In 2002-03, the U.Va. Athletics Department developed six ambitious goals as set forth in the mission statement to be fulfilled over a 10-year period ending in 2011-12. Those goals and the progress that has been made are described below.
GOAL 1
Graduate 100% of our student-athletes who complete their eligibility at the University of Virginia.
Progress: At the May 2010 graduation ceremonies, 93% of the student-athletes who had exhausted their eligibility received diplomas.
GOAL 2
Win 12 national championships and 70 conference championships.
Progress: The University of Virginia has won five NCAA team championships, three national team titles, 14 individual national titles, and 42 ACC championships.
GOAL 3
Fully endow all of our scholarships and provide operational support required to meet our other stated goals.
Progress: The Virginia Athletics Foundation funds the 316.6 athletic scholarships allowed by the NCAA—37 of those are funded by named endowed scholarships established by donors. On an annual basis, approximately five percent of the endowment value is distributed for scholarship support and operational support as designated by the donor. In 2008-09, the endowment supported 24% of the total scholarship expense, with the remainder being supported by annual giving. An endowment of approximately $260 million is needed to fully fund the entire scholarship expense.
Operational endowments totaling $2,135,000 have been established by donors to benefit the swimming and diving, wrestling, men’s lacrosse and volleyball programs. In addition, the Foundation has directed funds totaling $1,129,301 to establish operating endowments in support of all sports programs.
GOAL 4
Build and maintain the finest facilities in the country with the purpose of attracting and developing the best student-athletes in the country.
Progress: Every team has benefited—from new facilities for golf, indoor tennis, basketball and a sports medicine facility to renovations at The Park, Memorial Gymnasium, the McCue Center, Davenport Field, the Lady Astor tennis building, Aquatic and Fitness Center (diving tower), weight rooms and locker rooms.
GOAL 5
Based on how coaches rate their top prospects, we will attract top prospective student-athletes to the University of Virginia.
Progress: Virginia finished third in the final 2009-10 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup competition for Division I schools. It was the 17th consecutive year (since the program’s inception) that U.Va. has recorded a top-30 finish.
GOAL 6
Fully comply with Title IX.
Progress: Since 2002-03, Title IX initiatives have included: additional full-time staff members, improved publications, increased operational budgets, full funding for all grants-in-aid, renovated locker rooms, enhanced competition venues, additional funding for video services, summer school resources for first year student-athletes and a marketing and promotional plan for all sports programs. Special attention has been placed on evaluating salaries within the department, particularly as they relate to coaching, to ensure equitable treatment for all. Additionally, the department sought to secure endorsement contracts for women’s head coaches and a bonus structure was implemented for all coaches. A sports sponsorship agreement was created that provides shoes, equipment and apparel for nine teams and reduced costs for all other teams.