Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today that the University at Buffalo has claimed the 1-MAC Institution Award. This marks fifth time in the past six years that UB has claimed the honor.
“It is my honor to announce the University at Buffalo as the winner of the 1-MAC Institutional Award,” said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. “President Tripathi, Mark Alnutt and the entire athletics administration have provided UB with tremendous leadership in establishing a culture that foster access and opportunity.”
Buffalo has implemented several impactful initiatives aimed at fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within its athletics community:
• Safe Zone Training: The university conducted Safe Zone training for 40 staff and coaches, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to provide support and education to LGBTQ+ and racially marginalized communities. This initiative has formed a network of allies, contributing to a safer and more inclusive athletics community.
• "Tough Conversations" Video Series: In collaboration with student-athletes, a five-part video series called "Tough Conversations" was created. It explored important topics such as Black History Month, National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), Title IX, Gun Violence Awareness, and Heritage. These videos were shared across social media platforms and played at in-venue gamedays. They provided insights into the beliefs and opinions of student-athletes and helped identify gaps in programming while evaluating the effectiveness of current initiatives.
• Title IX Mural: The university partnered with the Gender Institute to unveil a Title IX mural in front of Alumni Arena to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. This prominent location serves as a reminder of the significance of Title IX for all who enter the campus.
• #SPIRITDAY Observance: The university annually observes #SPIRITDAY, raising awareness of bullying and harassment faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Activities and information related to this issue are shared at five athletics events, including the distribution of REFOCUS motivational bracelets to promote inclusivity.
• Inclusive Excellence Summit: The university presented "Stronger Together: UB Athletics DEi GamePlan" as part of an Inclusive Excellence Summit. This initiative incorporates sessions highlighting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, research, and initiatives across the university.
• Black Student-Athlete Association: A safe space and advocacy channel for Black-identifying student-athletes was created. The association aims to support the full identities and voices of Black student-athletes, positively impact the community, promote inclusivity in athletics, collaborate with like-minded campus organizations, and educate and raise awareness on topics related to social and racial injustice.
• GameChangeHER: The university engages female business leaders from Catalyst, Balanced Body, and M&T Bank in discussions with student-athletes. These discussions focus on workplace challenges, career opportunities, empowerment, and the importance of community partnerships, providing valuable insights and mentorship opportunities.
These initiatives collectively reflect Buffalo’s commitment to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment within its athletics community and across the entire campus.
“I’m very proud to be a part of an institution that values and is constantly enhancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts throughout our UB community,” said Buffalo Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt. “It’s so gratifying to win the 2022-23 1-MAC award for the fifth time in the six years of its inception. We’ve been able to win these awards based on people who take this work serious and are looking to effectuate change in culture and in thought. I’m very thankful to work with staff and student-athletes who see this work as essential as we continue to make a difference in this space.”
In November of 2016, the MAC announced one of the most comprehensive Inclusion Programs in Division I intercollegiate athletics to begin during the 2017-18 academic year.
The MAC Inclusion Program has positioned the MAC as a leader within collegiate athletics. This Program has evolved and developed through the years to provide education and training opportunities, leadership development and advancement opportunities for coaches, administrators and student-athletes.
The MAC is dedicated to the student-athlete experience and well-being is a top priority. To continue to promote and strengthen the student-athletes within the MAC, the Conference Office will continue its efforts in inclusion in order to provide better support to our young adults.
About the Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio as the Conference office serves 12 full-time members and offer championships in 23 sports.
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
