UNBC - CIS Report

Summary

This document provides an introduction to UNBC's Athletics and identifies the opportunities that emerge for UNBC and UNBC Athletics with the creation of a culture of sport excellence in the North, the Northern Sport Centre and UNBC's entry to Canada West and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).

UNBC's Strategic Plan "ACTION" identifies a strategy to improve the quality of student life which includes as a high priority the building of an athletic facility, a building that will reflect the goals of UNBC. UNBC's "Five Year Capital Plan 2003-2008" also identifies the construction of an athletic centre as a high priority for student recruitment to UNBC, particularly for northern students.

In partnership with PacificSport (the provincial government agency designated for high performance sport development), UNBC is committed to working for the betterment and continued development of sport in northern British Columbia.

The Northern Sports Centre, located on the campus of UNBC, is to be a centre of excellence, where athletes can train and develop towards their pursuit of national and international standards of performance.

The highest level of amateur sports participation in postsecondary education in our nation is university athletics, or CIS. As a member of CIS, our student athletes would pursue the same excellence that is promoted in academic work as well as in the culture of the Northern Sports Centre.

Canada West is one of four national regional associations within CIS. Current members of Canada West include University Victoria, University of British Columbia, Trinity Western University, Simon Fraser University, University of Calgary, University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge, Brandon University, University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba and, the two newest members in 2005, Thompson Rivers University and University College of the Fraser Valley. UBC-Okanagan is also vying to play in CIS.

UNBC's entry into CIS will increase the University's competitiveness in attracting top athletes and providing greater opportunity for brand recognition. This document articulates the benefits of Canada West and CIS membership for UNBC. The document summarizes the general infrastructure needed; estimates expense and identifies the earliest possible entry timelines. The following areas are cited:

We are engaging in a consultative process, gathering input from students, faculty and staff and the public. We've identified our preferred entry teams and we will examine that in light of the information we gather and confirm at least two additional teams for our start line. We will investigate various organizational structures and put forth the one that best suits UNBC, a structure that fulfills the benefits of having CIS at UNBC and meets the financial commitment. This is a considerable undertaking with major financial obligations. We are confident that considerable work can be done over the next few months to prepare a comprehensive document. We are confident that a model for CIS at UNBC can be developed that our students, university and community will embrace.

Athletics & Recreation - Vision

Our vision is to be a leader on campus and in the community that promotes a healthy lifestyle through active participation.

Athletics - Mission

To support an environment that is committed to individual student athletic pursuit of national and international standards of performance.

To support individual student-athletic education and promote academic performance and competitive athletics as learning experiences in the development of responsible and productive citizens.

Athletics: Objectives:

UNBC's Membership in Canada West & Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Overview of CW & CIS

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national sports governing body for interuniversity athletics. Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Canada West are the regional associations with a total of fifty current member schools.

Opportunities for UNBC

The menu of possible sports is quite large (19 permutations) and varied once you are a member - the key to initial membership is 2 league sport teams in each gender.

Canada West & CIS Menu of Sports

There are currently 16 national championships with 19 sports being contested.

CIS Championships and Other Sports

Through membership in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), UNBC would be eligible to participate in many other sporting opportunities such as world-class international major games competitions and programs, internship programs, etc. Although CIS offers a variety of sports within a competitive environment, there are other individual and team sports that are not included.

Recently CIS recognized the 2005 Cross Country Canada National Championships in Prince George for CIS participation even though it is not a CIS recognized “core” sport. UNBC would continue to fund a (UNBC) Nordic Ski team where the team or individual members would compete around the province in Cross Country BC sanctioned events and possibly compete in further events across Canada, the United States and even abroad. For the Nordic ski team and this sport to grow, it is important to maintain an alliance with those organizations and individuals driving the sport provincially and nationally as well as our own local association. Some UNBC Nordic Skiing expenses may meet the criteria for funding through these organizations. These athletes would definitely benefit from the facilities and services offered by the Northern Sports Centre, and the Centre would be essential for the designation as a "Regional Training Centre".

There are other university championships not directly sponsored by CIS that UNBC could attend and participate in such as golf, squash, badminton and curling. Opportunities are abound.

Benefits of Membership in Interuniversity Sport (Canada West and CIS)

Excellence mandate: Competition at the highest level of amateur sport in postsecondary education in Canada supports the university’s mission and is fully compatible with higher education goals of attracting and nurturing gifted students. It provides an opportunity to raise the quality of athleticism and declare/celebrate “centres of excellence” offering a specialized program for gifted student athletes.

Role model/leadership development values: Sport provides leadership development opportunities for students. It provides an opportunity to bring the off-campus community to the campus and use role modeling for the younger, prospective students. Student-athletes and the teams can be exemplary role-models on campus and in the community. They serve/contribute to the community outreach programs on campus (through camps, school visits, tournament hosting, coaching, etc) An example would be U of Manitoba’s Mini-University program which served 7,000 youth this past summer while providing significant summer employment for many university students. Programmes such as these can also provide a revenue stream to support the UNBC Athletics programme.

Enhancement of school pride and camaraderie: There is opportunity to build school identity and unity of purpose within the student body, spirit to the campus, instilling a source of pride and togetherness.

Positive public relations/goodwill/public image values: Positive public relations and goodwill (a competitive university sport program will put the name of the university into the public domain more than any other program on campus locally, provincially and nationally). It will contribute to the positive public image of a university and significantly elevate the status, exposure and recognition of the university. This plays a major role in student recruitment, retention and alumni relations.

Building Alliances: Athletics helps to build stronger alliances across many groups. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community pride comes with successful exposure of competitive teams. It provides another avenue to maintain alumni support; a complement to the other alumni or parent-focused efforts on campus. Competitive athletics can serve as a unifier on campus, bringing people together to cheer on the school team (or at least to take pride in their efforts and accomplishments). Teams can serve as a community relations tool for the internal and external university community. Athletics is the connection to our Northern BC communities, and allows UNBC students to integrate more effectively within these communities – keeping UNBC grads in the North.

