Commission on Sport
Management
Accreditation
(COSMA)
Cindy Brockman
February 3, 2014
Photograph Courtesy: http://www.cosmaweb.org/cosma-logos.html
History

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2005 North American Society for Sport Management
(NASSM) and National Association for Sport & Physical
Education (NASPE) decide what direction to go forward
with the Sport Management Program Review Council
(SMPRC)
Commission on Sport Management Accreditation
(COSMA) replaces program with approval from SMPRC
2007 NASSM and NASPE make a proposal to have
formation of COSMA
NASSM and NASPE jointly establish COSMA organization in
July 2008 officially
COSMA an independent accrediting body and only
organization that offers accreditation in sport management
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/history.html;http://www.nassm.com/InfoAbout/NASSM/ProgramAccreditation
http://www.cosmaweb.org/about-cosma.html
Gillentine, A. (2009). Introduction to the Sport Industry. In Foundations of sport management (2nd ed., pp. 7-8).
Morgantown, WV: Fitness Info Technology.
Organization Provides

Assistance for Sport Management Programs in higher
education to become accredited

Webinars

Workshops in:
-Accreditation Process
-Outcomes Assessment

Upcoming conferences that are being offered by COSMA
Organization Provides (Continued)

Recognition of :
-Individual members who are faculty with a
background of Sport Management
-Student recognition by providing a
professional membership that is free for those who
are Full-Time pursuing Sport Management/Sport
Marketing
-Accredited Institutions
Mission Statement
“Specialized accrediting body whose purpose is to promote
and recognize excellence in sport management education
worldwide in colleges and universities at the baccalaureate
and graduate levels through specialized accreditation”
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/about-cosma.html
Vision Statement
“To be the leader in mission-driven and outcomes-based
programmatic accreditation for sport management education
for student-oriented institutions of higher education
worldwide.”
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/about-cosma.html
Goals

Assist programs with development and improvement of
outcome assessments that can help guide a sport
management program to have continuous improvement

Keep increasing membership recruitment and retention
rates high with stabilization

Obtaining a 501(c)3 status

Recognition from Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA)
Referenced:
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_insights_newsletter_summer_2014_volume_3_issue_2.pdf
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosmainsightsnewsletter_winter2012_volume1issue1.pdf
Goals (continued)

To be recognized by: Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA) stated in the Winter 2015
newsletter
-Higher Education programs in Sport Management with
doctorate degree can be recognized

Currently doctoral programs are not part of COSMA's
"Scope of Accreditation.“ until satisfying requirements
from (CHEA) stated under accredited programs
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/list-of-accredited-programs1.html
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_insights_newsletter_winter_2015_volume_4_issue_l.pdf
Summary of Objectives

A sport management program at an institution has to
decide what will demonstrate in the objectives in
operations.

As a result using these guidelines can help accomplish
excellence in a Sport Management Program

Course content should be delivered in a manner that helps
stimulate learning and is effective
Based on: “Characteristics of Excellence in Sport
Management Education” in a Sport Management Program
-Covered are 18 key points that are covered of objectives of what a
Sport Management Education Program should strive for
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accreditation_process_manual_612013_final.doc
Summary of Objectives (continued)

Institutional organizational structure is supporting of
excellence in sport management education field
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Program has clear defined and relevant mission and
broad-based goals which is consistent with the institution
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Program can recognize the role of practical and experiential
learning as a relevant component in curricula
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Student can develop professionally and personally into
competent professionals who are well-educated in the
sport management field

Faculty are effective teachers in the program who are
current in their field and active in the discipline
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accreditation_process_manual_612013_final.doc
Target Population

Any College or University with:
-Bachelors and Masters Degree program in Sport
Management

Any Faculty members with a background of Sport
Management

Any Student who is studying Sport Management/Sport
Marketing
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/list-of-accredited-programs1.html
Accredited Institutions and
Programs
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19 institutions are accredited by COSMA
36 sport management programs are accredited
Examples:
Slippery Rock UniversityBachelors of Science, Sport Management
Ohio UniversityMasters of Sport Administration
Neumann UniversityBachelors of Science, Sport and Entertainment
Management
Troy UniversityMasters of Science, Sport and Fitness Management
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/list-of-accredited-programs1.html
Individual and Student Members
Recognized By COSMA

Student Members 2014-15
-Shepherd University Student Members (3)
 Cindy Brockman

Matthew Deal
 William McKenzie

Individual Members
-Shepherd University Faculty Member (1)

Dr. Barnett
Referenced:
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_insights_newsletter_winter_2015_volume_4_issue_l.pdf
Governance

By the COSMA Board of Directors
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Board of Directors look at:
-Policies & procedures effectiveness
-Contracts
-Annual budget approval
-Public relations
-Monitors membership recruitment
-Adopts rules and regulation for conducting business
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/board-of-directors.html
COSMA Board of Directors
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Dr. Jay Gladden, IUPUI,
Institutional Director - (3 year
term, expires 2015) - Chair
Dr. Jo Williams, University of Southern Maine,
Institutional/Secretary
Director - (4 year term, expires 2016)
Kerrilyn Curtin, NBC Universal – Telemundo, Research Director,
Industry Director (3 year term, expires 2015)
Dr. Gil Fried, University of New Haven,
Finance Director (4 year term, expires 2016)
Elizabeth Taylor , University of Tennessee ,
Student Director (2 year term, expires 2016)
Dr. Robertha Abney, Slippery Rock University
(3 year term, expires 2016)- Chair of the Board of
Commissioners
(non-voting)
Referenced: http://www.cosmaweb.org/board-of-directors.html
Policies

