Diversity&InclusionPlan

Introduction

TheEmbry-RiddleAthleticsDepartmentembracesourUniversity’scommitmenttodiversityandinclusion.Embry-RiddleAeronauticalUniversityisfullycommittedtobeingagloballeaderindiversityandinclusioninhighereducation.Wecontinuallystrivetorecognize,respectandcelebratethedifferencesandculturalidentitiesamongindividualsaswerecruit,support,andembraceourdiversecommunity.Weworktoprovideasafeenvironmentwhereself-expressioniswelcome.Westrivetocreateacampusclimatefreeofdiscriminationsothatnetworks,partnershipsandculturalcompetencycontinuetobefosteredthroughleadership,integrity,careandrespect.

ERAUAthleticsalsofullysupportstheNCAA’svisionofInclusionbyprovidingequalopportunitiestoallstudent-athletesandpersonnel.ThegoalofERAUAthleticsistofosteraculturewherestudent-athletes,coaches,staffandfansarevaluedfortheircontributionsandaremotivatedtoparticipatetotheirfullestpotential.Collegiateathleticsprovidesanopportunityforstudentstocompetewithandagainstotherswhocomefromdifferentraces,cultures,religions,sexualorientations,genderidentitiesandsocialclasses;allofwhomsharethecommongoalofachievingathleticexcellence.ERAUAthleticsiscommittedtoattractingandretainingadiversegroupofstudentsandstaff,nurturingandcelebratingdifferentanduniqueperspectives,whilevaluingtheideasandeffortsofindividualcontributorsinasafeandnon-judgmentalenvironment.Wepromotecivilityandrespect,sothatourstakeholderswillenjoyameaningfulexperience.

PlanOverview

Embry-RiddleAthleticshasestablishedagoaltopartnerwithothercampusentitiesandpersonneltobroadenitsapproachtodiversityandinclusion.TheinitialAthleticsDiversity&InclusionPlanwasdevelopedin2014-15byacollaborativeeffortbetweenERAUAthleticsandthecampusOfficeofDiversity&Inclusion.TheAthleticsDiversity&InclusionCommitteewasformedinthefallof2015andhasbeenmeetingregularlyforthepasttwoyears.Consistingofrepresentativesfromthefaculty,staffandAthleticsdepartment,thisgrouphasbeenchargedwithcontinuingtohelpERAUAthleticsdeveloppoliciesandproceduresrelatedtodiversityandinclusionaswellasmoveforwardallrelatedefforts.InputfromavarietyofperspectiveshasbeenavaluableassettotheprocessofcontinuallyupdatingtheDiversity&InclusionPlan.

AthleticsDiversity&InclusionCommittee

CurrentMembership:

JohnMarkAdkison,AssociateDirectorofAthleticsDr.AaronClevenger,DeanofGraduateandInternationalAdmissionsDr.JoanneDeTore-Nakamura,AssociateProfessor,HumanitiesKennethHunt,Director,OfficeofDiversity&InclusionRev.Dr.DavidKeck,CampusChaplain,AdjunctFacultyMariaLopez,HeadCoach,Women’sGolfSonjaTaylor,AssociateDirectorofAthletics-SWA(CommitteeChair)MoniqueWhite,AssistantCoach,SoftballMajorERAUAthleticseffortsrelatedtodiversity&inclusionsince2014-15

• AthleticsDiversity&InclusionCommitteewasformedinthefallof2015withbroadbasedrepresentationfromfaculty,staff,coachesandathleticsstaff.Membershiphasremainedconsistent.Thecommitteefocusesonpolicy,assessment,education,programmingandrepresentation.ThecommitteedevelopsandmonitorstheAthleticsDiversity&InclusionPlan.

• ERAUCampusDirectorofDiversityandInclusionandstaffwereinvitedtopresentat2015NCAAInclusionForum.ProgramhighlightedERAU’suniqueapproachtodiversityandinclusion,aswellasrelatedresearchefforts.

• ERAUAthleticssenioradministrationorcampusseniorDiversitystaffhasattendedannualNCAAInclusionForumin2014,2015,2016&2017.

