Oct. 15, 2007

Complete University of Notre Dame 2006-07 EADA Report With Tables in PDF Format
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EQUITY IN ATHLETICS DISCLOSURE ACT

Federal regulations require that the following information, based on the previous reporting year, be available for inspection by students, prospective students, and the public by October 15 of each year.

An institution is encouraged to provide any further information it believes might be helpful to students, prospective students or the public to interpret the information provided above, or that might help a prospective student-athlete make an informed choice of an athletics program. For example, an institution may include a history of its athletic programs, or explanation of unusual or exceptional circumstances that would better explain the data or their significance.

On-The-Field Success
As a result of budget increases and other continued improvements, women’s varsity sports at Notre Dame have been extremely successful and have received extensive national recognition. During a ten-year stretch, Notre Dame women’s teams combined to win five national titles: in soccer (1995 and 2004), basketball (2001) and fencing (2003 and 2005 in the combined NCAA championship with the Irish men’s team). In addition, from 1995-2003, Notre Dame was one of only four schools in all of Division I to win national championships in three different women’s sports. During 2006-07, the University finished 22nd in the NACDA Directors’ Cup standings. Three of the school’s top four Director’s Cup performances were recorded by women’s sports: women’s soccer (NCAA runner-up), fencing (NCAA 4th place), and women’s tennis (NCAA quarterfinals). Notre Dame has now finished in the top 25 in nine straight years and is one of 16 schools in the nation to finish in the top 25 every year since 1998-99. Additionally, Notre Dame teams combined to win eight conference titles in 2006-07, including six in the BIG EAST and the CCHA (men’s hockey) and GWLL (men’s lacrosse) 2007 titles. Four Irish women’s teams claimed BIG EAST regular season and/or tournament titles in 2006-07: women’s swimming & diving, women’s soccer, women’s rowing, and women’s outdoor track. Impressively, the women’s swimming & diving team won the BIG EAST championship for the 11th straight year, which is the longest streak in BIG EAST history in any sport. Of the 25 Notre Dame teams that compete in conferences, 20 Notre Dame programs finished first through third in 2006-07 conference.

Notre Dame student-athletes from 21 of the 26 teams competed in the NCAA tournament (or, in the case of football, a postseason bowl game). Three Notre Dame coaches of women’s teams were honored as BIG EAST coaches of the year in 2006-07: Carrie Nixon (women’s swimming), Joe Piane (women’s outdoor track), and Martin Stone (women’s rowing).

Many of Notre Dame’s female athletes also enjoyed individual success throughout the 2006-07 season. Sophomore soccer player Kerri Hanks received the prestigious M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, recognizing her as the nation’s top player. Hanks combined with Notre Dame men’s soccer player Joseph Lapira to become the first duo from the same school to win the Hermann Trophy in the same year. Hanks became the youngest player of either gender to ever win the award and joined Mia Hamm as the only players ever to lead the nation in both goals (22) and assists (22) in the same year. Distance runner Molly Huddle became the first Notre Dame student-athlete ever to collect 10 career All-American honors (three in cross country, seven in track), after placing third in the NCAA outdoor 5,000 meters for her fourth All-American finish in that event. Huddle became one of 26 Notre Dame student-athletes ever to be a four year All-American and became just the third multiple winner of the BIG EAST outdoor track MVP award. Senior swimmer Katie Carroll wrapped up her career with an All-American finish in the NCAA 400-meter individual medley. Carroll was named most outstanding swimmer at the 2007 BIG EAST Championships, after winning four events and collecting seven all-BIG EAST honors. Her 28 career all-BIG EAST honors are the most in ND history. Several other female athletes also finished their careers in impressive fashion: women’s golfer Noriko Nakazaki set the Notre Dame single season and career scoring record, saber fencer Valerie Providenza earned a rare fourth All-American finish at the 2007 NCAAs, soccer midfielder Jen Buczowski earned NSCAA All-America honors for the 3rd time in her career, and the tennis twins duo of Catrina and Christian Thompson ended the season as the nation’s 8th ranked doubles team, while becoming the program’s first ever doubles tandem to earn All-American honors three times.

Academic Success
Poised to become the premier center for Catholic intellectual life, the University of Notre Dame is a community of students and teachers dedicated to making the world a better place. As a Catholic university, Notre Dame espouses Christian values and principles that include the development not only of the intellect and the spirit but also the body. Throughout its long and proud history, the University of Notre Dame has embraced the philosophy that a well-rounded athletics program – including club, intramural and intercollegiate competition – comprises an integral part of its educational mission. This philosophy reflects the pursuit of excellence in intercollegiate athletics within the framework of an academic community committed to the University’s educational and religious objectives.

