glimpse the vision - denver

2012-2016

STRATEGIC PLAN

HOME OF CHAMPIONS

VISION We guide, encourage and support our students in their quest of academic, athletic and social excellence. As Pioneers who lead by example, we prepare our students for healthy, productive and meaningful lives, placing service above self.

MISSION To fulfill this vision we will:• Foster an environment for life success and leadership• Compete at the highest level • Act with integrity and fairness in all of our affairs• Be positive ambassadors for our university as well as our

community• Provide opportunities for a healthy lifestyle

CORE VALUES In fulfillment of our vision and mission, we embrace these Core Values:• Pride• Integrity• Passion• Service• Respect• Diversity• Wellness

TABLE OF CONTENTS Academic Excellence and Student-Athlete Well-Being ....................... 1Athletic Achievement ....................................................................................2Integrity and Compliance ............................................................................. 3Inclusivity ...........................................................................................................4Championship Environment ....................................................................5-9 Recruiting ................................................................................................... 5 Facilities ......................................................................................................6 Game Atmosphere .................................................................................. 7 Communication and Messaging .......................................................... 8 Customer Service ......................................................................................9National Prominence ..............................................................................10-11 Scheduling ..................................................................................................11University, Community, and Alumni Integration .................................12Fiscal Stability .................................................................................................13Development ..................................................................................................14

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND STUDENT-ATHLETE WELL BEING GOAL: Student-athletes will exceed the overall academic profile of the general DU

student body and garner national recognition for leadership and academic success.

Attain national recognition for academic achievements.• Provide academic support for student-athletes through the athletic tutoring

program.• Ensure academic progress toward

degree/eligibility through collaborative advising with the Compliance Office and Student-Athlete Support Services.

• Maintain culture of four-year graduation expectation.

• Communicate student-athlete academic achievements to campus, community and beyond.

• Collaborate with coaching staff to identify incoming and continuing at-risk student-athletes. Implement a success plan for each student-athlete by conducting consistent meetings to monitor their academic progress.

Demonstrate that student-athlete welfare is a point of emphasis in our overall culture.

• Empower student-athletes to complete their academic careers at the highest level possible.

• Provide “life skills” programs that complement student-athletes’ academic growth with personal and professional development.

Ensure student-athlete well being by meeting and exceeding the needs of the whole person.

• Continue collaborative partnerships between sports medicine staff, strength and conditioning staff, and campus liaisons.

• Foster an environment that promotes student-athlete health and safety by providing the highest quality of medical care, supervision, and injury management.

• Utilize state-of-the-art preventative and rehabilitative techniques to minimize injury and accelerate recovery time.

• Position the student-athlete to excel physically and holistically by implementing sound strength and conditioning programs founded in the most recent research and developments.

• Express accountability through hard work, injury and health management, dedication and determination.

• Counsel student-athletes on nutrition, mental health and proper training for athletics and life after completion of collegiate competition.

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ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT GOAL: Field nationally competitive teams whose strong winning percentages,

conference titles and postseason appearances reflect excellence in each of our varsity sports.

• Finish as the top Division I-AAA program in the country on an annual basis.

• Finish as one of the top 50 Division I schools in the country in the annual Directors’ Cup standings.

• Become the premier intercollegiate basketball program in the Rocky Mountain Region.

• Maintain national prominence in hockey. • Qualify and participate in NCAA postseason competition in 80 percent of

our sport programs on an annual basis. • Support student-athletes’ performance by providing

outstanding strength and conditioning training, sports medicine, academic counselors, tutors, and mentors.

• Achieve a top-two conference finish in every sport program.

• Assert ourselves as the “Lacrosse Capital of the West” via both competitive performance and branding.

• Develop sport-specific competitive objectives with each head coach through an annual systematic review of each program.

• Utilize social media to communicate our teams’ successes to all constituent groups.

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INTEGRITY AND COMPLIANCE GOAL: Demonstrate unwavering commitment to integrity and compliance

with NCAA regulations, conference rules and institutional policies demonstrated by a comprehensive NCAA compliance program that is proactive, not reactive.