• TheNCAAsponsoredatwo-dayworkshopforEmbry-RiddleAthleticsfocusingonDiversity&InclusionandprogramgoalsettinginAugustof2015.ThisworkshopfeaturedguestpresenterBillHertanoftheTri-PartnersGroupandtheCentralFloridaDiversityLearningSeries.

• TheAthleticsDiversity&InclusionCommitteedevelopedalistofnine(9)questionsrelatedtodiversity&inclusion,whichwereinsertedintoboththeend-of-yearstudent-athletesurvey,andthecoaches’surveyinitiatedbytheGenderEquityCommittee.Thesequestionsaremeanttoassessthegeneralclimateamongstudent-athletesandcoachesrelatedtodiversityandinclusion.Thisdataiscompiledandmonitoredannuallyforanynotabletrends.

• ERAUAthleticsconsultedNCAArecommendedproceduresanddevelopedadepartmentpolicyaddressingtheneedsoftransgenderstudent-athletes.

• Embry-RiddleAthleticscollaboratedwithERAUDisabilitySupportServicesandconsultedNCAAsupportingdocumentationtodevelopapolicyaddressingtheneedsofstudent-athleteswithdisabilities.

DemographicDataCampusEnrollment&Student-AthleteComparisons2015-16Totalcampusstudentundergraduateenrollment:5278*Totalstudent-athletes:267**

DemographicRepresentation: Women– Campus 19% Athletes 43% Black/AfricanAmerican- Campus 6% Athletes 19% Hispanic- Campus 4% Athletes 9% International- Campus 14% Athletes 24%Datashowsthatstudent-athletestendtobemorediverse,asagroup,thantheundergraduategeneralstudentpopulation.Women,aswellasBlack/African-American,Hispanicandinternationalstudentsarerepresentedinlargernumbersthanamongstudentsingeneral.AsoutlinedintheAthleticsGenderEquityPlan,thehistoryofEmbry-RiddleUniversityandthenatureofitsprogramshaveattractedapredominatelywhitemalepopulation.Inrecentyears,however,AthleticshasplayedaleadingroleinincreasingtherepresentationofwomenandotherunderrepresentedgroupsattheUniversity.Theprogramcontinuestomoveinapositivedirectionasthediversityofthestudent-athletescontinuestostrengthen.*DataismostrecentcompleteenrollmentinformationfromInstitutionalResearchforFall2015.**DataisbasedonAthleticDepartmentrostersfromFall-Spring2015-16inaccordancewithNCAAcertificationcompliance.StaffdataisbasedonallcoachesandstafflistedintheNCAAyear-endreport.

AthleticsStaffDiversityAllStaff:73Total Women 34 46% Men 39 54% Black/AfricanAmerican 9 12% Hispanic 2 2% Asian 1 1% White 61 84%Coaches:36Total Women 13 36% Men 23 64% Black/AfricanAmerican 5 14% Hispanic 2 5% White 29 80%

NewInitiatives/Goals

Seematrixatendofplan.

PolicyDevelopmentThefollowingpoliciesrelatedtoDiversity&Inclusionhavebeendevelopedandadoptedandwillbeincludedinappropriatepublicationsforthe2016-17academicyear.Embry-RiddleAthletics’policiesregardingdiversityandinclusionareconsistentwithpoliciesandbestpracticesestablishedbytheNCAAandEmbry-RiddleUniversity,andhavebeendevelopedincollaborationwithappropriatecampusdepartments.

Addendum–Policies

Non-Discrimination

• ERAUAthleticswillmaintainapolicyofnondiscriminationwithallstudent-athletesanddepartmentemployees.Allaspectsofparticipation,competitionandemploymentwithinthescopeofERAUAthleticswillbegovernedonthebasisofmerit,competenceandqualificationsandwillnotbeinfluencedbyrace,creed,color,religion,gender,age,nationalorigin,disability,protectedveteranstatus,geneticinformation,sexualorientation,genderidentity,oranyotherstatusprotectedbyfederal,stateorlocallaw.

