In 2021, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) agreed that college athletes will have the opportunity to benefit from their name, image and likeness in all three divisions. The National Junior College Athletic Association followed suit, meaning college athletes at community colleges will not lose their amateur status for receiving compensation based on their NIL.
Barton Community College Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs said eventually this will have an impact on student-athletes here.
“It hasn’t gotten to our level yet, but it will in time,” he said Tuesday during the October BCC Board of Trustees study session.
“It’s a very popular thing,” Rolfs said of NIL. The NJCAA offers services that can help students navigate through it. Although he is not aware of any school in the area conference using it, eventually NIL is sure to trickle down to this level.
This, along with the high cost of recruiting student-athletes, could affect athletic directors in their efforts to raise money for facility upgrades. Some of the same people who support new facilities will direct their dollars to endorsements, for example.
Annual safety report
During the study session, Vice President of Administration Mark Dean talked about the college’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. All colleges must complete this report in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure and Campus Security Policy and the Campus Crime Statistic Act.
“This report covers all of the campuses,” Dean said. In it are safety policies and procedures, the emergency operation plan, and emergency contacts.
There are also statistics showing the number and types of crimes reported at each location, such as the campus at Grandview Plaza, Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, and the Adult Education Center in Great Bend.
According to the latest report, there were two rapes reported on the Barton County campus in 2021, both in a student housing facility. There was one arrest or judicial referral for illegal weapons possession at a non-campus building or property. There were 12 arrests/judicial referrals for drug law violations, eight in student housing, and 25 liquor law violations, 23 in student housing. There was one report of dating violence in student housing and one motor vehicle theft reported on campus.
There were no reports of murder, manslaughter, other sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary or arson.
No hate crimes were reported at any location.
The fire safety portion of the report noted the fire alarms, sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and evacuation plans and placards in facilities. There were no fires reported in housing facilities in 2021.
This report is available to the public, as are similar reports at all higher education institutions.
The report includes a message from Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman, who states, “Barton Community College provides a comprehensive learning environment and is committed to the success of each student. Essential to our commitment is the safety and security of our students, employees, and the public.”
Other reports
In other business, the board heard a status report on the Higher Learning Commission accreditation team visit scheduled for later this month; learned who the next Academic Integrity Student Ambassadors are; and saw a draft copy of the next Community Report.
