Standardizing Collegiate Esports
VOICE
Standards Initiative
A free program assessment for collegiate esports. One survey gives a program a public profile on the VOICE Program Finder, a private report scored against the VOICE Esports Program Rubric, and access to an anonymous database of every participating program.
What the Standards Initiative is
There has been no common way to describe a collegiate esports program or how developed it is. Programs sit in athletics departments, student affairs, academic units, IT, and libraries. Budgets range from nothing to seven figures. Two programs with the same title and the same number of players can be built completely differently. An administrator asked to fund a program has had nothing to compare it against, and a director asking for support has had nothing to point to.
The VOICE Standards Initiative is a shared way to describe a program. It has four parts, the Esports Program Rubric and the survey that feeds it, the Program Finder, the Individual Program Report, and the Collegiate Database. A program director completes one survey and all four are populated from it. Participation is free and open to any collegiate esports program in North America.
The VOICE Standards Initiative is a shared way to describe a program. It has four parts, the Esports Program Rubric and the survey that feeds it, the Program Finder, the Individual Program Report, and the Collegiate Database. A program director completes one survey and all four are populated from it. Participation is free and open to any collegiate esports program in North America.
What is included
1. Esports Program Rubric & Survey
The rubric defines seven core metrics of program maturity and four tiers within each. The survey is how a program is measured against it. It asks about structure, staffing, facilities, funding, competition, conduct policies, community work, and student outcomes, and it collects the public information that goes on the Program Finder. It takes about [20] minutes and should be completed by the program director or whoever runs the program day to day.
2. Program Finder
A free, public, live map of collegiate esports programs in North America. Each program that completes the survey gets a profile with general information about the institution and specifics about its esports program. Visitors can filter by [state, conference, titles competed, scholarship availability]. Prospective students, parents, administrators, and other directors use it to find programs. The map updates as surveys come in.
3. Individual Program Report
A private report sent to the email address entered in the survey. It scores the program on each of the seven core metrics, places each metric in a tier, S, A, B, or C, calculates an overall program tier, and gives growth recommendations based on where the program landed in each metric. It also restates the program information submitted in the survey.
4. VOICE Database
An anonymous, live aggregate of every program that has completed the survey. Participating programs use it to see where they sit in the full distribution, metric by metric and overall. It updates every time a new survey is completed. No one can see which school gave which answer, including VOICE partners.
How it came about
The rubric was built by the VOICE Directors Advisory Council, a working group of collegiate esports program directors from across the conferences. Work began in [month year] and ran for more than a year. The council defined what a developed program has in place, argued over what belongs in a rubric and what does not, drafted the survey, tested it against their own programs, and revised it. Directors from programs in RSAA, NACE, PEC, ECAC Esports, Division 1, and the NECC took part, and [N] programs completed the survey in a pilot before launch.VOICE is a nonprofit creating a united voice for collegiate esports. Its work has been research, convening presidents and directors, and advocacy, including the 2024 Collegiate Esports Eligibility White Paper. The Standards Initiative extends that work to individual programs.
The rubric and how it scores
The seven core metrics are:
1. Program Leadership & Institutional Integration. Who runs the program, how it is staffed, and where it sits within the institution.
2. Infrastructure. Facilities, hardware, network, and the physical and digital space the program operates in.
3. Resources & Financial Support. Budget, scholarships, and the funding sources behind them.
4. Competitive Excellence. The titles the program competes in, the level it competes at, and its results.
5. Program Conduct. Eligibility, conduct, and wellness policies, and how they are applied.
6. Community Engagement & Impact. Campus events, outreach, and the program's reach beyond its rosters.
7. Student Success & Development. Academic standing, retention, and what students take with them when they leave.
Each metric is scored from the survey responses and placed in one of four tiers, S through C, with S the most developed. The seven metric tiers combine into an overall program tier. The scoring is quantitative and weighted. Some survey elements count for more than others within a metric, and some metrics count for more than others in the overall tier, because the council judged them more central to how a program holds up over time.
VOICE is not publishing the weights. Publishing them would turn the survey into a test to be optimized rather than a description to be given honestly, and the weights will change as the rubric matures.
This is the first version of the rubric. It will be revised as responses come in and as the council sees which questions separate programs and which do not. VOICE will note on this page when the rubric changes and what it means for existing reports.
1. Program Leadership & Institutional Integration. Who runs the program, how it is staffed, and where it sits within the institution.
2. Infrastructure. Facilities, hardware, network, and the physical and digital space the program operates in.
3. Resources & Financial Support. Budget, scholarships, and the funding sources behind them.
4. Competitive Excellence. The titles the program competes in, the level it competes at, and its results.
5. Program Conduct. Eligibility, conduct, and wellness policies, and how they are applied.
6. Community Engagement & Impact. Campus events, outreach, and the program's reach beyond its rosters.
7. Student Success & Development. Academic standing, retention, and what students take with them when they leave.
Each metric is scored from the survey responses and placed in one of four tiers, S through C, with S the most developed. The seven metric tiers combine into an overall program tier. The scoring is quantitative and weighted. Some survey elements count for more than others within a metric, and some metrics count for more than others in the overall tier, because the council judged them more central to how a program holds up over time.
