The George Washington University
Department of Athletics and Recreation
Strategic Plan 2012-2016
T h e G e o r g e W a s h i n gt o n U n i v e r s i t y
Department of Athletics and Recreation
MISSION
COMMITMENT OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Our mission is to provide an environment where knowledge is created and
acquired and where creative endeavors seek to enrich the experiences of
the global society. With 10 schools and colleges and nearly 100 research
centers and institutes, our students receive hands-on experience as they
explore nearly any avenue of personal interest.
The depth and breadth of our academic programs,
the exceptional qualifications of our full-time faculty,
the unmatched experiences of our adjunct faculty
and the strengths of our research initiatives allow our
students, our faculty and our staff to look at the world beyond
the classroom. They allow us to prepare the next generation of leaders.
DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS AND RECREATION
MISSION STATEMENT
The George Washington University Department of Athletics and Recreation
actively engages our students, our campus community, our alumni and our
fans through the spirit of healthy living and competition. Located in the
heart of our nation’s capital, this world-class university aspires to have
a world-class athletics and recreation program. We are committed to
building and sustaining a program that mirrors the overall excellence
of the university, by providing students an unparalleled opportunity
for achievement and engaging the larger community as we grow and
cultivate the next generation of leaders.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3INTRODUCTION
4
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
4 Academic Achievement
6 Athletic Achievement
8 Financial Benchmarking
9 Resource Development
10 Student-Athlete Leadership and Service
12 Facilities and Equipment
14 Branding and Marketing
16 Athletics Compliance
17 Administrative Structure
18
RECREATION, WELLNESS AND CLUB SPORTS
18 Facilities and Venues
20 Club Sports
22 STRATEGIC PLAN METHODOLOGY
T h e G e o r g e W a s h i n gt o n U n i v e r s i t y
Department of Athletics and Recreation
Strategic Plan
In the winter of 2011, the George Washington University
initiated a comprehensive review of the Department of Athletics
and Recreation to establish a long-term strategic plan for
the department.
A trustees special committee supported by senior administrators was
appointed to oversee the process and ultimately make final decisions
in regard to our strategic direction. The committee chair is trustee and
alumnus Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees.
An athletics steering committee, composed of a wide range of GW community
members, including, faculty, staff and alumni, oversaw the development of the
strategic plan. The steering committee chair was Robert Chernak, senior vice provost
and senior vice president for student and academic support services.
During the spring of 2011, the university conducted a nationwide search for a
new director of athletics and recreation. Patrick Nero, former commissioner of the
America East Conference, was hired in April 2011.
The steering committee formed seven subcommittees, each with membership
representing broad-based interests among the GW community, to look into every
aspect of the department. The subcommittees met a minimum of three times each
and accumulated input from more than 400 individuals. Open community meetings
were held with nearly 300 attendees.
The subcommittees each submitted a report to the steering committee. The steering
committee then worked with university administration to write a report to the
trustees special committee on athletics strategic planning.
The trustees special committee met several times during the summer and fall of
2011. This report summarizes the work, recommendations and plan for the future of
GW Athletics and Recreation.
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INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
Intercollegiate athletics
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Our primary goals are to provide our student-athletes with
the opportunity to achieve at the highest possible academic
level, and to prepare them for their futures. Athletics is
conducted in harmony with the university’s academic mission,
while stimulating a pride of affiliation among our constituents
and supporters.
CURRENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Academic excellence among student-athletes is an area of strength
for GW.
In the most recent academic reporting period, 256 GW studentathletes were recognized on the GW Athletic Academic Dean’s List by
earning a GPA of 3.0 or above, 109 GW student-athletes earned a GPA
of 3.5 or above, and 13 student-athletes achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA.
The NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) statistic identifies the
percentage of freshmen who graduate within six years and, along with
the Academic Progress Rate (APR), is one of the primary tools the
NCAA uses to measure academic success among its student-athletes.
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In the NCAA’s fall 2011 GSR report, GW continued to rank among the
nation’s best. GW’s GSR was more than 90 percent, with nine GW
teams recording a perfect 100 percent. GW’s APR, released in that
same time period, yielded six GW programs honored by the NCAA,
including four with perfect 1,000 scores: men’s cross country, women’s
swimming, men’s tennis and women’s tennis. The Colonials’ men’s and
women’s soccer programs also scored in the top 10 percent in their
respective sports in APR.
ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID
GW maintains high academic standards in admissions and views
athletic ability, like extracurricular activities and special talents, as a
positive factor in admissions.
With the goal of continuing to recruit student-athletes with stronger
academic profiles, the university will provide the athletic program with
increased scholarship dollars as well as increased operating funds
for team recruiting budgets. The department is also working with the
Office of Student Financial Assistance and the Office of Admissions on
a four-year plan that will bring team scholarship allotments to levels
comparable with our top competitors.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
NELSON AND MICHELE CARBONELL
ACADEMIC CENTER
The construction of the new Nelson and Michele Carbonell
Academic Center housed within the Charles E. Smith
Center has provided greatly improved space for studentathletes and staff, and with expanded hours of operation,
the result has been increased utilization of the center. The
center is highly functional, as evidenced by the academic
achievement of our student-athletes, as well as data from
the student-athlete survey. GW’s Educational Support
Services unit is staffed by five full-time staff members who
currently serve close to 425 student-athletes. Staff members
also oversee the efforts of approximately 55 tutors who
work with student-athletes.
It is necessary that more space be identified to
increase our capabilities to house student-athletes in
tutoring sessions, and that funds be allocated to
ensure that the department stays on the cutting
edge of technology to aid student-athletes with
their studies.
Due to the fact that student-athletes occasionally miss
scheduled academic classes for team travel, the department
has implemented a travel policy aimed toward minimizing
missed class times. Sports supervisors work closely with
coaches to ensure that all attempts are made to schedule
departure and arrival times around the class schedules
of student-athletes. Additional travel funds will be
added to team budgets to facilitate more timeefficient travel.
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Intercollegiate athletics
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT
Our primary athletic goal is to compete at the highest
level locally, in our athletic conferences and nationally. It is
a necessity to ensure that student-athletes and coaches are
given every opportunity and available resource to succeed in
competition. To that end, the overall operating budget of GW’s
intercollegiate athletics program will be enhanced to place team
annual operating budgets on par with the top funded programs
in the Atlantic 10 and other conferences in which we compete.
The newly allocated funds will also serve to ensure that studentathlete welfare issues identified in the strategic planning process are
addressed. GW intercollegiate student-athletes will be provided an
environment in which they can excel athletically, with sport-specific
training, an emphasis on nutrition, increased per diem amounts to
allow for healthy eating, and more efficient and safe transportation to
competitions, geared toward achieving optimal athletic performance.
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SPORT SPONSORSHIP
GW currently has close to 425 student-athletes competing in 22
intercollegiate sports, including women’s basketball, women’s cross
country, women’s gymnastics, women’s lacrosse, women’s rowing,
women’s soccer, women’s softball, women’s squash, women’s
swimming, women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, women’s water polo,
men’s baseball, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s
rowing, men’s soccer, men’s squash, men’s swimming, men’s tennis,
and men’s water polo. The university feels strongly about maintaining
its current offerings and additionally is prepared to transition sailing
from a club sport activity into a varsity program.
RECRUITING
Recruiting high school students who achieve at the highest levels
academically and athletically will be a primary factor in determining
the success of the intercollegiate athletic program. Currently, GW’s
intercollegiate athletic teams’ recruiting budgets rank among the lowest
in their respective conferences. Increased funds will be provided to all
team recruiting budgets. This will allow for greater opportunities for
coaches to meet and observe prospective student-athletes both on and
off campus.
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
Physical fitness is a key attribute for student-athletes to
achieve athletic success in a competitive environment. The
department has added a full-time strength and conditioning
staff member, to bring the total to three full-time coaches
in this vital support area. With the qualified assistance of
graduate assistants and interns, the staff will provide services
to participants in all 23 (with the addition of sailing) of GW’s
varsity sports. The strength and conditioning unit seeks to
maximize the athletic potential of each student-athlete, and
is specifically tailored to individual sports. As part of the
Charles E. Smith Center renovation, the varsity weight room
and fitness areas were renovated. These areas service 16 of
the 23 sports. The Lloyd Gymnasium on the Mount Vernon
Campus serves the remaining seven teams. The department
will prioritize the renovation of the Lloyd Gymnasium weight
room to be similar to the Charles E. Smith Center strength
and conditioning areas.
