Statement of Philosophy for UW-Stout Intercollegiate Athletics
The general purpose of education is to promote the personal growth and development of qualified undergraduates and graduate students. The University of Wisconsin-Stout shares the core mission of the UW-System's University Cluster to “offer an environment that emphasizes teaching excellence and meets the educational and personal needs of students through effective teaching, academic advising, counseling and through university-sponsored cultural recreation and extracurricular programs.”
According to the University of Wisconsin-Stout mission statement, UW-Stout expects its graduates to become fulfilled and socially effective persons as well as specialized experts. The College of Human Development works towards this end by fostering growth and development within the broadly defined area of education and applied human behavior. As a department within the College of Human Development, the Department of Physical Education and Athletics endeavors to support the mission of the College by offering students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of intercollegiate athletic programs. These programs support, encourage and provide guidance in understanding and appreciating the importance and value of health/wellness and movement related activities as they contribute to human well being. Moreover, athletic participation provides practical experiences that permit the revelation of intangible qualities that advance the scope of individual achievement. It is through these means that intercollegiate athletics satisfies both the Mission of the College and UW-Stout.
Other purposes serviced by the program are:
- Competitive athletics provide a natural outlet for enthusiasms and energies of students
- Athletics provides an identity for the college community and provide an item of common interest to students, faculty, townspeople, alumni, friends and supporters. Additionally, it promotes a feeling of mutual interest and enthusiasm that carries over into many useful fields.
- Intercollegiate athletics provide valuable laboratory-learning experiences for students preparing for professional careers in recreation and coaching. Likewise, band personnel, student journalists and other student groups are provide with valuable experiences relating to their professional goals through the medium of intercollegiate sports and associated enterprises, such as radio, audio-visual, photography and so forth.
An institution of higher education committed to excellence must consider intercollegiate athletics as a “showcase” and measuring device for its institution as well as an “honors” course in physical education.
Intercollegiate Athletics: Guiding Principles
The Athletic Program at UW-Stout is committed to excellence. Intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of an educational program. As such, it must be sustained by basic principles of ethical behavior that are intended to:
- Enhance the goals and missions of University of Wisconsin-Stout and the College of Human Development .
- Strive to enroll and retain student-athletes with the potential to succeed academically.
- Provide for student growth and development within a positive learning environment versus a win-at-all-cost philosophy.
- Provide broad-based participation opportunities through individual and team sport offerings within the parameters of gender equity and limits of facilities and resources.
- Promote excellence by providing leadership to student-athletes, the student body, the faculty, the alumni and the community.
- Provide an opportunity for interaction between the University and local communities, and the alumni.
- Promote equitable treatment of all participants and staff.
- Provide clearly defined expectations for coaches, staff, and participants by outlining University policy, intercollegiate program goals, practices and evaluation procedures.
- Abide by the WIAC Constitution and By-Laws
- Adhere to the NCAA Division III philosophy
Statement of Philosophy [PDF]