CONWAY, Ark. (September 23, 2016) – Hendrix College President Bill Tsutsui recently signed a
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) presidential pledge for diversity and inclusion in college sports, committing Hendrix to achieving ethnic and racial diversity and gender equity in sports hiring practices.
The pledge was drafted by an NCAA Board of Governors ad hoc committee to address the low representation of racial and ethnic minorities and women in coaching and athletics administration at all levels. It has been endorsed by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors
and NCAA Divisions II and III Presidents Councils, and was approved in final form by the Board of Governors.
Hendrix competes in the NCAA Division III
Southern Athletic Association (SAA) conference with 21 intercollegiate teams and was the first SAA member institution to sign the pledge.
See the names of participating schools and conferences whose leaders have signed the pledge
here.
In April, President Tsutsui was appointed to the
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.
The 18-member group champions “the causes of ethnic minorities by fostering an inclusive environment, thereby creating a culture that promotes fair and equitable access to opportunities and resources” as it reviews issues related to the interests of ethnic minority student-athletes,
NCAA minority programs and NCAA policies that affect ethnic minorities.
“I am honored to stand with fellow leaders and represent Hendrix in this important NCAA initiative,” said Tsutsui, adding that increasing diversity and inclusion was a critical component of the College’s
Strategic Plan. “Just as our student-athletes and coaches are shining examples of our values as a college, our NCAA Division III athletic program should highlight our commitment to making Hendrix a more diverse and inclusive campus community.”
Full text of the pledge
Consistent with our mission and values,
our institution, a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association,
pledges to specifically commit to establishing initiatives for achieving ethnic
and racial diversity, gender equity and inclusion, with a focus and emphasis on
hiring practices in intercollegiate athletics, to reflect the diversity of our
membership and our nation.
We recognize and value the experiences individuals from diverse backgrounds
bring to intercollegiate athletics. To that end, we will strive to identify,
recruit and interview individuals from diverse backgrounds in an effort to
increase their representation and retention as commissioners, athletics
directors, coaches and other leaders in athletics. As part of this commitment,
we will also engage in a regular diversity, inclusion and equity review to
inform campus policy and diversity initiatives.
We understand this to be a collective responsibility we owe to
student-athletes, staff, our athletics programs and the entire campus
community.
About Hendrix College
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas. Founded in 1876 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884, Hendrix is featured in Colleges That Change Lives:
40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges and is nationally recognized in numerous college guides, lists, and rankings for academic quality, community, innovation, and value. For more information, visit
www.hendrix.edu.