Creating a D-I Program from Scratch
By Ryan Lucchesi, The California Aggie, May 16, 2005

Adding an intercollegiate sport to UC Davis' athletic department took student interest, multiple levels of approval and a little bit of luck. It also took almost two years. But these are just a few of the dynamics that went into adding women's golf as the 26th ICA sport at UCD.

Title IX compliance came first to consider under the three-prong test of which gender would receive another sport. The three prongs examine areas of proportionality, accommodation of student interests and having a history of program expansion for the underrepresented sex. Under the current condition of UCD's athletic department, women's athletics were granted the next sport. The athletic department gauged student interest by considering club-sport participation on campus, e-mails from prospective students about adding new sports and a recently added student survey of incoming freshmen. The availability of a NCAA-sponsored national championship that is also offered in the Big West Conference was taken into consideration.

For full article, go online at http://www.californiaaggie.com/article/?id=9161