San Jose State Athletics Picks Up National Award

Dallas, Texas-----San Jose State University director of athletics Tom Bowen returned from the 2008 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics convention with one of 12 NCAA Division I awards for overall exellence in diversity.

“San Jose State University is one of America’s most diverse university campuses. Diversity is embraced and promoted here and our athletics program reflects this cornerstone university value,” says Bowen.

“In the 1930’s, Spartan Athletics was among the first major college and university athletics programs to recognize diversity values. Today, we’re proud to be recognized as one of the top 12 Division I programs in this NCAA study.”

For the second year in a row, San Jose State earned specific recognition (top 3 percent) in the sub-categories of racial diversity and value and attitudinal diversity.

“You can look at the number of schools being recognized this year and see that many NCAA colleges and universities openly embrace the benefits of having a diverse workforce and a diverse student-athlete body that achieves high standards in academics,” says Charlotte Westerhaus, NCAA vice president for diversity and inclusion. “The Diversity in Athletics Awards not only provide visibility for member schools with good practices, but also create dialogue that focuses on the essential need for diversity and inclusion in athletics and higher education.”

“This (study) suggests that it is possible to excel in diversity no matter where you are,” says Professor George Cunningham, director of the laboratory and chair of the division of sport management at Texas A&M University that has compiled data annually for the study since 2006.

San Jose State is the only Western Athletic Conference member named for overall excellence in diversity for 2007-08. Other Division I universities joining San Jose State in this recognition are Central Florida, Colorado, Drexel, East Tennessee State, Kansas State, Long Beach State, Miami (Fla.), Stanford, Ohio State, Texas El Paso and Wright State.

Specific details and methodology for the study are available at http://lds.tamu.edu. The study was conducted for the NCAA by the Texas A&M University's Laboratory for Diversity in Sport.