University of Texas Athletics Mission Statement

The Athletics Departments at The University of Texas at Austin are committed to the University's mission of achieving excellence in education, research, and public service. Specifically, our mission is focused on three interrelated communities:

Student-Athletes
To provide opportunities and support for University student-athletes to achieve academically and compete athletically at the highest level, and provide programming and resources that help prepare them with skills for life.

University Community
To operate with quality and integrity in our role as a focal point for school identity and spirit, while complementing the academic, cultural, and social facets of University life for the general student body, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Citizens of the State of Texas
To support the community through public service and to be a source of pride and entertainment by representing the State of Texas with internationally successful sport programs and thereby benefit the State economy.

As a Department, We Value:

Higher Education
No goal of ours exceeds the mandate to educate and graduate the student-athlete. At all times, the Departments are dedicated to being consistent with the educational purposes of the University.

Amateur Sportsmanship
Amateur sportsmanship is a call to honesty, integrity, commitment, and hard work. Participation in amateur sports provides the student-athlete with opportunities to experience and develop life skills in such areas as leadership, teamwork, discipline, goal-setting, respect for self, and respect for others.

Rules and Regulations
We are dedicated to enforcing the strictest adherence to the rules and regulations of the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference by our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.

Pursuit of Excellence
Intercollegiate athletics, with its emphasis on excellence at all levels of play, provides opportunities for undergraduates both to understand the rewards that come from dedication to a larger purpose and to develop personal, physical, and intellectual skills.

Equal Opportunity
No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subject to discrimination under, any program or activity sponsored or conducted by the Athletics Departments on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability.

Citizenship
We believe that the values of citizenship are realized through sportsmanship and ethical play in athletics. We are committed to teaching our student-athletes essential skills that will provide for a lifetime of contributions to their community, state, and nation, and to the world as a whole.

Health and Safety
The health and safety of our student-athletes is paramount to the success of the program. Department specialists will collect, develop, and incorporate into Department operations pertinent information regarding desirable training methods, prevention and treatment of sports injuries, utilization of sound safety measures, and drug-education and drug-testing.

Goals and Objectives

Goal
Graduate all student-athletes who complete their athletic eligibility; student-athletes who leave the program prior to graduation should depart in good academic standing.

Objectives
» Recruit student-athletes with the potential for academic success.
» Provide a high-quality academic support system and access to the University's academic resources for the purpose of helping student-athletes meet demanding academic respon- sibilities and challenging schedules.
» Provide summer school and fifth-year scholarship aid.

Goal
Provide every opportunity for each sport to be nationally competitive among Division I programs.

Objectives
» Attract and retain the finest coaches.
» Recruit and retain the most talented student-athletes.
» Maintain nationally competitive schedules for each team.
» Provide state-of-the-art strength and conditioning, training, and sports medicine programs that emphasize the health and safety of student-athletes.

Goal
Ensure that the Athletics Departments are an integral part of the University community.

Objectives
» Continue to encourage Departmental participation in University outreach programs.
» Continue to support opportunities for University faculty and staff members to be involved with Athletics programs.
» Continue to offer part-time employment opportunities to University students, including the hiring of graduate students for tutor and mentor positions.
» Provide Departmental participation in research and grant writing with University faculty.
» Continue to explore quantifiable means of assisting University programs.
» Continue to encourage and support enthusiastic attendance by the general student-body at Athletics events.
» Act at all times with a recognition that our Departments and their programs are responsible for helping to foster a sense of shared allegiance among all parts of the University - students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.

Goal
Each student-athlete will participate in the Longhorn P.R.I.D.E (Personal Responsibility In Developing Excellence) Program, which includes career development, community service participation, and public relations training, and which encourages and teaches personal development, good citizenship, and a standard of behavior which is expected of a University representative.

Objectives
» Provide support programming and resources that promote personal development and responsibility.
» Communicate specific behavioral expectations to each student-athlete.
» Ensure student and coach accountability for personal development.
» Provide an annual evaluation of life skills programs for the purpose of maintaining the highest standards and allowing program needs to be met.

Goal
Enhance and maintain an efficient and cost effective support system suitable to an internationally prominent athletics program.

Objectives
» Maximize program revenue through conventional income sources, vendor agreements, sponsorships, and private gift sources.
» Provide sufficient personnel and facilities to conduct regular season home athletics events and championship events that encourage spectator attendance, assist in the recruiting of prospective student-athletes, and attract potential donors.
» Provide sufficient administrative personnel, essential support, and technology services.
» Provide an environment for support staff that allows growth, both professionally and personally.

Goal
Develop a Department staff that reflects the student-athlete population in its culture, gender, and ethnicity.

Objectives
» Provide opportunities for talented ethnic minorities and women to work and take on positions of leadership within the Department.
» Provide educational opportunities for Department staff members to enhance their knowledge and sensitivity to the importance of diversity.

Goal
Actively publicize and promote the positive aspects of University intercollegiate athletics, the student-athletes, and the impact athletics has on the University and the State of Texas.

Objectives
» Provide information to the public and the media by creating and distributing media guides, news releases and photos, responding to media requests, and arranging for media interviews with coaches and athletes.
» Provide media, public relations, and public speaking training for student-athletes, coaches, and other Athletics staff members.

Goal
Create and maintain an atmosphere and structure where each student-athlete becomes a lifetime member of the University's Athletics "family."

Objectives
» Provide incentives and motivation to encourage graduated student-athletes to continue to participate in Athletics programming.
» Maintain programming by which Athletics performs regular outreach to ex-student-athletes.
» Develop a mechanism by which Athletics organizes regular sport- and Department-wide reunions.
» Expand the T-Association and Hall of Honor programs to encourage participation by more ex-student-athletes.