HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Intercollegiate Athletics Overview
A member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, Harford Community College currently sponsors 12 varsity sports. The intercollegiate athletic program provides the opportunity for eligible student-athletes to represent the institution in high-level competition, while enhancing their educational experience in areas of skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship. The teams also provide spectators and fans institutional pride as a rallying point for the college community and the Harford County area.
Outstanding facilities and coaches are a hallmark of the program, which offers baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer and tennis for men, as well as basketball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball for women. These teams compete in the NJCAA’s Region XX in addition to conference competition in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Association, commonly referred to as the MDJUCO Conference.
Harford’s teams are nicknamed the “Fighting Owls”, which was chosen during the institution’s early years, when it was largely an evening college and the nocturnal nature of the Owl represented that fact. The name has come to symbolize the long and storied history of athletics at the College.
Mission Statement
Harford Community College Varsity Athletics Program fully supports the College’s Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Plan. The Department operates in spirit with and support of HCC Values:
• Excellence
• Integrity
• Communication and Collaboration
• Diversity
• Lifelong Learning
• Service
Two cornerstone values exist for Intercollegiate Athletics at HCC:
· Student-Athletes are just that – students first, college athletes second. Successful participation in athletics is dependent upon success in the classroom.
· For life-long learning, the Intercollegiate Athletics staff strives to develop students’ skills and abilities for all aspects their futures: social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and environmental.
Working in support of the institution’s Strategic Plan, the Vision for Harford Varsity Athletics includes the following:
· Always maintain excellence and integrity. We are an institution of high quality. We strive to do everything with excellence.
· Increase the number of participants in Intercollegiate Athletics. Review recruiting guidelines and restrictions in order to recruit more students to HCC who might not have otherwise decided to attend. Maximize recruitment while maintaining a high quality experience for students. Be aware of opportunities for Harford County residents.
· Consider increasing the number of teams offered at HCC (as funding allows) while always maintaining both the spirit and the regulations of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
· Seek to compete at a high level of competitiveness while striving for successful results in individual contests and season results.
· Promote and sustain a welcoming environment that embraces diversity. When possible, increase diversity of staff and students in Athletics.
· Increase the visibility, reputation and image of Harford Community College on campus, in the community and beyond.
· Develop and promote Athletics as part of a lively, comprehensive college experience for the campus and the community. Provide facilities and game operations which represent the institution in a positive manner to all constituents.
· Provide a basis for expanded fundraising efforts for both the Department and the Institution as a whole, in collaboration with the College’s Development Office.
· Oversee and incorporate club sports, intramurals, campus recreation programs and the Thomas Run Park recreational league programs into the overall mission and operations of the Athletics Department.
· Plan and participate in the continued upkeep, renovation and expansion of all indoor and outdoor athletic facilities.