The NCAA defines the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) as “The highest ranking female involved with the management of an institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.” (NCAA Constitution 4.02.4). The role of the SWA, as a professional athletics administrator, is to be a member of the institution’s athletics management team and to have responsibilities involving the administration and governance of intercollegiate athletics for both men and women.

This involvement with management and the administration of programs includes making key decisions, formulating strategies and goals, and evaluating performance. The SWA should serve as a role model and resource to all student-athletes and coaches and be a spokesperson for the needs and interests of women athletes. Equally important is the support of gender equity and Title IX initiatives, as well as the review of the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act report.

The Peach Belt Conference member institutions must each designate an SWA to serve in this capacity on campus. It is essential that institutions consider the following responsibilities when defining the duties of the SWA:

• Supervision of athletics personnel and programs
• Budget management and/or oversight
• Event and contest scheduling
• Facilities Management
• Fundraising and development
• Recruitment and hiring of departmental and/or institutional personnel
• NCAA, Conference and Institutional rules compliance
• Coordination of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council
• Support of gender equity and Title IX initiatives
• Membership in professional organizations and the conference SWA council

It is important to note that these duties encompass the administration of both men’s and women’s athletics programs. The SWA is a Senior member, who is a Woman, on the Administration team. SWA is not defined as a “women’s administrator.”

It is a goal of the NCAA and the Peach Belt Conference to help member institutions enhance the SWA position on their respective campuses. The Peach Belt shall facilitate the SWA Council and encourage involvement of women in conference issues. To achieve these goals, the Peach Belt Conference shall:

• Facilitate regularly scheduled meetings of the SWA Council
• Address issues and entertain ideas brought forth by the council
• Involve SWA’s in meetings of the Director’s Council
• Include SWA’s in conference committees and task forces
• Encourage and support SWA participation on NCAA committees
• Encourage and support SWA attendance at the NCAA Conventions and other professional seminars
• Apply for NCAA grants to enhance the SWA position on member campuses