Longer term plans for the university athletic programs

he university should remain committed to the goal of graduating 100 percent of all student-athletes in a minimum of five years and remain committed to gender equity in the athletic programs. As the “Going for the Gold” fund raising project continues, Marshall should examine methods to increase travel support and equipment budgets for women’s sports.

The committee supports the construction of a new baseball facility and expansion of the football stadium provided those funds are raised through p sources. New athletic teams should be added where it is economically feasible and creates equal opportunity for women and men student-athletes on the Marshall campus. Gender neutral sports could include swimming, crew, archery, gymnastics and rifle team.

Depending on the breakdown of the divisional structure of the NCAA in the coming century, Marshall should seek a conference affiliation with a group of peer institutions who share our goals of benefiting student-athletes and who aspire to aggressively market the conference at a national level. An appropriate conference affiliation for Marshall must be located in a region where alumni and fans have the opportunity to travel to events, thus helping to maintain interest, support and ties to the university.