SPORTS MEDICINE
The sports medicine unit now consists of four certified
athletic trainers with a combined 40 years of collegiate
athletic training experience and six graduate assistant
athletic trainers. This unit receives high marks from athletes
and coaches, and more closely approximates the National
Athletic Trainers’ Association’s guidelines that suggest that
GW should have approximately 7.5 athletic trainers to service
our student-athletes.
The intercollegiate athletic training rooms were renovated as
part of the Charles E. Smith Center renovation project, and
the varsity student-athletes who use those facilities are well
served. However, the Mount Vernon facility will need to be
upgraded to provide similar service to the student-athletes
who use that facility.
NUTRITION
Proper nutrition is critical to optimal athletic performance. To
address this, the department has created a graduate assistant
position in nutrition to work with teams and student-athletes.
Athletics and Recreation is working with campus dining
services as well as other local food providers to meet the
daily needs of our student-athletes. Also, on team road trips,
GW’s student-athlete travel per diem has been increased
from what was once the lowest in the conference, to a figure
that is more in line with our primary competition.
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT
The university will also provide athletic programs with
increased scholarship dollars. As previously mentioned,
the department is also working with the Office of Student
Financial Assistance and the Office of Admissions on a fouryear plan that will bring team scholarship allotments to levels
comparable with our top competitors.
TRAVEL
Athletics and Recreation will be committed to travel policies
that are consistent throughout all 23 sports. Additional funds
will be assigned to ensure that needs are being met in the
areas of student-athlete welfare, nutrition, per diem, mode of
transportation and accommodations.
COACHING
Similar to the university’s commitment to hiring and retaining
high-quality professors, it is critical to provide our studentathletes with high-quality coaches.
Currently, many of our head coaches’ salaries rank at the
bottom of the Atlantic 10. Traditionally, many of our coaches
have held employment outside of their head coaching
positions. This can result in inadequate attention being given
to our student-athletes.
Also, in many sports, the university does not currently
employ the NCAA allowable number of assistant
coaches or staffing comparable to Atlantic 10 and
other NCAA universities.
Funds will be applied to address both of these issues.
TECHNOLOGY
GW coaches and student-athletes will benefit from
increased operational budgets that will ensure access to
the most up-to-date technology for scouting, recruitment
and film study, to include, but not be limited to, computer
upgrades, mobile devices, video/editing equipment and
recruiting software and services.
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Intercollegiate athletics
FINANCIAL BENCHMARKING
The goals and objectives of the department, as outlined
in this strategic plan, will require significant financial and
human resources. A comprehensive review of the department’s
current financial situation and comparison to other Atlantic 10
athletic programs found that GW’s current operating budget
ranked 13th out of 14 Atlantic 10 schools, while GW sponsors
the second greatest number of sports in the conference.
A similar review of each of GW’s team’s annual operating
budgets showed that, in most cases, team operating budgets
were at or near the bottom of the conference when compared
with our peers.
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During the university’s strategic planning review in 2011, it
became clear that many sports were not being funded to function
competitively at the Division I level. Areas such as coaching, recruiting,
transportation, per diem and accommodations were not being
appropriately funded.
Increased funding will be designated to make teams more competitive
as well as fund the basics of sponsoring a Division I team. Additionally,
funding will be increased each year to address inflation and rising costs
of operation.
Moving forward, the department will more clearly separate the annual
operating budgets of the intercollegiate athletics program from the
recreation, wellness and club sports initiatives.
An additional staff member has also been added to the department’s
financial team, and upgraded technology has been purchased for the
use of finance personnel.
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT
Fund-raising plays an integral role in all aspects of the
university. Similarly, athletic development is a critical
funding and revenue source within the majority of successful
Division I intercollegiate athletic programs.
Annual financial giving to GW Athletics and Recreation has
been relatively flat over the last 10 years, and benchmark
data shows that GW athletic annual giving efforts are
underperforming compared with those of other A-10
institutions by a factor greater than 2-to-1.
In partnership with the Division of Development and Alumni
Relations an integrated office of Athletic Development has
been established. A new senior executive director of athletic
development/associate athletic director has been hired and
will lead the five-person unit. The office will also include a
major gifts fund-raiser, a director of annual giving, a director
of athletic alumni relations and an executive assistant.
