MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Department of Athletics and Recreation is to aspire to the values and goals that excellence, hard work, perseverance, teamwork, sportsmanship, and the importance of academic as well as athletic achievement is equal.  As a department, we must strive to provide an experience which is competitive, exciting, and fun, but which is also an integral component of the educational mission of the university.  Our challenge will be to adapt to change while maintaining our belief in, and adherence to, the immutable principles that reside at the core of the NCAA Division III Philosophy.

DEPARTMENT VISION

The intercollegiate athletic program at Kean University operates on the premise and belief that a properly administered athletic program contributes to the total educational process of the individual student-athlete. The ultimate goal of the athletics program at Kean is that after competing and graduating, each of our student-athletes will contribute in some positive way in society.

In harmony with the mission of the University, the NJAC satisfactory progress rule provides clear intent of our commitment to help our student-athletes strive toward making the most important line-up, the one at commencement.

Participation in intercollegiate athletics is secondary to the academic obligations of our student-athletes. Toward this end, it is the responsibility of the athletic administrators and coaches to schedule the length of playing seasons, the frequency of practice sessions, and the number of contests so that they shall not unreasonably conflict with student obligations to attend classes regularly, to study, to develop their intellectual, moral and social responsibilities while working towards graduation.

Student-athletes shall be amateurs in intercollegiate sports, and their participation should be motivated by education, with the protection from exploitation by professionals and commercial enterprises.  The health and welfare of all participants is a primary concern with a strong commitment to good sportsmanship and fair play.  Both the men and women of the program shall be treated fairly and equitably and the discrimination of any individuals based upon sex, religious preference, race or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.

Winning is a highly desirable goal of our athletic program and the goals of the student-athletes we recruit. Winning is not the ultimate aim, when we have to sacrifice the aforementioned entities that must be dealt with if our student-athletes are to graduate.
 

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The Kean University Athletics Department  is committed to promote equity and diversity to facilitate personal growth while fostering a competitive environment inclusive of anyone's race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, veteran status, citizenship status, ability or age. We strive to create a diverse and inclusive community in which all students and staff feel safe, respected and valued. 

"The athletics diversity and inclusion designee, known as the ADID, will be that point of communication between the NCAA national office, athletics department, conference office and campus when information around inclusive programs, emerging diversity issues and other related equity initiatives needs to be shared. The role, which was approved by Divisions I, II and III at the NCAA Convention in January 2020, will serve as a gatekeeper of information who will engage with various audiences such as national office staff, student-athletes, athletics department and conference administrators, and campus officials who are involved with athletics or university inclusion." (NCAA)

Kean athletic department personnel are obligated to report all complaints or incidents of discrimination/microaggression to the office of Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion Office, as well as the athletic department ADID, Lorin Tredinnick, PhD, LSW