VOICE is not publishing the weights. Publishing them would turn the survey into a test to be optimized rather than a description to be given honestly, and the weights will change as the rubric matures.
This is the first version of the rubric. It will be revised as responses come in and as the council sees which questions separate programs and which do not. VOICE will note on this page when the rubric changes and what it means for existing reports.
What it is for, and what it is not
The report is a fingerprint, not a grade. Two programs in the same overall tier can look nothing alike, one strong in infrastructure and competition and thin in student development, the other the reverse. The report shows a program its own shape.
The rubric is not prescriptive. It does not say a program should sit in athletics, offer scholarships, or compete in a particular title. It describes what developed programs tend to have in place, in each of seven areas, and lets a director decide which areas matter for their institution.
The most common use is internal advocacy. A director walking into a budget meeting with a tiered report and an anonymous benchmark has something an administrator can read in two minutes. The same report works for strategic planning, for onboarding a new director, and for explaining to a president what the program is and where it is going.
The initiative is also meant to improve the whole field. Every completed survey makes the aggregate more useful to every other program, and a shared vocabulary makes conversations between programs, conferences, and institutions easier.
What it is not. It is not a ranking, and VOICE will not publish one. Tiers do not appear on the Program Finder. It is not a certification or an accreditation. It is not required for VOICE membership or by any partner conference, and it has no bearing on conference eligibility or competition.
The rubric is not prescriptive. It does not say a program should sit in athletics, offer scholarships, or compete in a particular title. It describes what developed programs tend to have in place, in each of seven areas, and lets a director decide which areas matter for their institution.
The most common use is internal advocacy. A director walking into a budget meeting with a tiered report and an anonymous benchmark has something an administrator can read in two minutes. The same report works for strategic planning, for onboarding a new director, and for explaining to a president what the program is and where it is going.
The initiative is also meant to improve the whole field. Every completed survey makes the aggregate more useful to every other program, and a shared vocabulary makes conversations between programs, conferences, and institutions easier.
What it is not. It is not a ranking, and VOICE will not publish one. Tiers do not appear on the Program Finder. It is not a certification or an accreditation. It is not required for VOICE membership or by any partner conference, and it has no bearing on conference eligibility or competition.
How to participate
1. Request the survey using the form on this page with your institutional email. The link arrives by email within a few minutes. Requests from non-institutional addresses are reviewed by a person, usually within a day.
2. Complete the survey in one sitting if you can. Have your program logo, photos, and basic facts ready, since they appear on your Program Finder profile. Answer honestly. The report is only useful if it describes the program you actually have.
3. Receive your Individual Program Report by email at the address you entered, along with a link to the Collegiate Database.
4. Share the report with your administration and colleagues. VOICE recommends not sharing it with other programs, so the aggregate stays anonymous in practice as well as in design.
5. Update your information when things change by contacting us!
2. Complete the survey in one sitting if you can. Have your program logo, photos, and basic facts ready, since they appear on your Program Finder profile. Answer honestly. The report is only useful if it describes the program you actually have.
3. Receive your Individual Program Report by email at the address you entered, along with a link to the Collegiate Database.
4. Share the report with your administration and colleagues. VOICE recommends not sharing it with other programs, so the aggregate stays anonymous in practice as well as in design.
5. Update your information when things change by contacting us!
Data and Privacy
The survey collects three kinds of information, and each goes to a different place.
School Information and Esports Program Information are published on the program's Program Finder profile. This is the institution's name, location, and general details, and the program's structure, titles, and other facts a director would expect a prospective student to see. The director controls what is entered. Anyone can view the Program Finder.
Core Metrics Assessment responses are private. They are used to calculate the Individual Program Report, which is sent only to the email entered in the survey. They are then anonymized and aggregated into the Collegiate Database, which is available only to programs that have completed the survey and contains no institution names or other identifiers. Individual assessment responses are never published and never shown to anyone outside VOICE.
Respondent information (name, title, email) is used by VOICE for verification and contact and is not published, not shared, and not included in the aggregate.
Where the data does not go. VOICE does not sell data. VOICE does not share individual responses or individual reports with conferences, partners, sponsors, publishers, or other institutions. Partner conferences see the same public Program Finder as everyone else and receive a count of how many of their member programs have participated, and nothing else. VOICE uses the anonymized aggregate for its collegiate esports research, and published research reports distributions, never individual institutions.
The survey asks about the program, not about individual students. It does not collect student names or student-level data.
The Individual Program Report is delivered as a link to the email entered in the survey. The link is not password protected, so anyone who has it can view the report. Share it deliberately.
