RRAC Senior Woman Leader
RRAC Senior Woman Leader Description
Due to the varied needs of Red River Athletic Conference institutions, the Senior Woman Leader Council (SWLC) recognizes that the role of the Senior Woman Leader (SWL) on each campus will not be uniform, and every institution has autonomy in defining the designation. As such, the SWLC has developed the following document as a starting point for integrating the role more fully in the athletics department.
The following are suggestions intended to support both athletics directors and senior woman leaders in collaboratively defining the designation on their respective campuses and successfully optimizing the role while leveraging each SWL's strengths. Based on the NAIA's published Senior Woman Leader's Responsibilities (as noted in bold), SWL functions can include, but are not limited to the following:
Communicate regularly with the athletics director, not only for leadership development but also to consult on major departmental and university initiatives;
• Collaborate with the athletics director to clearly define leadership roles and support in managing critical departmental goals impacting both men's and women's sports.
• Serve as the liaison for the respective campus and Red River Athletic Conference SWL Council. • Stay up-to-date on NAIA communications and provide the athletics department with input and perspective on national issues impacting the association.
• Join and maintain an active membership in key professional organizations (e.g., Women Leaders in College Sports, NACDA, MOAA, etc.).
• Attend athletics departmental meetings (both to give updates from Red River and NAIA SWL items and to be updated on athletics department agenda items).
• Opportunity for SWL to facilitate staff meetings (when appropriate).
• Attend potential SWL leadership trainings and opportunities (e.g., SWL conference summits and/or NAIA conventions).
• Opportunity for SWL to have sport oversight and/or provide guidance or peer mentorship to teams as designated by the athletics director.
Participate in providing leadership and guidance in the area of Title IX and gender equity planning for the overall department, to include both men's and women's sports;
• Collaborate with the campus Title IX Coordinator(s) quarterly to ensure timely and annual training on Title IX issues and changes.
• Collaborate with both the Title IX Coordinator(s) and Red River WIN administrators to promote and participate in prominent Title IX related events, seminars, and training (e.g., Title IX anniversary, NGWSD, International Women’s Day, etc.).
• Work with the athletics director to strategize ways to support and manage g gender equity and Title IX plans, goals, and initiatives.
• Aid in collaboration regarding equitable planning for all athletic programs (e.g., Title IX Laundry List: participation, scholarships, equipment and supplies, scheduling of games and practice times, travel and daily per diem allowances, access to tutoring, coaching, locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities, medical and training facilities and services, publicity, recruitment of student athletes and support services.)
• Provide leadership and guidance for men's and women's sports programs.
Assist the athletics director and senior management with strategic planning processes and decision-making for the athletics department;
• Works with the athletics director to strategize ways to support and manage departmental strategic plans, goals, and initiatives.
• Joins athletics director at meetings with senior university management when possible. • Reviews NAIA Return on Athletics (ROA) Report with the athletics director annually (as applicable). Participate in budget development and major financial decisions for the athletics department operations and initiatives;
• Engages in conversations related to budget development and financial decisions (as applicable).
• Reviews Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act Report (EADA) with the athletics director.
• Involved with implementing equitable budget allocations and the economy of athletics program operation (as applicable).
• Reviews NAIA Return on Athletics (ROA) Report with the athletics director annually (as applicable).
Advocate for student-athlete well-being while also serving as a mentor and resource for direct reports and other athletics staff members.
• Set aside designated office hours and space so staff and student-athletes can access SWL.
• Oversees student workers (as applicable).
• Meet with each sports team to ensure they know their institution’s SWL designee (e.g., beginning of season, during student-athlete orientation, etc.).
- Meet and connect with the student-athlete leadership group on campus
As assigned by the athletics director, the SWL's functions could also include the following:
Fully engage in the hiring, onboarding, and evaluation processes for coaches and staff; Meet regularly with institutional senior leaders (e.g., president/chancellor, vice presidents, etc.); and Assist in providing leadership oversight for both men's and women's sports.
• Attend and participate in Red River Athletic Conference SWL Council meetings and events
• Promote Red River Athletic Conference WIN events to respective campus athletics communities (staff, student-athletes, Faculty, alums, etc.).
• Attend and participate in NAIAmeetings and professional development opportunities.
• Attend and participate in monthly NAIA SWL meetings and professional development opportunities.
• Participate in the annual vote for the Red River Athletic Conference's NAIA RISE Governance Academy representatives.
• Included in the hiring and onboarding/offboarding process and involved in implementing equitable hiring and compensation efforts (as the individual's role permits on their campus).
• Opportunity for SWL to have sport oversight and/or provide guidance or peer mentorship to teams as designated by the athletics director.
• Opportunity to serve as a sport liaison at the conference level.
• Opportunity to have SWL serve as a site administrator at home competitions and ensure all participants (staff and student-athletes) adhere to champions of character standards and exhibit sportsmanship and ethical conduct.
• Support athletics director with administering and reviewing end-of-season surveys to student-athletes, as well as collaborating on areas of improvement and success.
• Opportunity to serve as a proxy for the athletics director, departmental, or institutional personnel (i.e., FAR) in times of vacancy or need, as approved by the national office (e.g., conferences, national meetings).
References NAIA SWL Responsibilities- SWL functions. NAIA. (n.d.). https://www.naia.org/rise/resources/senior-woman-leader-functions
Title IX Laundry List- What is title IX?. Women’s Sports Foundation. (2019, November 26). https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/advocacy/what-is-title-ix/