The commitment to these objectives is evident in the impressive statistics and honors awarded by the NCAA to the University of Notre Dame for the academic success of its student-athletes. Whether measured by the federal government in its Department of Education report or by the NCAA through its newer Graduation Success Rate (GSR), graduation rates for Notre Dame student athletes continue to rank among the national leaders in all major categories among all Division I-A football-playing colleges and universities, according to the statistics released in 2006-07 by the NCAA. Both the traditional NCAA graduation rate figures and the GSR for Notre Dame student-athletes found that the Irish ranked sixth of higher nationally in five major categories (among nearly 120 Division I-A football-playing institutions). The federally-mandated NCAA Graduation Rates Report, issued by the association for the 16th time in 2006, covered students who enrolled between 1996 and 1999 at all Division I institutions. Using the federal formula, Notre Dame ranked second nationally by graduating a four-year average of 89 percent of its student-athletes, narrowly behind Duke (90 percent) and just ahead of Stanford and Northwestern (88 percent each). Additionally, Notre Dame graduated 94 percent of all women competing in varsity athletics tying Duke for second (only behind Northwestern) among peer institutions based on federal calculations. In the GSR standings, Notre Dame finished second for graduation rate among all student-athletes at 98 percent (behind only the U.S. Naval Academy at 99 percent) and fourth for female athletes at 99 percent (Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Navy finished at 100 percent). Among the 119 Division I-A football playing institutions, Notre Dame had the second-highest percentage of its sports with 100-percent GSR scores with a .772 figure (17 of 22 sports). Twelve of thirteen women’s sports posted 100% GSR rates: basketball, lacrosse, rowing, softball, volleyball, swimming and diving, tennis, golf, fencing, cross country, winter track & field, and spring track & field.

Graduation rates are not the only indication of academic success for student-athletes at Notre Dame. Eight women’s teams finished the 2006-07 academic year with cumulative team grade point averages at 3.20 or better – volleyball (3.33), track/cross country (3.32), tennis (3.31), rowing (3.29), soccer (3.25) and lacrosse (3.20). In addition, Notre Dame ranks second in the most Academic All-Americans with 193 after the 2006-2007 academic year. Five female athletes received Academic All-American recognition in 2006-07 and Notre Dame had two female recipients of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (softball player Stephanie Brown and sprinter Maryann Erigha). The University has further committed itself to the goal of providing a top quality education by constructing the state-of-the-art Coleman-Morse building which houses the Academic Services for Student-Athletes Office. This continued emphasis on education provides the University of Notre Dame with the unmatched distinction of success of student-athletes in academics and on the field.

Funding
In 1987, the Notre Dame athletic department conducted an extensive assessment of funding available for its Olympic sports program. Since that initial review, every sport has been examined annually to help determine coaching needs, operating budget, travel and scholarships, facilities, support services, promotions, and scheduling. Significant increases in resources for the Olympic sports programs have been developed through budget adjustments, endowment funds, outside contributions, and a major marketing effort. Of particular note are the budgetary increases in the women’s programs. In 1986-87 the total operating budget for women’s athletics was $880,820.50; in 2006-2007, that amount reached $10.9 million, an increase of more than 1150 percent during that 20-year span. The budgetary outlay for Notre Dame women’s sports also has included a significant seven-year jump from 1999-2000 ($5.83 million) to 2006-07 ($10.9 million), an increase of over $5 million as the amount has almost doubled during that seven-year span.

Participation and Financial Aid
The dramatic increase in the number of varsity sport offerings for women attempts to parallel the increase in the size of the undergraduate female population. In 1978, only 23 percent of the undergraduate population was female. That female ratio grew to 28 percent in 1982 and then to 33 percent in 1987. Five years later, 38 percent of the undergraduate population was female (in 1992), and the athletic department continued to chase a moving target. By October 2007, the undergraduate population was 47 percent female. From 1988 to 2007, the percentage of total budgeted grants-in-aid awarded to women increased from 19.0 percent of total grants-in-aid to 42.2% percent of total grants-in aid. Together with fulfilling its commitment to add two new women’s programs (lacrosse in 1996 and rowing in 1998), Notre Dame completed a five-year plan in 2000 that resulted in the addition of 22 scholarships to new and existing women’s programs. Additionally, under the leadership of athletics director Kevin White, the athletic department has completed a four-year plan to provide all 26 varsity sports with the maximum number of scholarships permitted under NCAA regulations. The plan was completed in 2004-05. Among other goals, this plan added 36 additional scholarships to Notre Dame women’s varsity programs.

The University would like to provide additional information concerning Table 6 (Athletically Related Student Aid). First, the athletic student aid detailed in Table 6 includes funding provided for athletes to attend summer school. Athletes are recommended for summer school by their coaches or by the Academic Services for Student-Athletes Office at Notre Dame. Once enrolled in summer school, the amount of aid granted to a student-athlete is proportionate to the amount of aid the student received during the prior academic year. Therefore, sports that predominantly award full scholarships realize a proportionately higher amount of summer school aid for their athletes. Second, although women’s basketball has been fully funded by the University for several years, the number of scholarships actually awarded is at the coach’s discretion. For example, during 2006-07, women’s basketball used 10 of the 15 full scholarships allotted to the program.

