Hall of Fame Bylaws

Swarthmore College Garnet Hall of Fame Bylaws

I.                   Purpose:   
 

The Garnet Hall of Fame has been established to enable the College to commemorate exceptional performance by teams and individuals associated with Swarthmore College Athletics.  It is further intended to recognize those who have brought distinction to themselves and to the College through their accomplishments in athletics and their contributions to their community and society.
 

II.                Candidacy:

Eligible candidates must be Swarthmore College graduates, members of the Swarthmore College community, or individuals who have made significant and distinctive impact on Swarthmore College Athletics and Swarthmore College.  Nominees and inductees will be categorized as Athlete, Coach, Team, or special associate.

The following achievements will result in an automatic nomination for an individual or team, given a 10-year period since graduation, or 15 years of association with Swarthmore.

A.      Any athlete inducted into a national athletics hall of fame in the sport in which they participated at Swarthmore.

B.      Any coach who is inducted into a national hall of fame during her/his tenure at Swarthmore for the sport coached.

C.      Any Swarthmore athlete or coach who participates in the Olympics or sets a world record in an event in which they competed at Swarthmore.

D.     Any NCAA National Champion, team or individual, 10 years after the accomplishment.
 

III.             Nominating Committee:

A committee of eleven shall oversee nominations.  The committee shall include a Hall of Fame Board as permanent members, to include the Director of Athletics, the Associate Director of Athletics, the Sports Information Director, the Vice President of  Development and Alumni Relations (or designate),  and the President of the Friends of Swarthmore Athletics (or designate).  Further, five members will be selected by the Hall of Fame Board to serve terms of four years.  They will include a coach of a men’s sport, a coach of a women’s sport, a third coach, two alumni-athletes, and one current member of the Student Athlete Advisory Council (two-year term). The President may designate an additional committee member at his/her discretion.

The nominating committee will normally meet at least twice during the course of the academic year, with a quorum of nine necessary to reach consensus.

 

IV.          Selection Process:
 

A.      Nominations will be solicited and accepted annually.  Any athlete , ten or more years after graduation, will be eligible.  Any coach or administrator

will be eligible five years or more after retirement or leaving College employment.
 

B.      The Nominating Committee will accept written nominations from Swarthmore College faculty, staff, alumni, students, and friends of the program.  All nominations will be submitted in writing to the Athletic Director (or designate).  Nominations will include biographical information, as well as strong supporting documentation related to the nominees’ accomplishments during and after college.   Candidates will not be advised of their nomination and all information pertaining to them and the process shall be confidential.  

C.      Nominees will be separated into three categories.

1.  Insufficient Information.  More materials required ahead of the selection process

2.  Insufficient Qualifier.  Will not be considered further.

3.  Continue to Consider.  Information included permits the nominee to be     considered further.

D.   Various committee members during the screening process may be asked to seek additional material on the candidates deemed to have insufficient information. However, most of the research will be completed by the Swarthmore sports information office and other designated personnel.

E.   When the Hall of Fame Committee convenes, nominees for whom more information is being sought will be reviewed first.

F.   When considering nominees, athletic accomplishment will be of primary importance, but the committee will also consider moral character, good citizenship, and service to community as an undergraduate and / or graduate, among other valuable traits.           

G.   The Athletic Director, or his/her designate, will lead discussions on the nominees.  Nominees will be inducted by consensus of the Nominating Committee.  No more than six nominees will be inducted in any single year, including no more than one team, one coach, and one special inductee as defined below in section V, paragraph D.  All committee discussion will be kept confidential.   

V.         Selection Criteria:

Consideration for induction shall include, but is not limited to, the following criteria.

A.   Athlete:  Documented outstanding performance during career at     Swarthmore; A four-year letter-winner, or All-American status; Performance recognized at the national level;  Recognition by national governing bodies;  Record-setting accomplishments;  Contributions to community and society.

B.   Coach:  Outstanding record as a coach at Swarthmore or elsewhere (professional organization, club, international team, Olympic team, etc.);   Contributions to his / her sport through coaching;  Service to the community through coaching;  Recognition of accomplishments by regional, national, and /or international coaching bodies;  Contributions to community and society;

C.   Team:  Outstanding record or accomplishments such as NCAA champion or finalist. Major victories over superior opponents;  Undefeated record, or conference record;  Streak of wins or accomplishments.

D.   Special Inductee:  Person who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the program through clinics, writing, organizations, etc. ; Supporter of the department and College as an administrator, through volunteer work, etc. or who has represented  Swarthmore Athletics through international organizations, national groups, publications, etc.

 
VI.  Induction Process:  

A.      Induction will take place at an annual awards banquet during either reunion or homecoming weekend.

B.      Inductees and their spouses / partners shall be invited directly by the chair of the Hall of Fame Board, or designate.  

C.      When possible, inductees will be introduced by the person who nominated them.

D.     Inductees will receive a plaque commemorating the event and an additional plaque will be put on display in the athletics facilities in an area to be designated for Hall of Fame inductees.
 

VII.  Additional Information:

A.  This Document will be tested and reviewed periodically and may be revised with the approval from the Swarthmore College President, Provost, or designate.