• Promote ethical decision-making by student-athletes, coaches and staff.• Provide extensive rules education for internal and external constituents

through a variety of formats.• Maintain strong relationships and open communication with other campus

entities including, but not limited to, the Office of the Registrar, Office of Admission, Office of Financial Aid, Student Life and the Faculty Athletics Representative to ensure appropriate checks and balances exist.

• Complete an annual review of compliance policies and procedures to identify areas for improvement.

• Engage in regular monitoring of activities of internal and external constituents.

• Demonstrate timely and accurate investigations and self-reporting of potential rules violations.

• Utilize technology to remain at forefront of national compliance trends/strategies.

• Foster an environment of accountability and continuous learning.


INCLUSIVITY GOAL: The University of Denver will nurture and sustain an environment that

promotes diversity and inclusion.

• Actively participate in the University’s efforts to expand outreach to diverse populations and increase the recruitment and enrollment of minority students and minority student-athletes.

• Continue to collaborate with the Center for Multicultural Excellence to offer, promote and support diversity education training and programs for senior athletic administrators, coaches and staff.

• Recruit and retain members of historically under-represented and protected class populations.

• Continue to develop initiatives and programs which capitalize on the benefits of inclusive excellence.


CHAMPIONSHIP ENVIRONMENT - RECRUITING GOAL: Recruit student-athletes that fit the academic profile of University of

Denver students and will continually improve their respective teams’ performance.

• Ensure all sports programs develop recruiting plans that identify athletically and academically successful prospects.

• As part of the annual review process, focus attention on the recruiting plans and processes employed.

• Create a special area to host recruits and their families within the Ritchie Center.

• Maximize merit-based tuition stacking for equivalency sports.• Strategically allocate summer school aid to all student-athletes to enhance

competitive success.• Allow fifth-year athletes to have the option of pursing a graduate degree

during the last year of eligibility.• Win the recruiting battle for student-athletes by emphasizing Denver’s

academic opportunities, facilities, and sustained commitment to comprehensive excellence.

• Enhance Student-Athlete Support Services in the Ritchie Center to better showcase the commitment to academic success.

• Develop a more diverse staff in the area of student-athlete support services.• Accurately monitor our success rate in terms of what institutions we

consistently recruit against both regionally and nationally.• Utilize social media to share successful recruiting stories as appropriate.


CHAMPIONSHIP ENVIRONMENT - FACILITIES GOAL: Schedule facilities’ usage in a manner that gives our student-athletes

the greatest opportunities to succeed.

• Adhere to the following priority of facility usage: 1) intercollegiate athletic programs; 2) intramurals and club sports; 3) youth programs; 4) other revenue-generating activities.

• Clearly articulate our scheduling philosophy to all levels of staff.• Provide a court, field or sheet of ice at all times for each sport, in and out of

season, so that our student-athletes can practice individually or as a group according to their schedules.

• Develop an indoor scheduling philosophy that addresses facility needs during adverse weather conditions.

• Maintain the perception that it is a privilege to use our exceptional intercollegiate athletic facilities.

• Provide our student-athletes with access to practice facilities twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, in order to enable continuous progression and growth.


CHAMPIONSHIP ENVIRONMENT - GAME ATMOSPHERE GOAL: Provide spectators with a true collegiate experience and atmosphere

that consistently reinforces Denver’s NCAA Division I success throughout all venues and athletic competitions.

• Provide a continuous connection to fans through interactive videos, informative matrix messaging, public address announcing, music selection and other technical support elements at each venue.

• Increase student exposure at events to enhance the overall collegiate environment and aid in recruitment of future students.

• Emphasize rankings to increase demand. • Educate fans about recent standings and our

quality of competition to encourage rivalries. • Increase exposure of corporate sponsors at

events. • Highlight our Division’s achievements

at contest to increase awareness of our community participation, academic pedigree, and athletic accomplishments.

