The University of British Columbia announced the stage one results of its sport review, with 16 of the current 29 varsity teams securing their status for the coming years.
At the end of February following a second stage assessment, a number of other teams are expected to be added. No team has been excluded after stage one.
“Overall, advisory assessment team members were consistent in their evaluations and we are basing our decision on their findings,” said Vice President, Students Louise Cowin. “The process has been revealing and is leading us to boost financial support for the teams.”
Cowin said as of April 2014, the university will direct an additional $500,000 to varsity athletics and $300,000 to the Department of Athletics and Recreation.
The total $800,000 annual increase includes a $300,000 contribution to the Millennium Scholarship Breakfast, announced last November.
The teams to secure varsity status after stage one include men’s and women’s basketball, swimming and rowing, as well as women’s volleyball (full list below).
“These 16 teams balance men and women’s, as well as individual and team sports,” said Ashley Howard, managing director of Athletics and Recreation.
The review showed us their strengths but also provides us with a roadmap to needed improvements.”
The remaining 13 varsity teams and some interested Alma Mater Society sports clubs have been invited to the second stage assessment, to conclude in late February.
“Another month of uncertainty will be difficult for many,” said Howard. “But we need to keep our eye on the prize: higher achievement for our varsity teams, a top-notch experience for our student athletes and a sustainable future for the UBC Thunderbirds.”
VARSITY TEAMS CONFIRMED AFTER STAGE ONE
Team sports
Basketball Men, Women
Field Hockey Women
Football Men
Ice Hockey Women
Rugby Men
Soccer Men
Volleyball Women
Individual sports
Cross Country Men, Women
Rowing Men, Women
Swimming Men, Women
Track and Field Men, Women
ANNUAL BUDGET INCREASES SUPPORTING VARSITY SPORTS – starting April 2014
- Total additional funding: $800K
- Varsity budget increase: $200K (to $6.4M)
- Millennium Scholarship Breakfast: $300K
- Athletics and Recreation Department budget increase (overall operations and services): $300K
BACKGROUND – UBC SPORT REVIEW
Why did UBC undertake the sport review?
The goals of the sport review are to protect the long-term sustainability of the Athletic and Recreation Department (Vancouver campus) programs; to sharpen the focus on elite high performance sport development through partnerships with other key sport organizations and by better leveraging UBC research expertise; to expand and enhance opportunities for a greater number of UBC students to participate in competitive sport; and to align the objectives of UBC Athletics and Recreation with the university’s strategic commitments to student learning.
What led to the sport review?
The review was initiated in 2012 after the decision was made not to seek NCAA membership and instead remain within the Canadian Interuniversity Sport system.
A think tank was formed to develop a new Sport Model concept, which led to the present sport review.
Sport review process
The sport review evaluates UBC’s 29 varsity teams and interested AMS club teams for consideration in the two high-performance strands of the new competitive sport model: varsity sports and competitive clubs.
Team performance is assessed in five broad areas: competitive success, supports for competitive success, community support and tradition, partnerships, and fit with the university mission.
Stage one of the sport review UBC finalized the criteria for assessing teams for varsity status on December 9, 2013.
The Stage one assessment was based on data and information provided by the Department of Athletics and Recreation and coaches or student leaders to an independent advisory assessment group, chaired by the department’s managing director.
The group’s deliberations were incorporated in the managing director’ recommendations, and the final decision was made by the Vice President, Students.
Stage two of the sport review
UBC’s remaining 13 varsity teams and a number of AMS clubs are now invited to consider Stage one feedback from the assessment team and proceed to a second stage of the review process.
Teams will work with the department, alumni, and community supporters on plans that will be submitted to the advisory assessment team in early February.
The Managing Director of Athletics will consider the assessment team recommendations, and the final decision will be made by the Vice President, Students at the end of February.
All changes go into effect in September 2015.
Advisory assessment team
An advisory assessment team was assembled to review the current varsity teams and interested AMS clubs, and to put forward its findings to the managing director of Athletics and Recreation.
The advisory assessment team consists of:
- Three alumni
- Two students
- One recently graduated student-athlete
- One faculty member
- One high performance sport representative
- Two representatives from the Dept. of Athletics and Recreation
What happens next?
The current UBC Thunderbird varsity squads stay in place for the remaining academic year and through the 2014 – 2015 academic year.
Implementation of the new sport model, with the confirmed varsity teams and new competitive clubs, will start in September 2015.
UBC will honour all student athletes’ scholarships for the duration of their time at UBC, irrespective of the final status of their sport.
