In 2008, after years of background preparation, UBC Athletics and Recreation recommended to the UBC Executive that UBC Vancouver should move its competitive sports programs from Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) into the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II.
That same year the NCAA created a 10-year Pilot Project to allow Canadian institutions to apply for membership. At that time, UBC established a Review Committee to consider applying to the NCAA.
In 2009, after extensive public and campus consultations, the Review Committee released a Consideration Memorandum. Based on that document, the UBC Executive agreed that it was best to defer the decision on the grounds that critical information was missing and that more time was needed to address a number of unresolved issues with both the CIS and NCAA.
Early in 2011, the Vice President Students released a second report addressing those questions and reviewing developments of the intervening two years. This report became the basis for a further round of consultations with the UBC community, including student athletes, coaches, faculty, and alumni. Dozens of meetings were held and close to 500 written submissions were received. Meanwhile UBC promoted conversations with the CIS leadership, and with university leaders across Canada.
I want to thank all those hundreds of interested and often passionate individuals who participated in our extensive consultation process.
I especially want to thank UBC Vancouver Athletic Director Bob Philip, the coaching staff, and UBC’s student athletes – all of them talented and dedicated – for their unstinting participation in helping to arrive at a decision.
All of this consultation has revealed a tremendous diversity of opinion at all levels. I am happy to say that it has become clear that whatever decision I take will not set one group in the university against another. Opinion was divided – often deeply divided – in every group consulted.
Today I am announcing that the University of British Columbia, after weighing options in a very thorough process, will for the time being both honour and seek to build upon our grand tradition of participation in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).
Honour – because UBC has a proud history within CIS as both a founding member and highly successful competitor. Build upon – because it must be said that the status quo is not acceptable. Therefore we commit, in re-affirming our membership in CIS, to drive change.
Playing sports amongst institutions that are truly our peers is as important academically as it is athletically, and I believe that a re-invigorated CIS is in UBC’s best interests, and the best interests of our diverse community.
UBC’s consultation process has, I believe, contributed greatly to preparing the ground for the changes that are required for CIS to become the effective competitive arena that all parties want it to be. CIS leadership has declared a goal to be the location of choice for Canada’s best student athletes. To fulfill that commitment, change is required. During our consultation process, and as a result of conversations across the country, I believe that change is possible.
At its June meeting, CIS will consider a proposal for new governance arrangements. The Presidents of CIS universities unanimously endorsed a proposal for more active oversight of CIS at a recent meeting in Victoria. I am sure that CIS will agree to that proposal.
Our CIS Conference, Canada West, has already agreed in principle to a tiered system of competition. However, the creation of two divisions is not happening soon enough. That is why I am also pleased to announce that five of the larger universities in Canada West have today urged CIS to institute a two-tiered system beginning in 2012-13, and to reconsider elements of the existing tiering proposal. Copies of that letter will be made available to the press in a few moments.
Finally, I believe that significant reforms within CIS must also include enhancing scholarship opportunities to offer Canadian student athletes the kind of competitive opportunities they need and deserve. Scholarship reform requires more flexibility in how scholarships can be awarded within teams, while maintaining an overall cap. UBC’s goal has never been to launch an unproductive battle of the scholarships amongst sister universities.
I want to conclude by acknowledging the very principled stand that some people – and I include my colleague Bob Philip – have taken in favour of NCAA membership. I realize that the decision I announce today will be a disappointment for some loyal UBC athletics supporters, especially after such a long process of consultation and deliberation. In bringing forward the NCAA option, however, I am convinced that Bob and all those who have supported that view have succeeded in securing a better future for student athletes, not just here at UBC, but across Canada as well.
See UBC Media Release of Apr. 26, 2011 ‘UBC will stay a member of the CIS’
Letter from university presidents to CIS and Canada West about moving to a two tiered structure