• Provide student leadership groups opportunities to implement promotions at athletic events to showcase leadership and unity.

• Exercise nationwide best practices when providing guest(s) service.

• Maintain the upscale, state-of-the-art facilities we enjoy through sustainability and adherence to building posting regulations.

• Actively recognize contributors to the Division including alumni, faculty, staff, donors, students, corporate sponsors, community partners, and ticket holders to express our gratitude for their loyal support.

• Engage fans at events through promotions that emphasize traditions and showcase a growing and widespread sense of school spirit.

• Continue to sponsor and support spirit squads including cheerleaders, a pep band, and dance teams that represent Denver at a level equivalent to that of other marquee Division I institutions.

• Emphasize branding at games through media avenues, interactive programs, and promotional items that accentuate the experience of new attendees.

• Install branding pieces outside of the Ritchie Center and other athletic venues.


CHAMPIONSHIP ENVIRONMENT - COMMUNICATION AND MESSAGINGGOAL: Capitalize on Denver’s success and opportunities for institutional

exposure through expanding relationships with local, regional, and national multi-media platforms.

• Successfully transition corporate sponsorship sales and fulfillment rights to CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, resulting in enhanced guaranteed annual revenue from, and activation of, corporate partners of the Division.

• Elevate brand awareness internally and externally to highlight new conference affiliations that will provide additional regional and national exposure.

• Increase outreach through various social media opportunities to gain additional exposure and number of followers.

• Promulgate athletic messaging and communications consistent with the University’s mission.

• Explore new concepts to engage and interact with fans via www.denverpioneers.com, webcasts, televised games, radio broadcasts and other forms of media.

• Continue to provide opportunities to showcase coaches through weekly press conferences and coaches’ shows.

• Expand game day programs’ potential for revenue generation by increasing the amount of sponsor exposure and team information they provide.

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CHAMPIONSHIP ENVIRONMENT - CUSTOMER SERVICE GOAL: Create a lasting impression internally and externally by impacting

others in a positive manner which reflects the overall mission of the University of Denver.

• Instill a “service before self” attitude rooted in values of teamwork, communication, collaboration and responsibility.

• Reinforce the importance of sportsmanship through public address announcements and venue rules and regulations.

• Build greater cohesiveness of on-campus entities. • Develop quality services standards practiced internally then extended

externally.• Continually implement means of making our operations more convenient

and user-friendly.• Provide opportunities to share feedback through the guest relations kiosk,

web-based comment sections and in-house call and text-in features. Subsequently address customer concerns immediately.

• Proactively approach customers rather than waiting to be approached.• Represent ourselves at all times in accordance with a “One Division, One

DU” attitude.


NATIONAL PROMINENCE GOAL: Increase recognition of our intercollegiate athletic programs and the

strength of the University’s brand on a national level.

Maximize our brand’s exposure during regionally and nationally-televised events.• Cross-promote other programs and

University elements during breaks in the action.

• Prominently display Denver logos throughout our facilities and at all times on our competitive venues.

• Create sport-specific PSAs highlighting Directors’ Cups, national championships and All-Americans.

• Strategically partner with national media outlets.

Promote our achievements during Admissions Department tours and when hosting Chambers of Commerce and other community groups.• Specifically mention accomplishments of both the Division and the University

of Denver as a whole.• Provide visitors with photo opportunities by the Directors’ Cups and other

symbols of athletic success.


NATIONAL PROMINENCE - SCHEDULING GOAL: Develop a competitive schedule with designs of fostering regional and

conference rivalries that will increase fan attendance, provide attractive options for media coverage and prepare teams for post-season opportunities.

• Maintain quality non-conference schedules that position us to compete with nationally-recognized programs and other institutions that serve as appropriate benchmarks of success.

• Schedule teams with whom we want to develop rivalries and associations.• Schedule with the intent of developing rivalries, especially with other schools

in the Rocky Mountain Region and nearby states.• Deliberately emphasize new rivalries with schools in California, Washington,

Texas, and other states where we have a significant number of alumni.• Establish consistency regarding time and dates of events when possible.