• Alldecisionsmadewithrespecttorecruitingandretainingstudent-athletesforparticipationonintercollegiateathleticteamswillbemadesolelyonthebasisofindividualqualificationsrelatedtoacademiccomplianceandathleticability.Decisionsmaderegardingtherecruiting,hiringandpromotionsforallERAUAthleticsemployeeswillbegovernedonthebasisofmerit,competenceandqualifications.Theadministrationofallstudent-athleteandpersonnelmatterssuchasbenefits,compensation,reduction-in-force,training,educationandsocialprogramswillbefreefromanydiscriminatorypractices.

PolicyforInclusionofTransgenderStudent-Athletes

GuidingPrinciples:Embry-RiddleAthletics’policyregardingtransgenderstudent-athletesisrootedinourcorevaluethatparticipationinintercollegiateathleticsisavaluablepartoftheeducationalexperienceforallstudentsandthattransgenderstudent-athletesshouldhaveequalopportunitytoparticipateinsports.ERAUAthletics’policyregardingtransgenderstudent-athletesisbasedonethicalprinciplesaswellassoundmedicalknowledge.ThegoalofERAUAthleticsistoprovidepoliciesthatarefair,objective,workableandpractical.ERAUrecognizestheimportanceofstudentprivacyandwillmakeallreasonableattemptstoprotecttheprivacyofstudent-athletes’personalandmedicalinformation.Inallcases,ERAUAthleticswillcomplywithapplicablestateandfederallawsprotectingstudentsfromdiscriminationbasedonsex,disability,andgenderidentityandexpression.

ParticipationPolicy:Thefollowingpoliciesclarifyparticipationoftransgenderstudent-athletesundergoinghormonaltreatmentforgendertransition:

• Atransmale(FTM)student-athletewhohasreceivedamedicalexceptionfortreatmentwithtestosteronefordiagnosedGenderIdentityDisorderorgenderdysphoriaand/orTranssexualism,forpurposesofNCAAcompetitionmaycompeteonamen’steam,butisnolongereligibletocompeteonawomen’steamwithoutchangingthatteamstatustoamixedteam.

• Atransfemale(MTF)student-athletebeingtreatedwithtestosteronesuppressionmedicationforGenderIdentityDisorderorgenderdysphoriaand/orTranssexualism,forthepurposesofNCAAcompetitionmaycontinuetocompeteonamen’steambutmaynotcompeteonawomen’steamwithoutchangingittoamixedteamstatusuntilcompletingonecalendaryearoftestosteronesuppressiontreatment.

• Anytransgenderstudent-athletewhoisnottakinghormonetreatmentrelatedtogendertransitionmayparticipateinsex-separatedsportsactivitiesinaccordancewithhisorherassignedbirthgender.

• Atransmale(FTM)student-athletewhoisnottakingtestosteronerelatedtogendertransitionmayparticipateonamen’sorwomen’steam.

• Atransfemale(MTF)transgenderstudent-athletewhoisnottakinghormonetreatmentsrelatedtogendertransitionmaynotcompeteonawomen’steam.

Student-AthleteResponsibilities:

• Toavoidchallengestoatransgenderstudent’sparticipationduringasportseason,astudent-athletewhohascompleted,planstoinitiate,orisintheprocessoftakinghormonesasapartofagendertransitionmustsubmittherequestinwritingtotheDirectorofAthleticsuponmatriculationorwhenthedecisiontoundergohormonaltreatmentismade.

• Therequestmustincludealetterfromthestudent’sphysiciandocumentingthestudent-athlete’sintentiontotransitionorthestudent’stransitionstatus.Thislettershouldidentifytheprescribedhormonaltreatmentforthestudent’sgendertransitionanddocumentationofthestudent’stestosteronelevels,ifrelevant.Note:NCAABylaw31.2.3identifiestestosteroneasabannedsubstance,andprovidesforamedicalexceptionreviewfordemonstratedneedforuseofabannedmedication.Uponrequestbythestudent,ERAUAthleticswillsubmittherequestforamedicalexceptionfortestosteronetreatmentonbehalfofthestudentpriortothestudent-athletecompetingwhileundergoingtreatment.Inthecaseoftestosteronesuppression,ERAUmustsubmitwrittendocumentationtotheNCAAspecifyingtheyearoftreatmentandon-goingmonitoringoftestosteronesuppression.

