A campus of The California State University
Office of the Academic Senate • One Washington Square • San Jose, California 95192-0024 •408-924-2440 Fax: 408-924-2451
F07-2
At its meeting of November 19, 2007, the Academic Senate passed the following Policy Recommendation presented by Senator Backer for the Organization and Government Committee.
Replaces F87-7
POLICY RECOMMENDATION
Athletics Policy
Whereas: San José State University is committed to facilitating student learning and to promoting academic excellence through activities both in and out of the classroom; and
Whereas: San José State University is committed to a strong athletics program that enables student-athletes to achieve both academic and athletic success; and
Whereas: San José State University is a member of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics (COIA), and COIA supports “shared oversight of athletics between governing boards, administrations, and faculty;”[1] and
Whereas: the Athletics Board promotes academic excellence and ensures the integrity of the athletic program as well as compliance with NCAA and affiliated conference athletic rules; therefore be it
Resolved: that the attached policy be implemented, replacing F 87-7; and be it further
Resolved: that the Athletics Board continue as a Special Agency of the Academic Senate.
Approved October 1, 2007 Vote: 8-1-0
Present: Backer (chair), Hendrick, Kauppila, Vanniarajan, McClory, Hebert,
Selter, Grabowski, Norton (non-voting)
Absent: Zhou
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
WORKLOAD: For faculty in general, there will be no workload changes. There might be a slight increase in the workload of the faculty on the Athletics Board
RATIONALE: The SJSU President and the Athletics Director are committed to providing a strong athletic program that enables student-athletes to achieve both academic and athletic success and one that focuses on the athlete as a student first. Thus, this policy is revised to provide a strong program so that the student athletes can achieve excellence in their academic work.
SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
BOARD
Introductory Statement
San José State University is dedicated to helping its students achieve academic success. Such success derives from learning experiences and activities both in and out of the classroom. A broad range of co-curricular activities should be provided to address the needs and interests of all students. One of the University's co-curricular activities is its athletic program. San José State University is committed to a strong athletic program that serves the needs of all students, enables student-athletes to achieve both academic and athletic success, defines success in measurable terms, and is compliant with all NCAA, WAC, CSU, and SJSU rules and policies.
The
Athletics Board has the responsibility to promote effective programs of
athletics, to protect the environmental and educational rights of the athletes,
and to insure the integrity of the athletic programs. It has the special
responsibility of relating the programs of athletics to the objectives of the
University. While the Athletics Board has these generalized responsibilities,
the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has substantial control of its
programs through direct administration. However, the President of the
University has final responsibility for the programs, and decisions related
thereto.
The
Athletics Board shall be one that works in cooperation with the Division of
Intercollegiate Athletics, the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR)[2], the Academic Senate, and the
University administration to insure outstanding athletic programs, and
simultaneously to maintain the quality of education and environment for each
individual within the Athletic program. Furthermore, the Athletics Board shall
represent one part of a system of checks and balances necessary to insure the
goals of the University community.
In
order to enhance the visibility and effectiveness of the Athletics Board,
membership should be based on a campus reputation unrelated to athletics, such
as excellence in teaching, excellence in research, or an active history of
involvement in campus governance or administration. Furthermore, members shall
have an understanding and appreciation of the role of athletics in higher
education. Their appointments shall be arranged so as to provide for continuing
competency of the Board as a whole. The majority (voting) membership shall be
full-time faculty. Board composition should meet the requirements of the
athletic organizations of which the University is a member.
I.
Membership of the Athletics Board
A. The nine voting members shall be:
- Five Faculty-at-Large -- at least three of whom are tenured
- Faculty Athletics Representative
- AS Director of Extracurricular Affairs
- AS President or Designee
- President, Spartan Foundation, or Designee
B. The non-voting members shall be:
- Director, Division of Athletics
- President's Designee
- The Director of Compliance
C.
Conditions concerning membership:
Nominees for the Faculty Members-at-Large seats
must submit a one-page statement to the Academic Senate Executive Committee
indicating their qualifications and interest in serving. Nominations shall be
reviewed by the Academic Senate Executive Committee and approved by the
Senate. The Faculty Members-at-Large shall be appointed by the President after
recommendation of the Academic Senate. They shall serve three-year staggered
terms and be eligible for reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled in the same
manner as appointments are made.
II.
Responsibilities and Functions of the Athletics Board
A.
