This is an archival version that was debated at the UO Senate. See version passed by the UO Senate.

US04/05-3 – Revision of Intercollegiate Athletics Committee Charge and

   Responsibilities

 

Sponsored by:           Intercollegiate Athletics Committee

Action date:               January 12, 2005

 

(Please Note: Portions in italics represent additions to the IAC charge.  Nothing was removed from the current charge of the IAC.)

 

 

Whereas the Task Force on Athletics has made several recommendations on the role of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, we recommend the charge and responsibilities of the IAC be amended as follows:

 

 

CHARGE & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Intercollegiate Athletic Committee shall:

 

(1) Represent the academic standards of the University as embodied in the University of Oregon Mission Statement in all decisions;

 

(2) Advise the Administration, the Senate and the Athletic Director on any athletic department policy or program, including the athletic department budget;

 

(3) Promote and safeguard opportunities for student athletes to excel in academics and protect and ensure the academic integrity of student athletes; and,

 

(4) Promote greater understanding, for the University community, of intercollegiate athletics and the relationship between academics and athletics.

 

As part of its function and in order to carry out its governance function, the IAC shall be consulted by:

 

1) The Athletic Department on:

 

a) any proposed changes in departmental recruiting policies, academic advising, expectations regarding student schedules, or any other practice that could affect the academic or financial standing of students who are athletes. The IAC need not to be informed of all changes mandated by the NCAA for student athletes, which fall under the purview of the FAR, although the IAC should be notified of any major changes.

 

b) any decisions, large donations, or commercial offers that potentially change the financial landscape of athletics or might influence University finances outside the Athletic Department;

 

c) any decisions that potentially affect the campus environment, including construction, removal, or remodeling of facilities, changes in the timing of facilities use, or changes in permitted uses of facilities;

 

d) scheduling of athletic events, including scheduling changes made to accommodate other universities or the media;

 

e) addition or termination of sport teams, or changes in the status of sport teams;

 

f) the appointment of head coaches for all intercollegiate athletic teams. In cases where an open search process is conducted for head coaching positions, an Intercollegiate Athletics Committee (IAC) faculty member shall be included on the search committee. When the search is abbreviated, the Athletic Director shall consult with the Chair of the IAC.

 

 

2) The Athletic Director or designee via the Chair of the IAC to determine if changes in Athletic Department procedures, policies or activities obtain a threshold deserving of attention by the full committee.

 

3) The Faculty Athletics Representative about all ongoing investigations and major violations.

 

The Intercollegiate Athletic Committee shall have one subcommittee, an executive committee, consisting of the committee chair, one faculty member, one student and the faculty athletic representative. The executive committee shall be charged with maintaining close and timely communications with the athletic department, through the Athletic Director or designee. The executive committee shall set the agenda and venue for IAC meetings. The executive committee shall be empowered to call extraordinary meetings of the IAC. The Chair of the IAC shall be elected at the final regularly scheduled Spring meeting and must be a returning member. The Chair of the IAC shall be responsible for forming the Executive Committee. It is expected that the Executive Committee shall have regular contact with the Athletic Department during the Summer.

 

To better educate its committee members to the complexities of University athletics, the IAC shall hold a once yearly retreat prior to the academic year. The retreat shall provide a forum for new members to learn about the role of the IAC in supporting the Mission Statement of the University of Oregon, to learn about administration of campus athletics, and to be informed on issues potentially requiring IAC attention in the year ahead.

MEMBERSHIP:
Membership of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee is fixed and consists of sixteen (16) voting members, eleven (11) teaching faculty, two (2) classified staff, and five (5) students. Eight (8) teaching faculty members -- four (4) from the College of Arts and Sciences and four (4) from other areas -- shall be elected to the committee by the general faculty. An elected or appointed faculty member may serve up to three consecutive terms. After three terms the faculty member must be off the committee for two years before being eligible for re-election or re-appointment. The University Senate shall appoint two faculty members to the IAC for two year terms. The Faculty Athletic Representative shall be an ex officio member of the committee with full membership privileges. The five students shall be appointed through the ASUO and the President's office. At least one student member shall be a varsity student athlete. Students shall serve one year terms and may serve up to three consecutive terms. The Athletic Director and his designees on the IAC shall be ex-officio non-voting members. No member of the IAC may receive benefits from the Department of Athletics beyond what she or he would otherwise be entitled to if she or he were not a member of the IAC.

REPORTING:
The Intercollegiate Athletic Committee shall report to the University Senate. At a minimum this report shall be in the form of an annual written report submitted by the Committee Chair to the Secretary of the University Senate no later than the final University Senate meeting in May. The committee shall also make additional written or oral reports to the Senate as necessary. The IAC executive committee shall maintain communication with the Senate through the IAC's senate appointees (who are eligible to serve on the executive committee). The executive committee shall meet with the Senate President and the Vice President for Academic Affairs at the beginning of the academic year.