Colorado University Athletics
RAPID Annual Report Released
January 12, 2018 | General, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — The University of Colorado Athletic Department has released its first "RAPID" report, a comprehensive overview of the department's goals, initiatives and accomplishments.
The report, which the department plans to issue on an annual basis, is an all-encompassing look at CU Athletics that reaches far beyond wins and losses.
Much like an annual review from a Fortune 500 company, the report includes a look at financials, programming and initiatives; a report card on the department's strategic plan; as well as academic and athletic achievements by CU's student-athletes. Also included are detailed explanations of where support funds are directed in assisting student-athletes, including health and wellness, academic support, facilities and scholarship expenses.
"It really is intended to be an annual report," Athletic Director Rick George said. "I think it gives our donors and our alumni — our constituents — an opportunity to see what we're doing, how we're doing it and why we're doing it. It gives them confidence that their investment is having a real impact on our student-athletes' experience at CU."
The report covers a wide range of topics and programs all geared toward attaining the vision set forth in CU's first three-year strategic plan implemented by George in 2014: "To be nationally recognized as a premier athletics department by providing a world-class and holistic student-athlete experience, operating in a fiscally responsible manner and consistently competing for and winning championships."
Now available online (link above) it presents a financial snapshot that includes CU Athletics' annual revenue and expenses, a look at football ticket revenue, and Pac-12 Conference annual distribution. Details are then provided on how those funds are invested to enhance the student-athlete experience, including sports medicine and nutrition, health and performance initiatives, academic assistance and leadership development.
Also outlined in the report are the department's continued engagement in cross-campus collaboration, including the ground-breaking CU Sports Governance Center; as well as CU Athletics' continuing efforts to be a Boulder campus leader in promoting diversity and inclusive excellence.
"Most importantly for our alumni, donors and fans, we wanted to have a comprehensive report that allows them to understand all that we're doing — not just wins and losses, not just the academic successes our student-athletes are having, but what we're doing for our student-athletes to create that world-class experience that we talk about," George said. "It's about health and nutrition, it's about our strength and conditioning staff, our sports medicine, our leadership development programs and some of the collaborations that we're doing on campus, such as the sports governance center. Part of our responsibility to the people who support our program is to give them an inside look at what we do and how we do it. We want to show them that their investment is working and having a real impact on our student-athletes and their experience here."
While CU plans to begin issuing the report on an annual basis, the first RAPID report also touched on the first four years of George's tenure in Boulder. The report was compiled and produced by Emily Canova, assistant athletic director for special projects.
"Transparency has always been a priority of CU Athletics," Canova said. "Not only have we educated and encouraged our staff to have an open dialogue, we believe this is one way to invite our constituents to be part of it as well. This report will provide a greater understanding of the business side of our department as well as our student-athletes' successes. It's another way to create that transparency on a consistent basis."
Included in the report is an in-depth look at scholarship costs and comparisons, as well as the latest figures on CU's fund-raising efforts. Readers are also provided a look at CU's Leadership Development Program, geared toward helping student-athletes make a successful transition from college life to their community upon graduation.
"We're here every day to serve our student-athletes," George said. "That's what I tell our staff all the time. That's what our passion is. It's why we come to work every day. We're trying to create this world-class experience that encompasses all the things in this report. Whether it's tuition, scholarships, our meals program, what we're doing from the Herbst Academic Center — all those things matter and they all cost money to create that experience. I think it's important that we lay that out so people can see what we're doing with their investment."
The report, which the department plans to issue on an annual basis, is an all-encompassing look at CU Athletics that reaches far beyond wins and losses.
Much like an annual review from a Fortune 500 company, the report includes a look at financials, programming and initiatives; a report card on the department's strategic plan; as well as academic and athletic achievements by CU's student-athletes. Also included are detailed explanations of where support funds are directed in assisting student-athletes, including health and wellness, academic support, facilities and scholarship expenses.
"It really is intended to be an annual report," Athletic Director Rick George said. "I think it gives our donors and our alumni — our constituents — an opportunity to see what we're doing, how we're doing it and why we're doing it. It gives them confidence that their investment is having a real impact on our student-athletes' experience at CU."
The report covers a wide range of topics and programs all geared toward attaining the vision set forth in CU's first three-year strategic plan implemented by George in 2014: "To be nationally recognized as a premier athletics department by providing a world-class and holistic student-athlete experience, operating in a fiscally responsible manner and consistently competing for and winning championships."
Now available online (link above) it presents a financial snapshot that includes CU Athletics' annual revenue and expenses, a look at football ticket revenue, and Pac-12 Conference annual distribution. Details are then provided on how those funds are invested to enhance the student-athlete experience, including sports medicine and nutrition, health and performance initiatives, academic assistance and leadership development.
Also outlined in the report are the department's continued engagement in cross-campus collaboration, including the ground-breaking CU Sports Governance Center; as well as CU Athletics' continuing efforts to be a Boulder campus leader in promoting diversity and inclusive excellence.
"Most importantly for our alumni, donors and fans, we wanted to have a comprehensive report that allows them to understand all that we're doing — not just wins and losses, not just the academic successes our student-athletes are having, but what we're doing for our student-athletes to create that world-class experience that we talk about," George said. "It's about health and nutrition, it's about our strength and conditioning staff, our sports medicine, our leadership development programs and some of the collaborations that we're doing on campus, such as the sports governance center. Part of our responsibility to the people who support our program is to give them an inside look at what we do and how we do it. We want to show them that their investment is working and having a real impact on our student-athletes and their experience here."
While CU plans to begin issuing the report on an annual basis, the first RAPID report also touched on the first four years of George's tenure in Boulder. The report was compiled and produced by Emily Canova, assistant athletic director for special projects.
"Transparency has always been a priority of CU Athletics," Canova said. "Not only have we educated and encouraged our staff to have an open dialogue, we believe this is one way to invite our constituents to be part of it as well. This report will provide a greater understanding of the business side of our department as well as our student-athletes' successes. It's another way to create that transparency on a consistent basis."
Included in the report is an in-depth look at scholarship costs and comparisons, as well as the latest figures on CU's fund-raising efforts. Readers are also provided a look at CU's Leadership Development Program, geared toward helping student-athletes make a successful transition from college life to their community upon graduation.
"We're here every day to serve our student-athletes," George said. "That's what I tell our staff all the time. That's what our passion is. It's why we come to work every day. We're trying to create this world-class experience that encompasses all the things in this report. Whether it's tuition, scholarships, our meals program, what we're doing from the Herbst Academic Center — all those things matter and they all cost money to create that experience. I think it's important that we lay that out so people can see what we're doing with their investment."
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