Responses are stored in Airtable with access limited to the VOICE Standards team. A director can correct their program's information, remove the profile from the Program Finder, or withdraw the program's assessment data from the aggregate by contacting us.
School Information and Esports Program Information are published on the program's Program Finder profile. This is the institution's name, location, and general details, and the program's structure, titles, and other facts a director would expect a prospective student to see. The director controls what is entered. Anyone can view the Program Finder.
Core Metrics Assessment responses are private. They are used to calculate the Individual Program Report, which is sent only to the email entered in the survey. They are then anonymized and aggregated into the Collegiate Database, which is available only to programs that have completed the survey and contains no institution names or other identifiers. Individual assessment responses are never published and never shown to anyone outside VOICE.
Respondent information (name, title, email) is used by VOICE for verification and contact and is not published, not shared, and not included in the aggregate.
Where the data does not go. VOICE does not sell data. VOICE does not share individual responses or individual reports with conferences, partners, sponsors, publishers, or other institutions. Partner conferences see the same public Program Finder as everyone else and receive a count of how many of their member programs have participated, and nothing else. VOICE uses the anonymized aggregate for its collegiate esports research, and published research reports distributions, never individual institutions.
The survey asks about the program, not about individual students. It does not collect student names or student-level data.
The Individual Program Report is delivered as a link to the email entered in the survey. The link is not password protected, so anyone who has it can view the report. Share it deliberately.
Responses are stored in Airtable with access limited to the VOICE Standards team. A director can correct their program's information, remove the profile from the Program Finder, or withdraw the program's assessment data from the aggregate by contacting us.
Frequently asked questions
Who should fill out the survey? The program director, or whoever runs the program day to day. One response per institution. If your institution has both a varsity program and a club, [the institution-sponsored program completes it].
My program is a club, not varsity. Can we participate? Yes. The rubric describes development, and a club program lands where it lands. Its report will say so and the recommendations will be about the next step from there.
How long does it take? About [20] minutes.
Is there a cost? No.
Does my tier appear on the Program Finder? No. The public profile shows the school and program information you provide. Tiers appear only in your private report and, anonymously, in the Collegiate Database.
Can I see other programs' reports? No. You see your own report and the anonymous aggregate.
Why do I have to request the link instead of just clicking it? To keep the map accurate. Requiring an institutional email keeps people who do not run a program from creating profiles on it.
My institution's email domain is not .edu. Your request goes to a person for review, usually within a day. If you have not heard back, email [standards@voicecollegiate.org].
Can I update my answers later? Yes. [Request a new link / email standards@voicecollegiate.org] and your profile and report will be regenerated.
Will the rubric change? Yes. This is the first version. VOICE will revise it as responses come in and will note changes on this page.
Why isn't the scoring methodology published? The scoring is weighted, and publishing the weights would turn the survey into a test to be optimized rather than a description to be given honestly. The weights will also change as the rubric matures.
Do I need to be a VOICE member? No. VOICE membership is institutional, through university presidents. The Standards Initiative is open to any collegiate esports program in North America.
Does completing the survey affect my conference standing? No. Participation is not required by any partner conference and has no bearing on eligibility or competition.
I'm not on Discord. How do I get help? Email contact@voicecollegiate.org!
My program is a club, not varsity. Can we participate? Yes. The rubric describes development, and a club program lands where it lands. Its report will say so and the recommendations will be about the next step from there.
How long does it take? About [20] minutes.
Is there a cost? No.
Does my tier appear on the Program Finder? No. The public profile shows the school and program information you provide. Tiers appear only in your private report and, anonymously, in the Collegiate Database.
Can I see other programs' reports? No. You see your own report and the anonymous aggregate.
Why do I have to request the link instead of just clicking it? To keep the map accurate. Requiring an institutional email keeps people who do not run a program from creating profiles on it.
My institution's email domain is not .edu. Your request goes to a person for review, usually within a day. If you have not heard back, email [standards@voicecollegiate.org].
Can I update my answers later? Yes. [Request a new link / email standards@voicecollegiate.org] and your profile and report will be regenerated.
Will the rubric change? Yes. This is the first version. VOICE will revise it as responses come in and will note changes on this page.
Why isn't the scoring methodology published? The scoring is weighted, and publishing the weights would turn the survey into a test to be optimized rather than a description to be given honestly. The weights will also change as the rubric matures.
Do I need to be a VOICE member? No. VOICE membership is institutional, through university presidents. The Standards Initiative is open to any collegiate esports program in North America.
Does completing the survey affect my conference standing? No. Participation is not required by any partner conference and has no bearing on eligibility or competition.
I'm not on Discord. How do I get help? Email contact@voicecollegiate.org!
Contact us
For questions about the Standards Initiative, the Program Finder, or your report go to contact@voicecollegiate.org or the #standards channel in the VOICE Discord.