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CSC Member Resources Communities (MRC) home
A new initiative launched to support the College Sports Communicators membership, Member Resource Communities (MRCs), is now available for all members. The home for this initiative is located at
CollegeSportsCommunicators.com/MRC.
The CSC MRCs are intended to provide members with common interests and backgrounds an avenue to come together for discussions, idea-sharing, networking, mentorship, and more.
“This is a transformative initiative for our CSC members to learn and evolve in ways that are a first in college athletics,” said Scottie Rodgers, CSC Inclusion Committee Chair and Inclusion Fellowship Co-Creator and Lead Administrator. “CSC is continuing to be a trailblazer in the inclusion space. We are extremely proud of the collective spirit it took to bring this concept to reality and create more opportunities for community, collaboration and personal and professional growth for our members.”
These communities are valuable both in support of CSC members and to equip our members to better serve their student-athletes, athletics departments, conferences and colleges and universities.
MRCs are open to any current dues-paying CSC member, and are organized and led by members who have a passion for that community. By applying to be recognized formally under the CSC MRC program, these communities have the opportunity to:
- Has the opportunity to have a community leader be a member of the CSC Inclusion Committee
- Request to distribute meeting invitations to the CSC membership through CSC channels
- Request to distribute messages or produce content through CSC channels
- Submit proposals for programming topics or special events at the CSC Unite convention
Anyone interested in creating a new community should reach out directly to Scottie Rodgers or a member of the CSC staff.
At launch, the four existing MRCs are:
“College Sports Communicators is proud to provide a framework to its membership to be as comprehensively representative as possible to specific communities, ideals and beliefs,” said CSC President Patrick Crawford. “Having a voice and an identity in our personal and professional lives is oftentimes reinforced by finding shared associations amongst our peers. Please utilize these opportunities if they are of interest to you.”
FAQ
Who can join an existing CSC Member Resource Community?
CSC MRCs are operated at the discretion of the leaders of each community. MRCs have the opportunity to request to deliver messages and invitations through CSC channels to meetings and events. Any CSC member can also reach out directly to the leaders of a community to request more information.
Why does CSC not have a community for (the group I’m interested in)?
MRCs are formed and led by CSC members who have a passion for the communities they lead. These communities operate semi-independently of the formal CSC structure and have requested to have an affiliation with the organization. Approval of any particular community does not indicate a specific endorsement by the CSC organization of any particular belief. What it does indicate is that a subset of CSC members have indicated this community is important to them. CSC believes in providing opportunities for like-minded members to come together in a supportive community. As an organization, CSC defers to the leadership of each MRC for the structure and direction of each community.
What types of content can an MRCs produce?
MRCs have the opportunity to propose or request to create content for CSC channels or the CSC Unite convention. Any content request will need to be submitted through the leadership of the MRC, the Board of Directors liaison or the CSC staff, and may need to be approved by the Executive Board of Directors. Generally, all content should focus around supporting communications professionals, the communications or college sports industry, or education for communications professionals to better support student-athletes, coaches and athletics colleagues.
The primary mission of all CSC MRCs must focus on supporting and promoting the common interests of CSC members and the student-athletes we serve (as opposed to addressing societal issues).
How do I apply to form a new Member Resource Community?
Any current dues-paying CSC member is welcome to propose the creation of a new MRC. That proposal should include:
1) who the leader(s) of the community will be
2) the name of the MRC
3) the purpose/mission of the community
4) detail about what the activities of the community will be (meetings, content, etc.)
How are Member Resource Communities different from CSC committees?
CSC currently has 15 official committees that exist to work hand-in-hand with the CSC staff to help the organization carry out its regular business, and report directly to the Executive Board of Directors. This includes the Inclusion Committee which is responsible for the overall strategies of the organization for inclusion initiatives. All committees are subject to policies of the organization, including term limits for chairs.
MRCs are subsets of like-minded members focused on a specific topic or demographic. These communities operate semi-independently and outside of the formal CSC structure. By applying and being accepted to be part of the CSC MRC program, these communities have the opportunity to engage with the CSC membership through the Inclusion Committee. The ongoing continuation of any particular MRC is contingent on having individuals interested in leading the particular community.
CSC Inclusion Value Statement
"As leaders in intercollegiate athletics, College Sports Communicators (CSC) is dedicated to cultivating a culture of equity, inclusion and belonging for its membership. CSC is committed to impacting and empowering its members through information sharing, educational programming and fostering open and engaging discussions aimed at championing the diverse perspectives and advocating for a welcoming environment for professional and personal growth."