SAAC's Diplomat Pride Program

Mission Statement:

In order to create a more integrated community of student athletes, administrators, and the greater college community, Dip Pride aims to acknowledge, develop, and encourage the student-athletes' contributions to Franklin and Marshall College and Lancaster County's communities.

Ethical Code of Conduct:

Dip Pride relies heavily on the honesty, integrity, and moral conduct of each student athlete and his or her competitive nature.

Point System:

In order to reward student athletes for their participation in the college and Lancaster communities, points will be attributed to a student athletes' team.  Points will be awarded in the following categories: Non-athletic events, Athletic events, Dip Zone Events, Team GPA, and Community Service.

Non-Athletic Events: Non-athletic events are campus events, such as (but not limited to) plays, lectures, recitals, concerts, forums, etc.  Many student athletes are involved in extracurricular events and have interests outside of the playing field; therefore, points will be earned for attendance at such events to acknowledge each student-athlete for his or her special interests. Points will be awarded as follows:

• 10 points per person participating in the event
• 2 points per person per event
• 30 points for team attendance of 25%
• 100 points for team attendance of 75%

Athletic Events:  Student-athletes understand the hard work and determination that is required to compete at the highest level.  Also, it is rewarding for the student athletes to have the support of their friends, family, and fellow athletes at competitions.  Awarding points for such events promotes the support of fellow athletes.  Points are awarded as followed:

• 1 point per person per event
• 15 points for team attendance of 25%
• 50 points for team attendance of 75%

Dip Zone Events:  Each team at Franklin and Marshall has certain games that mean more to the players than others.  Each team will choose one competition prior to the start of its season which has a special significance: a "Dip Zone" event. Nothing is more rewarding than having increased attendance at such events.  The increased significance of the competition will result in increased points for attendance.

• 2 points per person per event
• 50 points for team attendance of 25%
• 125 points for team attendance of 75%

Team GPA: Each student athlete works just as hard preparing for class as he or she does preparing for athletic competitions.  This hard work is reflected in the GPA of the student-athlete.  Points will be awarded for teams who meet certain thresholds.  In addition, the teams with the top three GPAs will receive bonus points.

• 100 points for a team average GPA of 3.0 or higher
• 150 points for a team average GPA of 3.25 or higher
• 200 points for a team average GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Top team average GPA 20 point bonus
• Second team average GPA 15 point bonus
• Third team average GPA 10 point bonus

Community Service:  Much of being a student athlete means giving back to the community that supports athletics.  Such community events must be approved by the SAAC executive committee for points to be awarded.

• 2 points per person per event
• 30 points for team attendance of 25%
• 100 points for team attendance of 30%

Teams will lose points for various infractions, such as breaking the Ethical Code of Conduct.  The number of points reduced will be left to the discretion of the SAAC executive board and its faculty advisors.  However, there will be a standard reduction of 50 points from a team that fails to be represented at a regular SAAC meeting.  The only excuse for failure to attend a regular meeting is a scheduling conflict due to a team practice or a game.  

Each team will be assigned a file folder in a box located in the Sports Information Office.  Each file folder will contain three different-colored sheets, one each for non-athletic, athletic, and community service events.  Each labeled sheet will contain the team roster on an Excel sheet.  Each athletic team will appoint an individual responsible for recording in the file folder both its team's and its team members' individual participation.  At the end of each month during the regular semester, points will be tallied and posted on the Dip Pride Website.

Points will accumulate for one academic year, and recognition will be made at the end of each regular semester during the academic year.  Prizes will be awarded to the team with the highest point totals.