for women in El Paso and impact of program expansion, including the Universities club and recreation programs • Examine gender equity plan, status and strategies to comply with OCR • Examine roster management strategies • Provide educational opportunities for department staff members to enhance their knowledge and sensitivity to the importance of diversity and gender equity
D. MINORITY ISSUES - ESTABLISH A ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT MINORITY PLAN THAT COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF MINORITY ISSUES • Make a strong effort to recruit diverse pools of applicants for athletic job opportunities • Actively recruit minority student-athletes, coaches and staff • Provide educational opportunities for coaches, staff and student-athletes on key minority issues • Examine feedback from minority student-athletes’ exit interviews • Provide professional development opportunities for all staff members to strengthen performance and leadership skills with special focus on the development of women and minorities in leadership positions