To be able to go through the process of accreditation there
are 4 Stages
-Stage 1: Become an institutional
member/Submit membership application
-Stage 2: Become a candidate for
accreditation/Submit Candidate application
-Stage 3: undergoing the process of accreditation
review/Preparing and Submitting Self Study before
Site Visit
-Stage 4: Determining accreditation status by COSMA
Board of Commissioners
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accreditation_process_manual_612013_final.
doc
Budget

Fiscal year is from July 1st to June 30th

Institutional membership $1,800

Individual membership $30 per year
Applications are accepted year around
http://www.nassm.com/InfoAbout/NASSM/ProgramAccreditation
Cost of a Site Visit in the United
States
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Application Fee is estimated to be $1,200.00
It is a two-person visitation team
Chair of team is paid $300 per day
Other team members are paid $200 per day
Item
Estimate
Application Fee (must be paid prior to preparing the self study and having the site
visit)
$1,200.00
Travel for Site Visit Evaluators
$1,000
Honorarium for Site Visit Evaluators (two days)
$1,000
Hotel Accommodations and Food for Site Visit Evaluators (two days)
$600
TOTAL
$3,800.00
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accredita
tion_process_manual_612013_final.doc
Cost of a Site Visit Outside the
United States
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Application Fee is estimated to be $1,600.00
It is a three-person visitation team
-Trained peer reviewers (2)
-Consultant (1)
Chair of team is paid $300 per day
Other team members are paid $200 per day
Non-COSMA staff team receives $500 per day
Item
Application Fee
(must be paid prior to preparing the self study and the
site visit)
Travel for Site Visit Evaluators
Miscellaneous Travel Expenses (e.g., baggage fees,
parking, travel to and from home airport)
Honorarium for Site Visit Evaluators (three days)
Hotel Accommodations and Food for Site Visit
Evaluators (three days)
Other Miscellaneous Expenses (e.g., food not directly
covered)
TOTAL
Estimate
$1,600
$3,500
$500
$1,500
$3,000
$500
$10,600
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accredita
tion_process_manual_612013_final.doc
Standards
There are principles that guide the accreditation process
such as:
Principle 1: Outcomes Assessment

-developing and implementing and assessment plan such as the
mission and goals, basic skills development and personal
development
Principle 2: Strategic Planning
-improvement in educational and operational effectiveness of the
sport management program
Principle 3: Curriculum
- having what is being taught be relevant and current in the
of sport management program
field
Principle 4: Faculty
-Faculty that are highly qualified such as having a doctorate and
professionally qualified in sport management to teach
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accreditation_principles_self_study_preparation
_61510.doc
Standards (continued)
Principle 5: Scholarly and Professional Activities
-Faculty being engaged in academic and professional involvement
that can be beneficial to guide students who will in the future be
pursuing a field in sport management
Principle 6: Resources
-Financially can help benefit the learning environment by enhancing
the experience and having facilities that can supportive to a sport
management program
Principle 7: Internal and External Relationships
-Underlines the admission processes, external oversight, business
and industry linkages, external cooperative relationship,
international cooperation and diversity in sport
Principle 8: Educational Innovation
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accreditation_principles_self_study_preparation
_61510.doc
Standards (continued)

Under Principle 7 Internal and External Relationships goes
in detailed in 7.7 Diversity in Sport about:
 Working
effectively with diverse populations
Having
skills and knowledge that can transfer over to
leadership that will help with experiences with
working with diverse populations
Promotion
in student and faculty diverse training
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accreditation_principles_self_study_preparation
_61510.doc
Standards (continued)
Principle 8: Educational Innovation
-Adapting to changes that occur in society and sport
management in an
environment
 Recognizes:
Cultural
Demographic
Technological shifts
Teaching on strategies on being able to serve diverse
population as a sport management professional
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accreditation_principles_self_study_preparation
_61510.doc
Trends and Issues Currently
Facing

Sport management professionals that are properly trained
to oversee daily operations in sport management
-98 % of managers placed are not trained properly

As a result, this can cause problems legally, and with
relationships with organizations that are being consulted

Having sport management professionals to keep up to date
on continued education is critical to have a program that is
high quality
Gillentine, A. (2009). Introduction to the Sport Industry. In Foundations of sport management (2nd ed., pp. 7-8).
Morgantown, WV: Fitness Info Technology.
Initial Reaction to Topic



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Interesting to study the process of accreditation
for higher education programs such as the field
of Sport Management
To see students and facility be Recognized as
part of an organization is Innovating
- Because of being able to keep being
motivated in staying current with
knowledge that has been gained in the
future
Helpful with being able to connect with
professionals.
Such as providing conferences that incorporate
networking with others in the field of Sport
Management
References
Gillentine, A. (2009). Introduction to the Sport Industry.
In Foundations of sport management (2nd ed., pp. 7-8).
Morgantown, WV: Fitness Info Technology.
http://www.cosmaweb.org/about-cosma.html
http://www.cosmaweb.org/list-of-accredited-programs1.html
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accre
ditation_process_manual_612013_final.doc
http://www.cosmaweb.org/list-of-accredited-programs1.html
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_insigh
ts_newsletter_winter_2015_volume_4_issue_l.pdf
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_insigh
ts_newsletter_summer_2014_volume_3_issue_2.pdf
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosmainsight
snewsletter_winter2012_volume1issue1.pdf
http://www.cosmaweb.org/history.html
http://www.nassm.com/InfoAbout/NASSM/ProgramAccreditation
http://www.cosmaweb.org/uploads/2/4/9/4/24949946/cosma_accreditation_p
rinciples_self_study_preparation_61510.doc