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2018 NASSS Annual Conference
Sport Soundtrack: Sport, Music, & Culture
LS

Lequez Spearman

Assistant Professor
Environmental Sustainability at NCAA Division III Colleges and Universities
Environmental Sustainability at NCAA Division III Colleges and Universities
Fortunately, there are a host of scholars who examine how sport contributes to the carbon footprint of the earth. Whether it is the Olympic Games, the World Cup, or the Super Bowl, it is clear that teams and associations are attempting to address the carbon negative effects that sport has on the environment. Clearly, because of their size and economic impact, much has been written about the sustainability practices of NCAA Division I athletic programs. However, at the time of this writing, there is a significant gap in the literature with regards to environmental sustainability at NCAA Division III colleges and universities. Although NCAA Division III athletic programs do not offer athletically related financial aid, they are no less important to intercollegiate athletics in North America, not in the least because there are 444 member institutions. Using a semi-structured interview protocol, I examined the current landscape of environmental sustainability in NCAA Division III athletics by interviewing 19 facility directors. This research study addressed the following research question: What are the sustainability practices within NCAA Division III athletic departments? The findings and implications from this study will be discussed at the conference.