Exploring Intercollegiate Athletic Department-Community Partnerships through the Lens of Community Service Organizations

Institutions of higher education are increasingly engaging in partnerships with local communities. Within a sport context, the creation of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program has emphasized partnerships between athletic departments and local community service organizations (CSOs). Prior studies, however, have used student-athletes rather than the partnership as the unit of analysis, so the attitudes and experiences of community partners remain overlooked. This study explored active relationships with a high-profile NCAA Division I athletic department in the Southeast through the lens of the CSOs. Four major themes emerged for the community partners' motives and perceived benefits in their relationship with the athletic department: (a) increased volunteer capacity, (b) opportunities to create long-term impact and lasting relationships with student-athletes, (c) ability to extend their mission through educational opportunities, and (d) monetary or in-kind donations. Overall, interviewees perceived their relationship with the athletic department to be characterized by ambiguity and ineffective communication.