Capitalize on the potential for engagement around contests scheduled in areas of the country with large DU alumni bases.• Partner with the Alumni House to utilize regional chapters for game watch

events and other activities designed to help expand “Pioneer Nation”.• Allocate funding for donor/alumni events around major games and

tournaments each year.

Leverage new conference affiliations at athletic events and beyond.• Increase awareness of new conferences through public address

announcements, print advertisement, social media, signage, and other mediums.

Create a sport-by-sport scheduling plan to increase presence and performance nationally.


UNIVERSITY, COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI INTEGRATION GOAL: Integrate University staff, the Denver community and University of

Denver Alumni into all our activities so they clearly understand and believe in our vision and think of our sport programs as THEIR teams.

Create partnerships throughout the University of Denver and surrounding communities with alumni groups, non-profits, corporations, school districts, colleges within DU, and student groups.• Request coaches to identify parents who can play key roles in generating

support throughout the country, then work with them to build exposure for and interest in DU Athletics.

• Expand initiatives such as the faculty/staff/retiree V.I.P. (Very Important Pioneer) Card to generate increased attendance at games from on-campus constituents.

• Build upon the success of existing programs and demonstrate our gratitude for the support we receive by implementing new, cutting-edge initiatives to attract and retain fans.

• Recognize and integrate faculty and staff members in multiple ways through programs like the Academic Spotlight and Pioneer Professors.

• Embrace alumni to make them stewards of our mission. Keep them informed through biweekly updates in the Alumni Newsletter.

• Continue to enhance our partnership with Campus Activities to allow students to contribute to the spirit of athletics. Through student inclusion at games and beyond, foster a sense of ownership in the teams representing their institution.


FISCAL STABILITY GOAL: Provide a fiscally stable and supportive environment, now and in the

future, while allowing our teams to compete at the highest level.

• Allocate financial resources in pursuit of the mission, vision and goals articulated in the Division’s Strategic Plan.

• Monitor revenue and expenses to ensure fiscal integrity and a balanced budget.

• Complete NCAA agreed-upon procedures in a timely and diligent manner.• Create a multi-year financial plan for DU’s intercollegiate athletic programs. • Utilize all aspects of the Paciolan software system to maximize ticket and

gift revenue.• Use the Paciolan Customer

Relations Management (CRM) system to develop a sophisticated ticket sales model that maximizes revenue through database management and solicitation.

• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility in advertising by utilizing social media outlets.


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DEVELOPMENT GOAL: In the fulfillment of our vision, build and implement a best-practices

Athletics development operation, inclusive of a well-branded and comprehensive annual fund, that will include a dramatic increase in major gifts, formalized letter winners’ organization, coordinated special events series, and collaboration with both internal and external partners.

• Develop and execute an annual giving campaign designed to support student-athlete scholarships and provide DU Athletics & Recreation with maximum annual financial flexibility.

• Fully integrate the Paciolan software system into the development operation in order to provide seamless data accessibility and movement across and within the Division.

• Define, market and communicate major giving opportunities across the Division with a focus on capital enhancements; endowments for scholarships, coaching positions and operations; and special opportunities. Achieve a dramatic increase in gifts closed with each passing year.

• Conceptualize and launch a highly-impactful series of special events designed to bolster alumni outreach; engagement with prospective, current and lapsed donors; and increase revenue to the Division.

• As appropriate, partner with other university departments to benefit the growth and sustainability of the athletics development operation.

• Be recognized both inside and outside the Division as a “best-practices” development operation espousing the core values of integrity, respect, positive attitude, premier service, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Achieve at least 10% overall revenue growth annually during the term of the Strategic Plan.


DU FIGHT SONGD-RahE-RahN-Rah

VER - BoomDenver, our Denver,

We sing to theeFairest of Colleges

Give her three times threeRah Rah Rah

Long may we cherish herFaithful and true

University of DenverFor me & you.

glimpse the vision - denver

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