Evaluation
Wichita State University and WSU Athletics have formed the Task Force on Athletics Policy and Culture to review and provide recommendations on the culture and policies within the athletic department, with the goal of ensuring WSU provides a supportive environment for all student-athletes. The Task Force, comprised of a cross section of coaches, athletics support staff, student-athletes, faculty and alumni, will carry out a comprehensive review of the culture and existing WSU Intercollegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) policies, procedures and practices.
The task force will do the following:
1. Review existing ICAA policies, procedures and practices governing the reporting, investigation and response to allegations of coaching misconduct, student-athlete welfare, policy or regulatory violations and compliance violations (e.g., NCAA or AAC), and identify strengths and gaps in how these policies, procedures and practices ensure the Athletics Department identifies, investigates and responds to such concerns.
2. Review relevant ICAA policies and procedures and:
a. Compare those to the policies, procedures and practices of other comparable D-1 AAC and non-AAC schools (i.e. does not have a football program, size of school, etc.) and provide that comparison; and
b. Identify strengths and areas for improvement and make recommendations for any changes.
3. Build on recently acquired environmental assessment and survey information and continue to assess and report on the current environment among the student-athletes and athletics staff, specifically whether they feel properly supported and whether there is an understood mechanism for reporting allegations of abuse or other policy violations.
4. Based on the assessment and policy review, identify any initiatives, structural improvements or efforts that the Athletics Department could adopt to promote a supportive environment and foster a culture where student-athletes and Athletics staff feel comfortable reporting allegations of abuse or other policy violations.
Members of the Council included:
Mark Vermillion, Interim Associate Dean for College of Applied Studies, Chair and Professor of Sport Management
Korey Torgerson, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance
Kristi Bredbenner, Interim Senior Woman's Administrator and Head Softball Coach
Dexter Dennis, Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete
McKenna Paintin, Track and Field Student-Athlete and President of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Angela Buckner, Former WSU Student-Athlete
Clay Stoldt, Faculty Athletic Representative
Shirlene Small, Associate Teaching Educator Faculty/Department of Sociology
Alicia Sanchez, Director of Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Brianna Ward, Psychologist, Student-Athlete Mental Health Coordinator
Kayla Jasso, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Gretchen Torline, Director of Athletic Academic Services
Sarah Mathews, Director of Compliance
Task Force Minutes
December 11, 2020
December 17, 2020
January 8, 2021
January 15, 2021
January 22, 2021
January 29, 2021
February 5, 2021
February 19, 2021
February 26, 2021
March 5, 2021
Final Report
Executive Summary
Implementation
After examining all the data, the task force made 41 recommendations in the following areas. As of the Spring 2023, ICAA has reached completion (or substantial completion) in 39 of the 41 recommendations.
Implementation Committee Report (Feb. 7, 2023)
- Within this report we outline 39 of 41 recommendations either complete or substantially complete
APC Task Force Powerpoint
- Within this deck we also outline 39 of 41 recommendations either complete or substantially complete
Implementation Matrix
- Within this spreadsheet we also outline 39 of 41 recommendations either complete or substantially complete
