March 22, 2008

FAIRBANKS, AK - The Athletics Department at University of Alaska Fairbanks has earned a Strategic Alliance Matching Grant from the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), which will be used over the course of the next three years to fund an Associate Athletic Director for Compliance / Senior Woman Administrator position.

Pamm Hubbard, who currently serves as an Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at the university, played a major role in helping UAF become one of just eight Division II schools selected for an NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching Grant. This award will allow her position to be elevated to an Associate Director level position, effective this summer.

Currently in her second year with UAF, Hubbard is responsible for ensuring the athletic department and university are in compliance with NCAA and conference rules and regulations, providing oversight for Title IX compliance and any issues involving student-athlete welfare. In her enhanced role, Hubbard will take on additional responsibilities, including serving as the Tournament Director for the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational, supervision of select sports and participating in the overall future planning of the department.

"I am both amazed and honored that the NCAA awarded us this grant," said Hubbard. "This program is a win-win both for the athletic department and for the student-athlete. The department receives financial support and the student-athlete gains a diverse individual who is committed to their success. It really is the best of both worlds."

Director of Athletics and Recreation Forrest Karr was pleased that the university's grant application was successful on the first attempt: the NCAA awards grants to just 6-8 Division II institutions each year nationwide.

"At a time when campuses, especially public universities, are being asked to do more with static funding, the NCAA's Strategic Alliance Grant Program amounts to much-needed financial assistance," said Karr. "Pamm's effort to secure this grant will allow us to enhance a position, reward and keep an exceptional employee and allocate more scarce resources to areas that directly impact student-athlete welfare."

Created due to the NCAA's commitment to remedy an ongoing problem with professional development opportunities for minority and women administrators, the NCAA's Strategic Alliance Matching Grants program provides funding for Division II institutions and conference offices to enhance diversity and inclusion through the hiring of full-time professional administrative positions in athletics administration.

One of the NCAA's principal concerns has been the lack of progress, or even regress, for minority hiring in administrative positions, as demonstrated in the most recent NCAA report on athletics personnel demographics. Through this program, the NCAA has heightened its commitment of encouraging institutions and conference offices to increase the opportunities that enhance diversity and inclusion within their athletics administrative staffs.

UAF Chancellor Steve Jones commended the athletics department for taking advantage of the Strategic Alliance Matching Grants program as a means of securing funding that will help the department both now and in the future. "This is precisely the type of external outreach that will be necessary over the next few years for us to reach the aggressive goals we have set both for the university and for our athletics program," Jones said. "If we expect others to help us financially, we need to be certain that we're doing all that we can to help ourselves."

"This is another example what happens when UAF leaders go after programs that demonstrate their commitment to providing tangible and measurable opportunities for women and minorities," said Equal Opportunity Director Earlina Bowden. "I commend Pamm and Forrest for their actions, and I am very excited about the possibilities."

UAF will receive the grant funding for three years, with diminishing contributions by the NCAA. The NCAA will fund 75 percent of the position during the first year, 50 percent the second year and 25 percent during the third year. Second and third-year funding of the grant is contingent upon the submittal of a year-end status report from the institution, conference office supervisor and grant recipient, verifying the position and how the funds were used, and the completion of an on-campus site visit. Participating institutions or conference offices are required to maintain the position for a minimum of two years after grant funds are exhausted, preferably incorporating the position into their ongoing operations. All applying institutions and conference offices must show commitment to continuing the position at the time of the submitted application.