The Athletics Board shall perform such functions as to enable it to carry out
its responsibilities to ensure academic integrity of the athletic programs
and compliance with NCAA and affiliated conference athletic rules. It shall
recommend to the President and to the Executive Committee of the Academic
Senate policies that promote a strong environment of rules compliance and
provide a positive academic environment for all student-athletes; it shall act
in an advisory capacity to the President and his/her designee and to the
Director of Athletics; it shall carry out specific responsibilities and
functions delegated to it by the President; it shall have an overall awareness
of the athletic programs of the University and the rules, procedures and
guidelines of the athletic organizations of which the University is a member,
in order to make recommendations pertaining thereto and to act in an advisory
capacity.
B. Once policies governing athletics have been approved by the President, the Board shall monitor them to ensure that they are followed and must report non-compliance to the President or the FAR as appropriate.
C.
More specifically, the Board shall have the following responsibilities:
1.
Statement of Philosophy: To develop and periodically evaluate a statement of
philosophy regarding the role of intercollegiate athletics at San José State
University.
2.
Admissions and Eligibility of Athletes: To receive timely reports from the
Faculty Athletics Representative and the Compliance Director for Athletics
concerning policies and procedures on eligibility of student-athletes. To
receive reports from the Academic Affairs Final Admissions Committee (AAFAC) on
the special admit process, the results for the current year admissions, and the
status of prior special admit student-athletes.
3.
Scheduling:
A.
To consult with the Athletics Director on competition scheduling and scheduling
policies.
B. To engage in periodic discussions devoted to team practice and other activities for each sport.
C. To provide recommendations for activities not a part of the regular athletic programs.
4.
Sports Programs: To consider requests for the Division of Intercollegiate
Athletics for the addition of new sports or for the deletion of existing
sports. Such action shall require the formal consideration and a recommendation
of the Board prior to Presidential decision.
5.
Athletics Conferences:
A.
To act as consultant on any proposed change in membership in an athletics
conference, and to make recommendations to the President.
B.
To act in a consultative capacity in the event of any case of irregularity or
violation of University or athletics conference regulations.
6. Finance:
A. To be informed on proposed and final budgets of all aspects of the Division
of Intercollegiate Athletics.
B. To receive and discuss an annual financial status report and other financial reports as deemed necessary.
7. Personnel:
A.
At the request of the President, at least one faculty representative of the
Board shall participate in a consultative capacity to make recommendations to
the President and/or the Athletics Director concerning the appointment or
separation of any head coach or of the Athletics Director.
B. At the request of the President, the Board shall conduct reviews of the athletics Management Personnel Plan (MPP) staff concerning renewal of their appointments.
C.
To receive from the Athletics Director reports of yearly evaluations of Unit 3
coaches and make recommendations concerning renewal of their appointments.
8.
Grievances:
A.
To establish a mechanism for considering grievances of student athletes (with
the exception of financial aid) and to make such procedures known to the
student-athletes; and to give initial consideration to such grievances as they
arise. When the Board is unable to reconcile differences, it shall refer the
case to the appropriate University committee.
B.
To refer grievances of employees (coaches, staff, etc.) to the appropriate
person or body. In general, the Board will not be involved in such grievances;
the campus procedure in existence shall be used.
9. Campus Relations:
A. To advise the Athletics Director on ways to improve awareness of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics among members of the campus community.
B. To promote faculty awareness of the programs promoting academic success of student athletes.
C. To encourage faculty to complete requested time sensitive academic reports for student-athletes.
D. The Board shall consider and recognize the academic excellence and achievements of student-athletes and coaches.
10. Reporting:
A. To submit to the University President a yearly report on the activities of
the Athletics Board. A copy of the report shall be forwarded to the Chair of
the Academic Senate.
B. To report to the Academic Senate annually at one of its regular scheduled meetings. Such a presentation may be combined with the FAR’s annual report to the Senate.
C.
To make special reports during the year, as appropriate, and when requested by
the President.
III.
Administration of the Board:
A.
The officers of the Board shall be a Chair (tenured faculty) and a Vice-chair
(faculty). The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be elected at the last meeting of
the academic year.
B.
Meetings shall be held regularly, at least once a month, and at such other
times as deemed necessary.
C.
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the functioning of the Board except as
stated policy, rules, or regulations contravene such provisions.
ACTION BY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT: Approved by President Don Kassing on
November 27, 2007