NCAA Executive Committee Meeting

January 2007

Prepared by:

Lorrie Clemo, President

Faculty Athletics Representatives Association

Dennis Leighton, President-Elect

Faculty Athletics Representatives Association

Intent: The Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (FARA) remains the collective voice of faculty on issues of academic integrity in intercollegiate athletics. FARA is the only association-wide organized faculty group that understands and supports the belief that intercollegiate athletics is a benefit to the academic process and that it should be preserved and valued. With the recent release of the report of the NCAA’s Presidential Task Force on the Future of Intercollegiate Athletics, faculty athletics representatives are being called on to educate and engage the general faculty and faculty governance about the underlying principles that should guide institutions and about the importance of athletic participation as a learning activity in higher education. FARA’s sustained history of supporting the educational value of intercollegiate athletics uniquely positions it to help bridge the divide between intercollegiate athletics and the academic community. To fully achieve this objective will require support from university presidents.

FARA offers the following recommendations to university and college presidents in an effort to help promote the systemic change in intercollegiate athletics called for in the The Second-Century Imperatives and to help achieve the successful realignment of colleges and universities with the collegiate model of athletics.

Recommendations:

Empowering the FAR to engage the general faculty and faculty governance.

1. Understanding the role and responsibilities of the FAR.
1. Legislative action to require orientation as part of the membership certification process for newly appointed FARs, presidents, athletic directors and intercollegiate athletics direct report.

i. Orientation program for new FARs with mentor assignments (proposed);

ii. Web-based orientation for presidents and athletic directors; and

iii. FARA participation at NCAA Convention orientation sessions for presidents and athletic directors when appropriate.

2. Best practices for appointing the FAR.
1. The FAR should be:

i. a tenured or continuing multi-year faculty appointment with regular teaching assignment;

ii. committed to the principle of preserving academic integrity, the value of intercollegiate athletics within the mission of higher education, and the primary importance of student-athlete well-being;

iii. committed to the time and effort required to perform the duties of the FAR;

iv. effective in bridging relationships with campus leadership and faculty governance;

v. subject to regular review as a condition of continued appointment as FAR; and

vi. appointed in consultation with faculty governance.

3. Institutional support for the FAR.
1. Appointment with appropriate support and benefits to perform the assigned duties of an FAR.
2. Engage FARs in making recommendations about intercollegiate athletics.
3. Carefully weigh the FAR’s advice on planning and financial issues in intercollegiate athletics.

4. Continued professional development for the FAR.
1. Provide support for the FAR to remain current in issues and trends in intercollegiate athletics to enable him or her to keep the general faculty, faculty governance, intercollegiate athletic leadership, and the president informed on intercollegiate athletics matters.
2. Require attendance at the following professional development programs for FARs:

i. FARA Orientation Program (proposed);

ii. Annual Meeting and Symposium of the Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (formerly known as the FARA Fall Forum);

iii. NCAA National Convention; and

iv. NCAA Regional Rules Seminar.