Intercollegiate Athletics Program
The mission of the Athletics Department is to support the philosophy, goals, mission, core values, and vision statement of West Liberty University through conducting, regulating, and promoting high-quality intercollegiate athletics programs as an abiding member of the MEC and the NCAA, operating under the Division II Principles of Conduct for Intercollegiate Athletics identified in Constitution 2.
WLU’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program is an integral part of the institution's total educational mission. Nineteen men's and women's sports are offered, providing diverse opportunities to accommodate students' needs and varying interests: football, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's wrestling, women's softball, men's baseball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track, men's and women’s golf, men's and women’s tennis, women's acrobatics and tumbling and women’s soccer.
The philosophy of WLU Athletics embraces the concept of the "student-athlete” being a "student" first, as well as the principles of gender equity and requirements of Title IX. The physical and mental welfare of the student-athlete is of the highest importance. Fair play and sportsmanship are emphasized along with strict compliance to the rules and regulations of the MEC and the NCAA, operating under the Division II Principles of Conduct for Intercollegiate Athletics identified in Constitution 2.
The WLU Department of Athletics is committed to upholding the tenets of Title IX to provide a gender-equitable environment and overall student-athlete experience for student-athletes of both genders, and supports the University’s overall efforts to maintain gender equity University-wide. The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, approved by Congress in 1994, requires that all co-educational institutions of higher education provide annual information pertaining to its athletics program, specifically, operating expenses and persistence rates. This information, along with persistence rates certified by the NCAA, are updated annually and are available on the Department of Education and NCAA websites.
The WLU Department of Athletics does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, age, veteran status, or disability and promotes an inclusive culture that fosters equitable participation for student-athletes and equitable career opportunities for coaches, administrators and support staff from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and supports the University’s overall efforts to prevent discrimination and foster diversity University-wide. Reasonable accommodations for participation in intercollegiate athletics may be provided for individuals whose disabilities are officially registered with the University's ADA Office based on the recommendation of the University’s ADA Coordinator and the Director of Athletics.