ERAUAthleticsResponsibilities:

• TheERAUDirectorofAthleticswillmeetwiththestudenttorevieweligibilityrequirementsandproceduresforapprovaloftransgenderparticipation.

• Ifhormonetreatmentisinvolvedinthestudent-athlete’stransition,theERAUDirectorofAthleticswillnotifytheNCAAofthestudent’srequesttoparticipatewithamedicalexception.

• Alldiscussionsamonginvolvedpartiesandrequireddocumentationwillbekeptconfidential,unlessthestudent-athletemakesaspecificrequestotherwise.InvolvedpartiesmayincludeAthleticsadministration,coaches,andparents,uponapprovalofthestudent.Allinformationaboutanindividualstudent’stransgenderidentityandmedicalinformationwillbekeptconfidential.

• ERAUAthleticswilleducatemembersoftheathleticsdepartmentcommunity(includingstaff,coaches,student-athletesandparents)aboutdepartmentalandUniversitypolicyregardingtheparticipationoftransgenderstudent-athletesinathletics.

AdditionalGuidelinesforTransgenderStudent-AthleteInclusion

ThefollowingadditionalguidelineswillassistERAUAthleticsincreatinganenvironmentinwhichalltransgenderstudent-athletesaresafeandtreatedfairly.ERAUwillmakeallreasonableeffortstoprovideappropriateaccommodationsfortransgenderstudent-athletes.FacilitiesAccess

• ChangingAreas,Toilets,Showers—Transgenderstudent-athletesshouldbeabletousethelockerroom,shower,andtoiletfacilitiesinaccordancewiththestudent’sgenderidentity.Uponrequest,ERAUAthleticswillmakeeveryreasonableefforttoprovideprivate,enclosedchangingareas,showers,andtoiletsforusebyanyathletewhodesiresthem,includingtransgenderstudent-athletes.Transgenderstudent-athletesshouldnotberequiredtouseseparatefacilities.

• CompetitionatAnotherSchool—Ifatransgenderstudent-athleterequestsaparticularaccommodationtoensureaccesstoappropriatechanging,showering,orbathroomfacilities,ERAUAthleticsstaff,inconsultationwiththetransgenderstudent-athlete,willnotifytheircounterpartsatotherschoolspriortocompetitionstoensurethatthestudenthasaccesstofacilitiesthatarecomfortableandsafe.Thisnotificationshouldmaintainthestudent’sconfidentiality.Thestudent-athlete’sidentityasatransgenderpersonwillnotbedisclosedwithoutthestudent’sexpresspermission,andeveryreasonableeffortwillbemadetomaintaintheconfidentialityofthestudent-athlete’spersonalandmedicalinformation.

• HotelRooms—Wheneverpossible,transgenderstudent-athletesgenerallyshouldbeassignedtosharehotelroomsbasedontheirgenderidentity,witharecognitionthatanystudentwhoneedsextraprivacyshouldbeaccommodated,uponrequest.

Language• PreferredNames—Inallcases,teammates,coachesandallothersintheschoolshouldreferto

transgenderstudent-athletesbyastudent’spreferredname.• Pronouns—Similarly,inallcases,pronounreferencestotransgenderstudent-athletesshould

reflectthestudent’sgenderandpronounpreferences.DressCodesandTeamUniforms

• DressCodes—Transgenderstudent-athleteswillbepermittedtodressconsistentlywiththeirgenderidentities.Thatis,afemale-to-maletransgenderathletewillbepermittedtodressasamale.Amale-to-femalewillbepermittedtodressasafemale.Forreasonsunrelatedtotrans-inclusion,ERAUathleticteamsshouldevaluatethenecessityofgendereddresscodesandrecognizethattheytendtomarginalizearangeofstudentswhomaynotfeelcomfortablewiththem.Dresscodesforathleticteamswhentravelingorduringagamedayatschoolshouldbegender-neutral.Insteadofrequiringagirls’orwomen’steamtoweardressesorskirts,forexample,askthatteammembersweardressesorslacksthatareclean,neat,wellcaredforandappropriately“dressy”forrepresentingtheirschoolandteam.

