JUSTIFICATION TOOLKIT
Need help convincing your boss on the benefits of attending the USCAA Annual Convention?
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Items for consideration in justifying the travel and registration expense:
- New legislation is presented, discussed, and voted upon, in person, during the convention. This is your opportunity to have a voice in the direction of the Association.
- Focus on what you will specifically bring back to your institution as return for the investment.
- Offer to prepare and deliver a short presentation and Q&A to your coaches and fellow adminstrators to share what you learned. That way others in your unit will get the benefits of your attendance, too.
- Share the agenda and speaker handouts with your colleagues.
- Be ready with a plan that shows who will cover for you while you are attending the convention.
- Offer to share a room with a colleague to reduce hotel expenses.
LETTER TO PRESIDENT, CHANCELOR OR DIRECT SUPERVISOR
DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
"I have had the privilege to attend the USCAA Convention as a coach, athletic director, and college president. When I attended as a coach, I benefited greatly from attending coaches' poll meetings and policy sessions that were held at the convention. When I attended as an athletic director, I found the conventions networking opportunities and professional development sessions critical to the success of my athletic program. As a college president, I find the USCAA Convention critical to our institution's strategic enrollment plans, the professional development of our athletic director and coaches, and to serve our student-athletes better.
The value of attending the annual convention cannot be overstated. The cost is affordable, and the content's quality cannot be beaten. It is without hesitation that I encourage all member institutions to attend."
-Michael Fischer, Ed. D.
York County Community College, President
"The USCAA Convention has grown tremendously over the years, always expanding its offerings and providing an excellent networking opportunity. It is also the best forum for change within the association to occur. Many of our best ideas have been generated from great discussions in town halls, committee meetings and the business meeting. It’s the best place to make your voice heard on all the inner workings of the association, and we can’t do it without the membership in attendance. The convention really proves that we are a membership-driven organization. Not to mention it’s a great to be around so many other leaders in the college sports arena."
-Ryan Ehrie
Penn State University Athletic Conference, Commissioner
“The USCAA Convention has provided me professional development opportunities that have enhanced our athletic offering at SMCC. The professional networking has also allowed me to create scheduling relationships that have benefited all of our athletic team schedules. Finally, the convention has also allowed me the opportunity to shape the direction of the USCAA through its town hall sessions and business meetings to allow for the association to continually provide the ever-changing platform to service small college athletics”.
-Matt Richards
Southern Maine Community College, Athletic Director
“The networking aspect is a huge benefit to coaches who attend the USCAA National Convention. Our association is built on a community of small colleges working to provide better opportunities for our student-athletes to succeed, and attending the national convention allows coaches to establish relationships and connect with other likeminded colleagues. The formal and informal conversations during the convention offer numerous chances for reflection, growth, and learning, and the professional development sessions are tailored toward topics specific to USCAA institutions.”
-Callie Phillips
Johnson & Wales University Charlotte, Volleyball Coach
QUESTIONS?
Contact the National Office at info@theuscaa.com