Marketing/leverage opportunities: It can provide a platform for health/wellness active lifestyle, wholesome values, character development; improve the quality of student life; and provide service to the community through sport camps, and clinics. University Athletics staff are seen as experts and community resources. An Athletics program is a solid recruitment tool for attracting students (athletes and non-athletes), keeping more high school graduates from the north in the north and deepening connections with local schools.

Campus Benefits: Student athletes come from all academic programme areas. Varsity Athletics on campus enhances student life and pride on campus.

Enhanced financial gain opportunities: The positive economic impact of a successful sports program can be significant. The public will support successful athletic programs (e.g. U of Sask generates over 1M gross annually just in Husky merchandise sales). The ability to build resources (facilities, operating dollars, donor gifts, sponsors, gate receipts, merchandising) associated with support for athletics is substantial. It can have an indirect positive financial impact – recruiting more students, alumni and corporate support. This will take some time and our expectations here are moderate in the short term.

Other Canada West Universities report the following:

CANADIAN INTERUNIVERSITY SPORT at UNBC

We propose entering CIS in both men’s and women’s basketball. As well, UNBC would continue to support the Nordic Ski team as the Cross Country Skiing National Championships are now recognized by the CIS, but not endorsed as a core sport for entry. We are required to identify a further men’s and a women’s sport to meet the minimum entry requirements for Canada West.

The earliest UNBC can apply for membership in CIS will be February 2007 with an earliest competition start date for fall 2008. CIS requires UNBC to enter two teams into CIS competition in the first year, one male and one female team. UNBC would then introduce two further teams, one male and one female team in year two of their membership.

In basketball we have a solid foundation built through our years of experience in the British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association, and in moving to CIS, we would require a stronger focus on recruitment and awards enabling us to build a competitive team within the highest amateur sport environment. A strategy to attract top student-athletes is needed that will enable us to build our program and ensure that we are competitive. This strategy must, for example, include developing an excellent athletic awards programme and continuing to play a key role in the development of young northern athletes before they enter post-secondary education. Basketball BC has recruited the UNBC’s Women’s basketball coach to assist in a programme designed to do just that.

The Nordic Ski team would allow for both a men’s and women’s team that would ultimately compete at the National Championships but would also compete in provincial and some international competitions. Having a limited number of schools catering to these athletes, our natural environment, and our local facilities will enable UNBC to recruit top student athletes and compete successfully on the national and international stage.

We envision competing in sports that are consistent with the participation of our northern population. We also see competition that is concentrated on a provincial and national stage. For instance, in men’s and women’s basketball, games will be played against our provincial rivals; UBC, UVic, Simon Fraser, Trinity Western, University College of the Fraser Valley and Thompson Rivers University, as well as against our other Canada West universities. There can be further competition with exhibition and playoff games with other CIS eastern universities. In identifying our sports, we should embrace our northern roots.

Cost of CIS participation

The benefits of CIS to both students and UNBC do come with a cost. Entering CIS with men’s and women’s basketball would cost approximately $417,000. Nordic skiing would cost an additional $65,000. The projected cost of adding two additional teams is $418,000. CIS teams will cost approximately $900,000 on an annual basis. Some teams may cost more than others but this figure provides a good estimate.

Our CIS estimated budget includes funding for the UNBC Nordic Ski team. Athletics does anticipate further costs with the ski program and estimated these programme costs. With the 2010 Winter Olympics and the possibility of increased government funding, there may be an opportunity to gain additional funding to off-set a portion of these costs.

Most universities participating in CIS operate their teams from revenue sources associated with the operations of the teams, i.e. ticket sales, advertising etc. and from revenue provided by the institution both in Student Athletic fees and the university administration. These sources of revenue vary from institution to institution for a number of reasons.

Our best model for success, both on and off the playing field, is to integrate UNBC teams into the Prince George community. This may be as direct as marketing the teams and games to encourage financial support and public attendance at the games, but it may be a model where “ownership” of UNBC teams is placed in the community. One of the models we will explore is the model which supports the University of Regina Rams football team. In this case, a “not for profit” organization (Regina Rams Football Club Inc.) is considered an advisory board within the structures of the University of Regina, and the community partnership agreement sees the organization “responsible to provide and fund, at its sole expense, all facilities, equipment, coaching, administration, secretarial services, travel costs and other support necessary for the football program.” Although this isn’t common among universities, it may be an option for UNBC, and it is a model that is being explored at UBC-Okanagan with their possible entry to CIS with the Kelowna Suns football club.

Choosing our initial two men’s and two women’s teams into CIS could create considerable debate because we have many aspiring athletes in varying sports within our city. With CIS teams in Prince George, minor athletes and their organizations will have a tremendous opportunity to grow their programs and retain their athletes for longer periods of time. However, starting with four teams meets the CIS minimum requirement to enter at a time when the question of financing is still being determined. It is important to note that once we are a member of Canada West and CIS we have the ability of adding further teams and sports as the opportunities present themselves.

We are asking for feedback from the UNBC community, the Prince George community and the sports community. If you or your organization would like further information please call UNBC Athletics at 960-6358.

You can mail us your feedback to:

UNBC Athletics Attention: Len McNamara
3333 University Way
Prince George, B.C.
V2N 4Z9

You can email us at: mcnamarl@unbc.ca
You can call us at: (250) 960-6358

Thank you for taking the time to read through our new initiative here at UNBC Athletics. I encourage you and/or your organization to provide us with your thoughts.

Sincerely yours,
Len McNamara, Athletics and Recreation Coordinator