It is projected that by the fifth year of operations, this
unit will increase current athletic fund-raising totals by
500 percent through more strategic annual giving campaigns,
major gifts and capital campaigns, as well as transactional
giving opportunities inclusive of club memberships.
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP
The department’s corporate sponsorship revenue has
been largely stagnant in recent years. Currently, less than
$100,000 in annual funds is being generated. The department
is negotiating to form a partnership with a multimedia
sponsorship rights company, and conservative five-year growth
estimates show $250,000 in future net revenue in this area.
TICKET SALES AND FACILITY RENTALS
Two other areas that have been identified for potential
growth and resource development are ticket sales (primarily
in men’s basketball) and facility rentals (primarily the
Charles E. Smith Center). While the revenue upside for men’s
basketball ticket sales is somewhat limited by available
inventory (seating capacity), currently only about 50 percent
of total possible men’s basketball ticket revenue is being
realized. Presently the department does not have a dedicated
ticket sales unit, as ticket sales have been a combined effort
of Colonials Sports Marketing and the athletic ticket office.
The department will reconfigure these areas to provide for a
dedicated ticket sales staff and integrated marketing, sales
and fund-raising efforts. Strategies for maximizing facility
rental revenues will also continue to be explored.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
In 2012, the department will create the GW Athletics and
Recreation Advisory Council. The council’s purpose will be
to keep key Athletics and Recreation constituents invested
in the campus community as they serve in an advisory
capacity to the director of athletics and recreation and as
ambassadors for the department. The council will be charged
with providing insight and guidance to the senior leadership
within GW Athletics and Recreation as well as assisting the
Office of Athletic Development in fund-raising initiatives and
constituent outreach. Advisory council members will take a
leadership role by devoting time and effort to the department
in the following ways: 1) making a personal philanthropic
investment in the priorities of the department; 2) asking
others to join in the effort; and 3) attending important
department and university functions.
FINANCIAL BENCHMARKING & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Intercollegiate athletics
The council will be composed of a cross section of GW
Athletics and Recreation stakeholders with an emphasis
on diversity across age, gender, ethnicity, geographic
region, profession/industry and sport (with regard to
former student-athletes). The council will meet three times
annually, in both the D.C. metro area and in other
geographic regions.
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Intercollegiate athletics
STUDENT-ATHLETE
LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
Our goal and commitment is to sustain a program that
mirrors the overall excellence of the university, and to engage
the larger community that supports us. It is paramount to grow
and cultivate the next generation of leaders.
LEADERSHIP
The department has formed a partnership with Janssen Peak
Performance to establish the George Washington Student-Athlete
Leadership Academy. Janssen operates similar academies at North
Carolina, Georgetown, Michigan and Yale, among other Division I
schools. The academy will develop, challenge and support studentathletes and their coaches in their quest to become world-class leaders
in athletics, academics and life, and will provide comprehensive and
innovative leadership development through education, interactive
workshops, one-on-one coaching, peer mentoring and online training.
Of the approximately 425 student-athletes at GW, about 100 to 120
will go through the program initially. Eventually, the vast majority of
student-athletes on all of GW’s 23 teams will likely have participated in
some level of the leadership academy before they graduate. Each team
will be represented annually in the academy by at least two members
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and one head or assistant coach, with the vision of continuing to
attract and retain highly talented student-athletes and coaches.
At the beginning of the 2011-12 academic year, the department
also sponsored a student-athlete team-building day at George
Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate. Beginning and end-of-the-year
events will be planned annually for all student-athletes to network
off of the playing fields, as student-athletes strive to become
leaders in their daily lives and support other members of the
athletics community.
Additionally, through the increased annual operating budget for the
department, a life skills/leadership coach position will be created, to
focus on career building, life skills and leadership development for GW
student-athletes.
SERVICE
Student-athlete leadership at GW means more than captaining a
sports team. It is a commitment that must be made not only to GW
Athletics, but also to the university and community as a whole, as
well as to enhance and improve the quality of life in the metropolitan
Washington, D.C. area. A primary goal of GW Athletics and Recreation
is community service and outreach. As such, the department is
The department is a proud participant in the university-wide
Freshman Day of Service at the beginning of each academic
year, as well as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in
January, in addition to athletics-specific community events
and service initiatives.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
travel to gain the life experience of immersion in
other cultures.
