A Mission Statement for an Athletics Degree Program

For my own future reference in the discussion of athletics degrees, below (and in PDF) is what a degree on music (strings) looks likes here at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Click to enlarge.

Here is the mission statement of the (excellent) University of Colorado College of Music:

The mission of the College of Music at CU Boulder is excellence in music through distinguished instruction in performance, composition, musicology, theory and teacher preparation for our graduate and undergraduate students, and to provide opportunities for performance, creative activities, research and scholarship and teaching experiences.

The college is dedicated to:

• Providing music majors and non-majors the opportunity to develop their knowledge, understanding and ability in the various aspects of music at a level appropriate to their needs and interests 

• Preparing students for careers as performers, composers, scholars, teachers, administrators and other professionals in the field of music 

• Broadening and deepening the knowledge and understanding of music through research, teaching, creative activities, and publication 

• Enriching the lives of students and faculty as well as the community, state, nation and the world with performances of a wide variety of music presentations and publications

The College of Music is an academic community committed to maintaining a climate of mutual respect and collegiality. The members of this community:

• Share a spirit of cooperation and helpful, constructive, and friendly consideration for each other’s activities 

• Maintain open communication in both formal and informal contexts 

• Defend academic freedom

• Encourage an environment of safety and well-being

• Show respect for a diversity of musical cultures and individual backgrounds

Let me edit it by changing just a few words, so that it focuses on athletics rather than music:

The mission of the College of Athletics at Big-Time U is excellence in athletics through distinguished instruction in performance, coaching, management, governance and teacher preparation for our graduate and undergraduate students, and to provide opportunities for competition, research and scholarship and teaching experiences.

The college is dedicated to:

• Providing athletics majors and non-majors the opportunity to develop their knowledge, understanding and ability in the various aspects of athletics at a level appropriate to their needs and interests 

• Preparing students for careers as professional athletes, coaches, scholars, teachers, administrators and other professionals in the field of athletics 

• Broadening and deepening the knowledge and understanding of athletics through research, teaching, creative activities, and publication 

• Enriching the lives of students and faculty as well as the community, state, nation and the world with performances of a wide variety of athletic competition and publications

The College of Athletics sis an academic community committed to maintaining a climate of mutual respect and collegiality. The members of this community:

• Share a spirit of cooperation and helpful, constructive, and friendly consideration for each other’s activities 

• Maintain open communication in both formal and informal contexts 

• Defend academic freedom

• Encourage an environment of safety and well-being

• Show respect for a diversity of cultures and individual backgrounds

OK, the question that follows is, why would such a mission statement be OK for a Music program but not for an Athletics program?