PolicyforAddressingtheNeedsofStudent-AthleteswithDisabilities

Thispolicyisintendedtoprovidebothaphilosophicalandproceduralfoundationforrespondingtotheneedsofstudent-athleteswhoidentifyashavingadocumenteddisability.ThegoalofEmbry-RiddleAthleticsistohelpthestudent-athleteidentifyappropriateresources,servicesandaccommodationsthatcomplywithbothNCAArulesandEmbry-RiddleUniversitypoliciesandprocedures.

Embry-RiddleAthleticswillworkcooperativelywiththeEmbry-RiddleOfficeofDisabilitySupportServicestoassiststudent-athletesinobtainingreasonableaccommodationsappropriatetotheirpresentingdocumenteddisability.ThepoliciesandprocedurespertainingtotheOfficeofDisabilitySupportServicesarecompliantwiththemandatesofSection504oftheRehabilitationActof1973andTitleIIIoftheAmericanswithDisabilitiesActof1990.ThecompletepoliciesandproceduresforDisabilitySupportServicesfortheDaytonaBeachCampuscanbefoundathttp://daytonabeach.erau.edu/Assets/daytonabeach/forms/DSS-Policies-Procedures.pdf

TheroleoftheEmbry-RiddleAthleticsadministrativeandcoachingstaffistoserveasreferralagents,supportiveadvocatesandresourcesofinformationforstudent-athletesseekingcampusservices.

NCAAdefinitionofdisability:TheNCAAusestheterm“education-impairingdisability”(EID),whichisdefinedforacademiceligibilitypurposesasacurrentimpairmentthathasasubstantialeducationalimpactonastudent’sacademicperformanceandrequiresaccommodation.

Whenappropriate,Embry-RiddleAthleticscanassiststudent-athletesinsubmittingeligibilitywaiverstotheNCAAbasedoneducationimpairingdisabilities.ThisprocesswillbeconductedincompliancewithNCAArulesandinconjunctionwiththeEmbry-RiddleOfficeofDisabilitySupportServices.

Tobeconsideredforaneligibilitywaiverortoreceivecampusaccommodations,student-athletesmustdisclosetheirdisabilitytotheofficeofDisabilitySupportServicesandprovideappropriatesupportingdocumentation.DSSwillverifythedisabilityorotherimpairmentanddeterminereasonableaccommodationsoracademicadjustmentsspecifictotheindividualstudent-athlete.

TheprocessforrequestingcampusaccommodationsisseparatefromtheNCAAEIDwaiverprocess,whichincludesanin-depthreviewofalldocumentation.Student-athletesmayrequestcampusaccommodationswithoutsubmittingawaivertotheNCAA,however,ifastudent-athletesubmitsaneligibilitywaivertotheNCAAbasedonaneducationimpairingdisability,theNCAAwillexpectthatthestudentwillhaveworkedwiththecampusdisabilitysupportofficetoverifyandidentifyappropriateservices.

SCOPE:

Thispolicyisintendedtoaddresstheneedsofstudent-athleteswithdisabilitiesthatcrossabroadspectrumofissuesthat,accordingtotheADA,include“withrespecttotheindividual,aphysicalormentalimpairmentthatsubstantiallylimitsoneormorelifeactivitiesofsuchindividual;”

TheNCAAisparticularlyconcernedaboutandhasfocusedmucheducationandoutreachregardingstudent-athleteswithmentalhealthconcerns.TheNCAAhasnotedthevarioustypesofdisabilitiesthattypicallysurfaceintheEIDwaiverprocess.Learningdisabilities/disorders,attention-deficithyperactivitydisordersandmentalhealthdisordersarethemostprevalentimpairments.