In August 2012, the men’s basketball team will travel to Italy
for 11 days in what will be the next of many foreign tours
that various GW intercollegiate athletic programs will take in
the coming years.
STUDENT-ATHLETE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
committed to serving the D.C. community, not only in the
neighborhoods surrounding campus, but throughout the
district and in D.C. public schools. GW student-athletes will
be expected to support the community that supports GW.
The men’s tennis program is in the planning stages of a trip
to Germany, and members of the men’s rowing program,
along with Georgetown University’s men’s rowing
program, are working with the Japanese Embassy on
a trip to Japan.
A mission of the George Washington University is to provide
an environment where knowledge is acquired for the
enrichment of our students and the global society. As GW is
a global university, we have students and alumni worldwide.
Sending our teams to different international destinations will
provide support to this aspect of the university mission.
In addition, while many GW students have the opportunity
to study abroad for a semester, GW student-athletes are
generally not afforded this opportunity due to the time
demands of their athletic participation. As such, studentathletes can utilize the experience of international team
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Intercollegiate athletics
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Prior to the renovation of the Charles E. Smith Center,
it had been many years since intercollegiate athletic facilities
had received necessary renovations. As part of the strategic
plan, most intercollegiate facilities will receive appropriate
renovations in the immediate or short term.
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FACILITIES
CHARLES E. SMITH CENTER
The renovation of the Charles E. Smith Center has been completed.
As the hub of the intercollegiate athletics program, the renovation of
this facility will have a positive impact on the program for many years
to come. Debt service to fund the renovation will be housed in the
Athletics and Recreation budget. Appropriate funds will be provided by
the university to cover this debt service. Fund-raising for this project
will also continue on a limited basis by the Athletic Development staff.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
BARCROFT PARK
Barcroft Park, located in Arlington County, Va., has served
as the home of the GW baseball program since 1993. In
December 2011, the university began a major renovation
project on Barcroft Park. A public–private partnership with
Arlington County, this project will refurbish the field and
include installation of synthetic turf, expanded seating,
better parking, new bullpens and dugouts. Projected GW
costs for the project are anticipated to be more than
$4 million, which will be secured through various sources
including philanthropy. In exchange for its investment, GW
has secured rights to use the field for the next 20 years and
will share costs of maintenance with the county.
Debt service for this project will also be included in the
Athletics and Recreation budget.
FUTURE FACILITY CONSIDERATIONS
As the department moves forward it will continue to
monitor the facility needs for intercollegiate athletics. The
department will work with the Athletic Development office
to develop a fund-raising plan for facility needs.
EQUIPMENT
An agreement has been reached with Nike, effective
July 1, 2012, on a department-wide apparel, footwear and
equipment partnership. The agreement will provide each
of the department’s 23 varsity sports with an equipment
allowance along with preferred pricing on all purchases.
An equipment manager will also be hired to serve as
the point of contact for Nike and all 23 of GW’s
intercollegiate sports.
MOUNT VERNON
The soccer and lacrosse synthetic turf field at the university’s
Mount Vernon Campus was replaced in the summer of
2011. A deferred maintenance plan has been built into the
department’s budget to replace this field every 10 years as
suggested by the manufacturer.
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Intercollegiate athletics
BRANDING AND
MARKETING
The branding and marketing of the intercollegiate
athletics program needs to be consistent with and reflective
of all other university branding and marketing efforts. A key
objective of the university’s commitment to intercollegiate
athletics is to support the university’s efforts in areas such
as admissions, alumni relations, fund-raising and community
relations. It is crucial that the department work with the other
areas of campus that are responsible for such initiatives,
including but not limited to university External Relations,
Admissions, and Development and Alumni Relations.
The resource development expectations that are part of
TELEVISION EXPOSURE
Television exposure for the men’s and women’s basketball programs
significantly decreased over the last several years. However, beginning
with the 2011-12 season, the department has been committed to
reversing this trend. From 2010-11 to this current season, televised
basketball games have increased from 10 last season to a minimum
of 17 combined live television broadcasts of men’s and women’s
basketball games in 2011-12. Regional television partnerships were
reached with both MASN and Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.
In the future, funding local, regional and national television coverage
for men’s and women’s basketball will be a priority. These broadcasts
will reach prospective GW students, as well as GW alumni and
supporters across the country.
this strategic plan will rely on successful athletic branding
and marketing.
