RE: Athletics Strategic Plan
Ok allow me to re-word my statement for clarity. JMU created a comprehensive plan to strengthen the JMU athletic brand nationally. That is commonly being referred to here as the "Athletics Strategic Plan", hence the title for this thread. This plan requires things like:
-certain graduation rates
-certain GPAs
-athlete community service
-have a sports nutrition plan
-win 5 annual conference championships
-compete in 7 annual NCAA tourneys
-Build a new convo
-Be title IX compliant
-Meet revenue goals
Every one of these items strengthens the JMU athletics brand. Which, as we should all be able to agree, is the point of developing the plan. These are all just words on paper until each individual department and program is versed in the goals, what is expected of their department, how they are going to proceed to meet these goals and are fully working towards them. Alger, Bourne, Withers, Ticketing, Compliance, Facilities, Accounting, Brady, Brooks, Olympic Sports, Spirit, Photography, Major Gifts, Donor Engagement, Equipment Services, et al.
Having the meetings, phone calls, webex calls, spreading the memos and emails, getting every one to buy in and start doing their part takes time. The plan was published only 3 months ago. It could not and should not be implemented overnight. A concerted effort was necessary. Therefore to ensure that each department and program had time to do what was necessary to get the ball rolling a firm deadline was set to have everyone on board and working towards one goal by today, June 30. This is 3 months from the release and seems like a fair target date for a organization or entity the size of JMU. If JMU had thought they could implement this overnight they would have stated that in paragraph 1, line 1... "effective immediately this is what we are doing to strengthen JMU Athletics Nationally".
Furthermore, sometime between now and Next June 30 each athletics program will need to create their own team specific Strategies to meet these goals and, regardless of when they are completed and possibly published, they will need to be implemented by June 30, 2016. Not that this extreme would happen, but Football could finish theirs next week but choose not to implement it until next June 30 should they choose.
There is a difference between releasing a plan and implementing a plan and I hope you now better understand what I meant.
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