NWACC’s sanctioned sports committee defers budget talks

The committee tasked with exploring a three-year trial sanctioned sports program at NorthWest Arkansas Community College met Thursday (Sept. 25) at the community college, but deferred setting a budget until next month.

After a spirited and lengthy discussion, the committee unanimously approved creating a separate 501(c)3 for the purpose of accepting contributions used for funding preliminary expenses such as the student survey. David Power, committee member, told the group it would take about six weeks to secure the nonprofit status.

The group also agreed the student survey will incorporate federal Title IX requirements and be more expansive in terms of seeking comments on all sports, not just the two proposed – baseball and softball.

Steven Hinds, NWACC director of public relations, said an outside independent third party will administer the survey and collect the results. But his office will disperse the survey initially through an email time targeted with the November pre-registration period for the spring semester.

The committee said Thursday the survey is expected to cost around $3,000, which will be paid for by donations coming into the separate 501(c)3. The committee was clear they only intend to raise funds to cover the procedural expenses at this time, until the Board of Trustees makes a decision on a 3-year sanctioned sports trial.

The sanctioned sports committee will meet next at 11 a.m., Oct. 16 on the Bentonville campus. They expect to set an annual budget for the proposed sanctioned sports of baseball and softball at that time.

Last month the committee discussed the proposed annual budget in the amount of $150,000 per year for the two sports and that included a 50% buffer for added expenses. Todd Schwartz, committee member, said all of those funds would be raised by community donations. He said Thursday that the budget talks would resume next month.