SCHEDULING
Scheduling opposing athletic teams and contests in markets from
which university admissions recruits and admits large numbers of GW
students and where GW has large alumni bases will also be a priority.
Appropriate funds will be provided to teams to accomplish this.
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BRANDING AND MARKETING
MARKETING AND ADVERTISING
MULTIMEDIA STRATEGIES
In order to increase ticket sales and attendance for men’s
and women’s basketball as projected, additional funds will
be designated toward marketing and advertising for
these programs.
The use of video and new media has become essential to
branding and marketing efforts. Telling the stories of our
student-athletes through video and new media will become
a priority. The department will create a position of director
of multimedia production who will lead this initiative, and
distribute these videos through new and traditional media,
social media and on in-house video boards.
TICKET/CLUB SALES
Currently the department does not have a dedicated ticket
sales unit. For the last three years, athletic ticket and
club sales and renewals have been a combined effort of
Colonials Sports Marketing and the athletic ticket office.
The department will reconfigure these areas to provide
for a dedicated ticket sales staff and to better integrate
marketing, sales and development efforts.
Additionally, after the recent redesign of GWsports.com, and
with our partnership with CBS Interactive, the continued use
of video streaming of athletics events will be a priority.
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Intercollegiate athletics
ATHLETICS COMPLIANCE
Recent evaluations by both the NCAA and the Atlantic 10
rate GW’s athletics compliance very high.
Moving forward, it is important that the university remains committed
to this level of compliance. The department has assigned additional
staff to assist with compliance responsibilities.
Similar to other areas of the department, new technology to ensure
accurate and efficient compliance will be purchased.
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ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
In the spring of 2011, the university conducted
a comprehensive national search for a new director
of athletics and recreation. In April of 2011, the
university hired Patrick Nero to fill the position. As the
department moves forward, it will be essential to build
a structure that allows Mr. Nero to provide leadership,
direction and oversight to the entire unit.
Beginning in 2011, the director of athletics and recreation
assigned the oversight and supervision of the department’s
intercollegiate sports across seven members of his senior
management team (including himself) to better ensure
more consistent and direct interaction between studentathletes, coaches and administrators. This new administrative
structure will also allow for better evaluation of the
department’s programs and services. Previously, all sports
had been overseen by two staff members.
ATHLETICS COMPLIANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
Intercollegiate athletics
Currently, the Athletics and Recreation support units of
sports marketing, athletics communications and athletic
development as well as the athletic ticket office are all
housed outside of the department. In implementing the
strategic plan, efforts must be made to make the department
more cohesive under Mr. Nero’s leadership.
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RECREATION, WELLNESS AND CLUB SPORTS
RECREATION, WELLNESS AND CLUB SPORTS
FACILITIES AND VENUES
LERNER HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER
The Lerner Health and Wellness Center (LHWC) serves as the
centerpiece of the university’s health, wellness and recreational
activities. On a peak day, LHWC hosts upwards of 3,000 people,
with an average of 2,000 visitors per day.
Among the users are undergraduate and graduate students (with no
membership fee required), more than 1,000 GW club sport students
participating on 33 club teams, GW faculty and staff (discounted
membership fee), GW alumni (discounted membership fee), Foggy
Bottom community members (discounted membership fee, limited to
specific area codes), GW School of Public Health and Health Services
classes (free of charge), and local high school School Without Walls
students (free of charge).
The facility includes fitness equipment such as treadmills, elliptical
machines and stationary bikes, free weights and basketball, squash and
racquetball courts. The facility also plays host to the majority of the
university’s intramural sports activities (with more than 3,000 students
participating in 25 to 30 intramural sports each year) as well as fitness
and wellness classes like yoga, spinning and boot camp, among others.
Due to the high and growing demand of the facility, the annual
operating, maintenance and utility costs are running at a significant
deficit. The university and Athletics and Recreation will work together
to eliminate the deficit. The university will increase funding and the
department will identify savings by offering fewer services and reduced
hours when GW classes are not in session.
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FACILITIES AND VENUES
MOUNT VERNON CAMPUS
The Mount Vernon Campus also serves as a venue for
wellness, recreation and club sports activities.
