News

Cape Cod, Mass. - Commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rudy Keeling and President of the ECAC Board of Directors Dan Mara unveiled the ECAC Strategic Plan at the recent 2009 ECAC Convention and Trade Show.

The process started in the fall of 2008 when the ECAC Board Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) convened to discuss the strategic planning process. The ECAC retained Chuck Smrt from the Compliance Group to assist the conference in the process. In the winter of 2009, the ECAC surveyed its membership and in the spring compiled and analyzed the data and presented it to the ECAC Board of Directors. Over the summer the SPC consulted with several groups (Division II and Division III New England Commissioners) and worked closely with the ECAC staff to draft our strategic plan.

The ECAC presented a draft to its membership during its 2009 Convention and plans to finalize the document this winter. As this is a living document, the ECAC will be updating it regularly and appreciates feedback from its membership.

The ECAC strategic plan focuses on four main areas: member services; conference office operation; academic and athletic excellence; and equity, inclusion and diversity. Within each of these areas, the ECAC is tackling specific items to improve the conference and the way it serves its membership.

Within the member services area, the ECAC is focusing on several sections related to officiating and championships.  First, the ECAC plans to increase efficiency and effectiveness in officiating services and will fulfill this goal by recruiting officials and seeking diversity in officiating pools; enhancing tryout opportunities and reducing barriers toward collegiate officiating; and improving the quality of officials.  Also, the ECAC plans to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of ECAC championship programs by creating a competitive championship atmosphere for all student-athletes, as well as cultivating an environment that emphasizes sportsmanship.  Lastly, the ECAC intends to increase educational efforts in Divisions I, II and III by providing leadership and compliance education opportunities for all Divisions.  

The second area of emphasis relates to conference office operations.  The ECAC hopes to determine and actively communicate the mission and purpose of the ECAC by clarifying and communicating with ECAC members and non-members the mission statement of the ECAC; sustaining financial responsibility for the conference office by increasing revenues and decreasing costs;  creating a positive work environment; and promoting the conference's image and brand. 

Academic and athletic excellence is the third emphasis area in the strategic plan. The ECAC intends to create an environment that encourages and supports the total development of the student-athlete with an emphasis on sportsmanship, life-skills, and academics.  In addition, the conference plans to promote the success of ECAC teams who participate in NCAA championships and continue to honor individuals and team award winners in all areas. 

The fourth focus area relates to equity, inclusion and diversity.  Within this area, the ECAC seeks to provide equitable opportunities for men and women of all races and creeds to participate and/or work in ECAC athletics.  Also, the ECAC intends to assist members in complying with all Title IX regulations and operating programs and hopes to partner with the NCAA to increase gender, equity and diversity in officiating services. 

The ECAC strategic plan will serve as a guide for our Board and staff to fulfill our mission to initiate, stimulate and improve intercollegiate athletics programs for student-athletes, and to promote and develop educational leadership, athletics excellence and athletics participation. The current strategic plan draft can be found on www.ecac.org under the ‘About' tab.