• Learningdisabilities/disorders(LD)• Attention-deficithyperactivitydisorder(ADHD)• Mentalhealthdisorders• Medicalconditions• Hearingimpairment• Autismspectrumdisorders(ASD)

Thecategoryof“mentalhealthdisorders”isbroad.Commonmentalhealthdisordersinclude.

• Majordepressivedisorder• Generalizedanxietydisorder• Socialanxietydisorder/socialphobia• Adjustmentdisorder• Obsessive/compulsivedisorder• Oppositionaldefiantdisorder• Addictions• Post-traumaticstressdisorder• Panicdisorder• Bipolardisorder

Embry-RiddleAthleticsadministrativepersonnel,coaches,andsportsmedicinestaffareinakeypositiontoobservethechallengesandbehaviorspresentinthelivesofERAUstudent-athletes.Thisisparticularlytrueforthosestudent-athleteswithsuspectedorformallydiagnosedmentalhealthdisorders.Torespondtotheneedsofthestudent-athletepopulation,belowisalistofproceduresintendedtoguidedailypractices.

PROCEDURES:

1. Student-athletesseekinginformationregardingcampusservicesforaphysicaloreducation-impactingdisability.Athleticsstaffmemberswhoencounterastudent-athletewhoreportsapre-existingdisabilityanddesirestoreceiveeducationalaccommodationsshouldreferthatstudenttothecampusOfficeofDisabilitySupportServices.ThisofficeislocatedintheWellnessCenter,Building20,Room132andcanbereachedat386-226-7916.Wheneverpossible,andwiththepermissionofthestudent-athlete,theAthleticsstaffmembershouldassistthestudent-athleteinmakingcontactwiththeDSSofficetoalleviateanyobstacles.

2. Student-athletedisabilitydisclosure/confidentiality.Student-athleteswithdocumenteddisabilitieswhodesiretoreceiveaccommodationsareexpectedtodiscloseappropriateinformationtothecampusOfficeofDisabilitySupportServices.Documentationregardingthestudent-athlete’sdisabilitywillbekeptonfileintheofficeofDSSandwillbekeptconfidential.TheERAUAthleticsSportsMedicinestaffmayalsorequestandkeeparecordofanyphysical

conditionthatmayhaveanimpactonthestudent-athlete’son-goinghealth.Student-athleteswhorequestaccommodationsthatmayimpacttheday-to-dayactivitiesoftheteaminwhichtheyareamember,willbeexpectedtodisclosethenatureoftheirdisability,andthereasonableaccommodationrecommendedbyDSS,toERAUAthleticsadministrationandtheircoachingstaff.Withtheconsentofthestudent-athletewhorequestsaccommodation,thecoach(s)and/oradministrationmayprovideeducationalinformationtoteammembersregardingthenatureofthedisabilityandanysupportthattheteamcanprovide.

3. Responsetostudent-athleteswithmentalhealthdisorders.Student-athleteswithmentalhealthdisordersmaypresentormanifesttheirneedsinvariousways.Student-athleteswhoarriveoncampuswithpre-existingmentalhealthrelateddisabilitieswhodesiretoreceiveaccommodationsshouldbereferredtotheOfficeofDisabilitySupportServicesinthesamemannerasdescribedin#1.DSSwilldeterminereasonableaccommodationsandnotifyERAUAthletics,ifappropriateandnecessary.Student-athleteswhomanifestsymptomsorbehaviorsthatareregardedasrelatedtoorpotentiallyrelatedtoamentalhealthdisordershouldbereferredtotheERAUCounselingCenter,toERAUHealthServices,orERAUDSS,dependingonthenatureofthebehaviors.TheERAUCounselingCenterprovidesservicesforawidevarietyofmentalhealthdisordersandcanalsoassiststudentsinobtainingdiagnosticservicesoffcampuswhendisordersaremorespecialized.ERAUAthleticsadministrative,coachingandsportsmedicinestaffthatencounterstudent-athleteswhoappeartobeinanurgentorcriticalsituationmanifestingbehaviorsorsymptoms