West Hall is home to a 24-hour fitness facility for students
who reside on the Mount Vernon Campus. The department
will need to work with the university to identify funding for
maintenance of this facility, as it does not currently exist.
A centerpiece of the Mount Vernon Campus is the soccer
and lacrosse field, which is heavily used by the club sports
programs, intramural teams, as well as students residing
on the Mount Vernon Campus. The field was replaced in
the summer of 2011, and as previously mentioned, funding
is budgeted for continued maintenance and replacement
of the turf every 10 years. Additionally, as daylight hours
are limited, the department is committed to continuing to
explore the possibility of adding lights to the Mount Vernon
field that will allow for additional usage — of which the club
sports teams will be the primary beneficiaries.
Lloyd Gymnasium is used by many club teams for both
workouts and practice. The gym has not been refurbished
in many years. This will need to be addressed in the shortterm future.
Athletics and Recreation also maintains and operates the
Mount Vernon pool. The pool serves as a resource for
students on the Mount Vernon Campus as well as many
community members. The department incurs the cost of
operating this pool. Some revenue is generated through the
sale of community memberships; however, construction on
the campus has diminished the capacity of the pool area,
thereby cutting back on revenue potential.
CHARLES E. SMITH CENTER
The department will begin to identify ways to open up
greater usage of the Charles E. Smith Center for club sports
and intramurals. The auxiliary gymnasiums will be put
toward greater usage for club sports teams. The main court
area will be opened up on certain nights for general student
use as well as intramurals.
ADDITIONAL RECREATION AND CLUB
FACILITIES
Many of the activities sponsored by the department for
recreational and club sports do not have consistent
venues. The department will proactively look for solutions
in the future. An example is the recent Barcroft Park
agreement with Arlington County that gives the university
priority access to other Arlington County recreational
facilities. A key to identifying appropriate facilities will be
Metro accessibility.
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RECREATION, WELLNESS AND CLUB SPORTS
CLUB SPORTS
With more than 1,000 students participating in
more than 30 sports, the club sports program has become a
significant part of the GW student experience. Many of these
students bring a high level of passion and commitment to their
sport. According to recent statistics provided by the Office of
Undergraduate Admissions, close to 60 percent of our incoming
students participated in varsity sports in high school. The GW
club sports program is important to many of these students
FACILITIES
The identification of appropriate practice and competition venues
is the number one challenge for the club sports programs. The
department is aggressively working toward creative solutions using
existing facilities as well as potential off-campus facilities.
Club sports practice and competition facility requests will now be given
a much higher priority in on-campus facility scheduling. Additionally,
Arlington County facility access, granted by the Barcroft Park
agreement, should be made available to club sports on a priority basis.
when choosing to attend GW.
It is important that the university makes a clear differentiation
between club sports and intercollegiate varsity sports. Club sport
activities are considered voluntary for students who choose to join a
club sports team. The requirements for a varsity student-athlete are
much more stringent.
Currently, the department invests significant financial and human
resources into the operation of one of the largest club sports programs
for a university of this size. A review of the club sports program in the
spring of 2011 identified areas in which the GW club sports experience
could be enhanced.
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HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES
Currently, there is no access to sports medicine facilities or athletic
trainers for club sports students. The department will provide open
hours in the Charles E. Smith Center athletic training room on two
nights per week. Certified athletic trainers who currently work with
varsity athletes will be available during these time periods to treat the
club sports students.
Additionally, the club sports programs will work with the School of
Public Health and Health Services on providing first-aid training and
first-aid kits to each club sports team.
CLUB SPORTS
FINANCES
PROMOTIONS
Club sports receive funds from Athletics and Recreation and
the Student Association. Currently, club sports’ budgets are
housed in both Athletics and Recreation and the Center for
Student Engagement (CSE). This arrangement makes the
budgeting and reimbursement process very difficult for the
club teams.
Club sports are a vital aspect of GW’s recreation and
wellness initiatives, and accordingly should be promoted
and publicized as such. The department is working with
the university’s external relations team on the creation of a
dedicated website strictly for GW club sports teams.
The department is working with CSE to house all funds in
one account and streamline the reimbursement process. The
decision-making regarding the distribution of club sports
funding is spread over several areas. It is recommended
that this become a more unified process with more specific
guidelines to determine how much each club receives in
funding and for what expenses.
