Ramapo College of New Jersey Intercollegiate Athletics currently offers 18 intercollegiate(varsity) sports for men and women:
Ramapo College of New Jersey is committed to fair and equitable opportunities for,and treatment of,members of both genders. In addition to the 18 intercollegiate level sports, RCNJ sponsors Competitive Dance and Cheerleading programs along with a very extensive intramural and club sports program for students. The numerous intramural sports and clubs welcome students of all ability levels.
Ramapo College of New Jersey annually reviews and assesses the intercollegiate sport program to determine consistency with Title IX and whether the interests of men and women participating in specific sports exceed available opportunities at the College.
Any recommendations for consideration and determination as to what further action, if any ,the College should take to ensure that its athletics program equally and effectively accommodates the athletics interest and abilities of all students would be provided first to the Director of Athletics, Senior Woman’s Administrator, Vice President for Enrollment Management / Student Affairs, the Athletic Department Leadership Team and the (Title IX Subcommittee) before being forwarded to the College President for review.
I. ADDITION OF A SPORT TO INTERCOLLEGIATE STATUS
A. Situations for Consideration of Elevation to Intercollegiate Status*:
1. There is adequate funding of all current sports.
2. The sport has been recognized by the Center of Student Involvement /Student Activities office and or The Director of Intramurals 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 New Jersey 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.
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. Compliance with Title IX will be enhanced.
8. There is an indication of strong student interest based on interest survey results and/or student participation.
9. The sport is offered in New Jersey or in high schools in the surrounding states.
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 Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). 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 for coming year (coach salary(ies); equipment; uniforms; supplies; officials; travel expenses including meals; lodging and transportation; entry fees if applicable; and possible in come through fundraising).
3. Schedules
a. Competitive schedules for the past two years
b. Tentative competitive and practice schedule for upcoming year.
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 for program
C. Application Process for Addition To Intercollegiate Status Request:
1. The interested group, through its leadership, must prepare the form, a letter of request along with all the required information outlined above and submit it to the Director of Athletics and SWA.
2. After the formal request and required information is received and confirmed complete, the Athletic Director and SWA will meet to review and determine are commended response.
3. Once the Athletic Director and SWA establishes its recommended response,it will be sent,along with the original request and related information, to the Athletic Department Leadership Team, the Vice President of Enrollment Management / Student Affairs, the Title IX Subcommittee for review. Note: The Athletic Department can decide if it would be appropriate to invite the individual(s) that submitted the request to be a guest(s) during that segment of a Leadership Team meeting in which the request will be further discussed.This will allow them to have dialogue with the Leadership Team and answer any questions.
4. The Athletic Department will then forward a final recommendation, along with all relevant information gathered throughout the process, to the Vice President of Enrollment Management / Student Affairs for consideration and a final recommendation to go to the President.
5. Ultimate decisions concerning the scope of the athletic program are at the discretion of the
President and are considered final once a decision is made.
6. Once a final decision is made, the President will send an official response to the individual or group that made the request with copy to the Vice President of Enrollment Management / Student Affairs, AD,SWA, Chair of the Title IX Subcommittee,the Athletic Department Leadership Team.
7. The time frame for final official responses will be within 90 business days from the original date that the request was received and confirmed complete (
business days are Mondays through Fridays during in-session semester class–days during official College break periods do not count).
II. REMOVAL OF A SPORT FROM INTERCOLLEGIATE STATUS
A. Situations for Consideration of Removal from Intercollegiate Status*:
1. Funding cannot adequately support all offered sports.
2. All other strategies to meet Title IX compliance have been exhausted.
3. There is a history of limited or no participating interest.
4. Student-athlete participation expectations are not being met.
5. The sport is not sponsored by the NJAC conference.
6. The sport is not sponsored by the NCAA at the Division III level.
9. The sport is not offered in New Jersey or in the surrounding states’ high schools.
10. The sport has inadequate facilities to operate properly or safely.
11. The sport does not enhance the diversity of the student-athlete population.
*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
1.
Notification of Coaches and Student-Athletes: Following the College decision, notification to the coaches should follow all terms and regulations of the respective collective
bargaining unit. Notification to student-athletes shall provide them the opportunity to arrange for continuation at Ramapo College of New Jersey or a transfer to another institution. 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.
REQUEST FORM