NWACC sanctioned sports committee outlines proposed budgets

The proposed 3-year budget presented by the committee exploring sanctioned Division III sports at NorthWest Arkansas Community College totaled $431,519 for women’s volleyball and softball and men’s baseball. The proposed budget was modeled after other similar institutions such as NorthArk Community Community College in Harrison and North Eastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla. 

The budget by year is as follows.
Year 1: $142,163
Year 2: $142,163
Year 3: $141,897

Dwight Power, committee member tasked with pulling the budget together and presenting to the media and college administration on Friday (March 6), said the main goal of the committee is to explore the feasibility of NWACC offering sanctioned sports by as early as next year. 

The work by the committee will go to the board of trustees for a vote in the coming months. As of now the proposed budget for the three sports is merely a guideline should the board approve a Division III sanctioned sports program.

“We do not want the college to fund any of the costs for the three-year trial period should the board decide to move forward,” Power said. “The program would be funded entirely by community support.” 

The recent Title IX survey completed by the student body indicated the most support for volleyball, followed by baseball and softball, which is why the committee is first considering the costs of these sports. Volleyball would have annual budget of $43,531 for year one, softball’s first year budget is proposed at $44,246 and baseball was the highest at $54,386. The proposed budgets allow for coaching stipends of $15,000 in year 1 in all three sports with a 4% annual increase. All assistant coaches would be volunteers.

Power said the committee arrived at that salary stipend based on input from other colleges. He said graduate assistants would be ideal after speaking with the University of Arkansas who is sending some of their graduate assistants much further away to do the required internships. NorthArk Community College pays a $9,000 coaching stipend, he said.

NWACC President Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson asked the committee who would responsible for supervising these coaches. Power said the committee has not factored in costs of an athletic director or person to supervise coaches.

“That’s a college cost right there,” Jorgenson said.

Board trustee Joe Spivey raised the question who on staff already oversees club sports noting that the college already likely has someone in that capacity.

The benefits package proposed for the three coaches came to about $1,700 per year. Travel and associated costs were the biggest part of the annual budgets for year one. Those costs are:
Volleyball $10,935;
Softball: $11,450; and
Baseball: $23,010.

Equipment costs were also a large part of the annual proposed budgets. Those costs are:
Volleyball: $10,500;
Softball: $10,700; and
Baseball $9,280.

The equipment costs were slightly lower in years two and three after ramp up costs incurred in year one. 

One area of concern voiced by the college administration was the potential liability risk from injury of a participating student. Ethan Beckcom, executive director for risk management compliance at NWACC, said the $12,240 annual projected insurance costs for the these programs was too low. 

The committee based the insurance costs for liability, medical and property damage based on what other schools have budgeted or like programs stating that the exact figures would have to be determined once the programs were put into place. Beckcom said not all liability policies are created equally nor is the insured appetite for risk.

“We are looking to strike a balance that protects the college from a liability standpoint and adequately protects our students. We cannot rely on the fact that all students have medical insurance protection.”

The cost of the insurance is covered by student athletes in fees which equaled $170 according the estimate. Board trustee and committee member Todd Schwartz said students would be required to have medical insurance before they are eligible to play.

After much discussion on the topic, Beckcom agreed with Power that the cost for adequately covering the risks to college and protecting the student athlete could likely be achieved near the projected budget amount.

“We don’t have to recreate the wheel here. the National Junior College Athletic Association offers us plenty of suggestions on this issue,” said Chuck Huebner, who has spoke in favor of the sanctioned sports program from the beginning.

The proposed volleyball season would run from late August through October with a roster of 15 players. The head coach would be responsible for scheduling games and daily management.

Baseball’s season runs from February through May and the NWACC team would carry 32 players. Softball’s season is also February through mid-May with a 25-player roster.

Lyshell Hiatt-Blech, a student at NWACC and program director for Arkansas Guardians, spoke in favor of the sanctioned sports program. 

“I have done a lot work with student athletes and have found they tend to be better with time management and can be leaders in other areas. This is a good thing. There is some concern among some parents in the community about why NWACC doesn’t offer sanctioned sports which could be a front porch to this college,” Hiatt-Blech said.

She also commended the committee and board for allowing the students to have a voice in the process with the recent Title IX survey.

Spivey said the budget is not the biggest issue at stake, given that the college is not being asked to fund of it for the first three years.

He wants to know what the greater impact could be on the college and surrounding community if these sports are ultimately approved.

“We are losing students at this college. Maybe this will help us retain and attract students. We have got to look down the road,” Spivey, said as he commended the committee for their research work.