Inside Look At CU Athletics: Annual RAPID Report Released
November 20, 2019 | General, Alumni C Club, Herbst Academic Center, Neill Woelk, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
BOULDER — Ever want an "inside" look at the University of Colorado Athletic Department, a place to find information that reaches beyond the scoreboard?
We have that place. CU officials have released the third annual "RAPID" report, a comprehensive annual review that includes information not only on the latest academic and athletic achievements of CU student-athletes, but also a look at department financials, programming and initiatives.
"This effort is something we started a couple of years ago and it has been well-received each time," Athletic Director Rick George said. "This goes beyond wins and losses on the playing surface. This is a way for our supporters to see what we do for our student-athletes and how we do it. We want our donors and alumni to be confident that they are having a positive impact on our student-athletes. When they invest in the University of Colorado, they are helping students, the university, their community and the state."
The RAPID report was originally designed along the lines of a Fortune 500 company review. It provides a detailed picture of how support funds are directed to assist CU student-athletes via programs ranging from facility renovation to expansion of the department's Psychological Health, Nutrition, and Leadership and Career Development programs.
"These are tools that not only help our student-athletes compete at a high level on the field and in the classroom, but will help them thrive long after they have graduated," George said. "That allows them to have a positive impact on their communities and future generations."
The newest report also provides a quick breakdown of the 2018-2020 Strategic Plan developments. That includes the department's best-ever graduation success rate, and CU Athletics' continued commitment to gender equity that this year produced a benchmark participation rate.
The report is named after the acronym representing CU Athletics' core values statement: Respect, Accountability, Passion, Integrity, Dedication.Â
The report also serves a reminder that the initial vision set forth by George in 2014 is still a priority: "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."
The report is available online (link above) and includes a financial snapshot of CU Athletics' annual revenue and expenses, as well as details of a record-breaking fundraising year and a look at ongoing fundraising initiatives. Those reports show how funds are invested to maximize the student-athlete experience via leadership development, health and performance and nutrition programs.
Of course, the Buffs' championship performances are noted as well, ranging from individual and team national championships to Pac-12 titles to NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Our great supporters know the successes our student-athletes produce in competition," George said. "But our goal here is to make sure the people who invest in CU Athletics know how we got there. We want them to appreciate how instrumental they are in helping us accomplish what we do. They make the decision to provide their support to us, and we want them to see how that investment plays an integral role in the Buffs' success. It has a significant impact on every one of our student-athletes and it yields a long-term return."
CU Assistant Athletic Director for Special Projects Emily Canova compiles and produces the RAPID report each year. One major goal, she said, is to make sure CU donors and alumni are able to see how their support makes a difference for student-athletes in all phases of their lives — and to know that they share in those triumphs.
"CU Athletics takes pride in our successes both on and off the field of competition," Canova said. "We believe success should be recognized, shared and celebrated collectively. It is truly a collaboration of everyone involved, and we hope to illustrate that by creating the RAPID report for our constituents and community."
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