Additionally, the university’s external relations team, in
conjunction with the department, will make additional
efforts to more frequently spotlight club teams in the twiceweekly email editions of George Washington Today that
are circulated to the entire GW community, as well as in the
Colonial Corner sports blog. A blog dedicated to club sports
is also planned, while the club sports program and the
individual 33 club sports all now have a presence on Twitter.
Many clubs rely on fund-raising to supplement university
funding. This fund-raising typically exists outside university
fund-raising efforts. In the future, oversight and guidance in
these efforts will be provided by Athletic Development. A
staff member in this office will have responsibility to assist
club sports in fund-raising.
Efforts are also being made to build and maintain
relationships with the sports staff of The GW Hatchet,
GW’s independent student newspaper, to facilitate
additional coverage of club sports.
GOVERNANCE
The club sports sailing program requires a level of funding
that significantly outweighs the funding necessary for other
club sports to function. As such, the sailing program has
operated at a level more closely resembling a varsity unit
than a club program. Accordingly, the sailing club sports
program will be funded and transitioned into GW’s 23rd
intercollegiate sport.
On most campuses, club sports have a student-run council
that governs the club sports program. This does not exist
at GW. Club sports exist as a student organization;
therefore we will create a structure that allows for more
student governance.
SAILING
The club sports teams have formed an informal club
sports council, which is a voluntary group that has no
direct oversight of club sports, its finances or its priorities,
including transportation concerns. This group will be
transitioned into an elected formal council with some
oversight authority, particularly in transportation.
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T h e G e o r g e W a s h i n gt o n U n i v e r s i t y
STRATEGIC PLAN
METHODOLOGY
The George Washington University Department
of Athletics and Recreation strategic plan committee was
composed of more than 50 individuals from the GW
alumni, student, faculty and staff communities and
organized as follows:
• A trustees special committee supported by senior
administrators, led by GW alumnus and trustee Randy Levine,
president of the New York Yankees. Other trustees on the special
committee were Allan From (secretary of the board of trustees),
Gary Granoff, Jim Humphreys, W. Russell Ramsey (chair of the
board of trustees), Mark Shenkman, Cynthia Steele Vance, Kerry
Washington and Omar Woodard. University administrators included
Robert A. Chernak (senior vice provost and senior vice president
for student and academic support services), Aristide Collins (vice
president and secretary of the university), Louis Katz (executive
vice president & treasurer), Michael Morsberger (vice president
for development and alumni relations), Patrick Nero (director of
athletics and recreation) and Lorraine Voles (vice president for
external relations).
• A steering committee, led by Robert A. Chernak, including
Frederic Siegel, Andrew Sonn, Michael Cerretani, Steve Doherty,
Chuck Merin, Laura Taddeucci Downs, Sarah Baldassaro, William
Bartolini, Helen Cannaday Saulny, Toi Carter, Michael Castleberry,
Leroy Charles, Christopher Deering, Jack Friedenthal, S’Monita
Jackson, Jean Johnson, Rodney Johnson, Sarah Jo Lawrence,
Mark Levine, Craig Linebaugh, Robert Shesser, Deborah Snelgrove,
Michael Tapscott, Brian Hamluk, Jack Kvancz, Mary Jo Warner
and Jason Wilson.
2 2 S t r at e g i c p l a n 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 6
• Seven subcommittees, representative of a wide range of GW
community members and constituents including, faculty, staff,
students and alumni (some of whom were GW student-athletes):
1. Student-Athlete Experience - Academics, Training and Medical
and Personal Development: academic support, training and
medical, travel subsistence and personal development (life skills,
career preparation, and leadership).
2. Athletics Compliance, Diversity and Academic Standards:
diversity and inclusion, gender equity, hiring practices,
admissions and academic standards.
3. Athletics Finance: budgets, salaries, overall expenditures
and revenue.
4.Athletics Marketing and Branding: marketing, branding,
engaging the GW, Washington, D.C., and alumni communities
and spirit.
5. Athletics Development and Fund-raising: development, alumni
engagement and fund-raising.
6.Athletics Facilities: facilities including, but not limited to,
baseball field, boat house, soccer field, softball field, Mount
Vernon Campus facilities and the Lerner Health and
Wellness Center.
7. Wellness, Recreation and Club Sports: club sports, recreational
sports and health and wellness initiatives.
GWsports.com