Facilities
The University of Notre Dame boasts some of the nation’s best athletic facilities for its varsity teams. The past two decades have seen Notre Dame athletics experience a tremendous growth, both in terms of number of programs and number of facilities. The 1970s saw the addition of women’s athletics and, at the same time, several men’s programs gained varsity status.

Notre Dame currently sponsors 26 varsity sports (13 men’s and 13 womens), all of which have earned or are on their way to national prominence. Along with the growth has come a vast expansion of the University’s facilities for its intercollegiate athletic teams.

While Notre Dame’s facilities are among the best in the nation, plans to improve athletic facilities in the years to come are underway. During 2002-03, the athletic department’s master plan for upgrading, renovating, and adding new facilities was presented to the University’s administration to incorporate into its overall master plan that is being developed for the University’s future growth. Included in the athletic plans are improvements that will enhance the facilities available for all 26 varsity sports over a 10-year span. This master plan has been incorporated into the University’s current development campaign.

A number of facilities from the overall master plan have already been completed. One facility already in place is the 96,000-square-foot Guglielmino Athletics Complex, a $23 million facility that opened in 2005 is equipped with training, strength and conditioning, and meeting facilities used by all 26 varsity athletic programs at Notre Dame. Shortly after the opening of “The Gug,” the Robert and Marilyn Rolfs Family All-Season Varsity Golf Facility – a $2.1 million indoor golf structure, which includes locker rooms, team rooms, coaches offices, a 5000 sq. ft. indoor pitching and putting area, six heated indoor/outdoor hitting bays and a state of the art video analysis system – opened prior to the 2006-07 season benefiting both the men’s and women’s golf teams and complementing the Warren Golf Course, which opened in 2000 and serves as the home course for both teams. Additionally, the locker room of the women’s lacrosse team was fully renovated and the women’s volleyball team moved into a brand new locker room and team room in the fall of 2005.

Approximately $84 million in athletic priorities – including $68.5 million designated for athletic facilities – are part of Notre Dame’s recently announced new development campaign, Spirit of Notre Dame. The most recent construction project is the $4.9 million Melissa Cook Softball Stadium. The softball team is expected to move into their new home in March 2008. Plans were also formally announced for a renovation of the South Dome of the Joyce Center – courtesy of a lead gift from Notre Dame Trustee Philip Purcell, with additional funding from fellow Notre Dame alum Vince Naimoli. The renovated facility will significantly benefit both the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the volleyball team. Later in the 2006-07 academic year, another major announcement heralded the lead gift from alumnus John Arlotta to finance the $5.6 million Arlotta Lacrosse Stadium. Construction is expected to begin during 2008 on this facility, which will benefit both the men’s and women’s lacrosse programs.

Several other projects have been planned to help bring all of Notre Dame’s varsity programs into state-of-the-art settings for their practices and competition. Construction for these additional projects will begin once they are fully funded and designed. Proposed future projects include a renovation to the Joyce Center Fieldhouse/North Dome (which houses the hockey and fencing teams), a new soccer stadium, a new track and field stadium, enhancements to the existing indoor and outdoor tennis facilities, a new rowing boathouse, and the addition of artificial turf practice fields (to be used by various varsity teams).

Celebrating History
Notre Dame opened its doors to female students in 1972 and from that time has demonstrated a commitment to creating well-supported opportunities for female student-athletes. Beginning that year, Notre Dame added fourteen varsity women’s sports (with one dropped) during that 35-year span (field hockey was dropped in 1988 due to dwindling student interest, lack of regional competition, and scheduling problems). Fencing and tennis were the first women’s sports to gain official varsity status, beginning in the 1976-77 academic year. The two most recent additions to women’s sports, lacrosse and rowing, gained their respective varsity status in 1996 and 1998. These additions bring the number of women’s sports to 13, matching the number of offerings for men.

Notre Dame held a yearlong celebration during the 2006-07 academic year, in recognition of the 35th anniversary of women’s athletics at the University. More than 100 former Notre Dame women’s athletes attended the weekend celebration, which included a Friday-night dinner at the home of athletics director Kevin White; athletic events on Saturday (such as a nine-hole golf tournament on the Warren Golf Course and a 5-K run); sport specific social events; and the concluding Mass and Sunday brunch held in the Joyce Center Arena. The Mass took on added significance for those in attendance, as current university president Rev. John J. Jenkins, C.S.C., was joined by his predecessors – Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., and Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C. – as the concelebrants. The celebration of the 35th anniversary of women’s athletics at Notre Dame also included feature stories in each of the football programs during the 2006 season. The first five female monogram winners in Notre Dame history – fencers Chris Marciniak, Catherine Buzzard Sazdanoff, and Kathy Valdiserri, plus tennis players Mary Skukis Behler and Jane Lammers – were honored at the 2006 home opener football game versus Penn State.

— ND —