Intercollegiate Athletics Committee Annual Report 2002-2003

Chair: Ed Richardson (LLP)

Members: Steve Agyekum (EC Educ), Andreas Koth (PE), Jonathan Roberts (Psy), Michael Toma (Econ), Will Lynch (Chem and Fac Athl Rep), Lynn Roberts (PE), Richard St. Pierre (HS), Eddie Aenchbacher (Dir Athl), Ed Thompson (VP Acad Affairs), James Brignatti (VP Bus and Fin), Andreas Escolar (SGA Treas)

Number of Meetings: three

Recommendation from Previous Year:

Continue to clarify the role of the Athletics Committee, especially in light of the proposed changed from being a committee of the faculty to being a standing committee of the university. Many questions have arisen on an informal basis related to whether this committee has a meaningful role and the parameters of that role within the Athletic Department.

Accomplishments:

The committee began its work by orienting itself in three ways: (1) by receiving an overview of the athletic program from the Director of Athletics. Dr. Aenchbacher reported on the current status of the athletics program, the current budget, and future plans for the program. (2) by receiving a report on the academic performance of student athletes. Dr. Lynch discussed this matter with the committee and provided members with a written report. (3) by reviewing the committee's charge as defined in the Faculty Handbook and reviewing the committee's activities over the previous two years. Mr. Richardson provided the members with copies of the committee's annual reports from these two years.

In light of the recommendation from the previous year and after general discussions, the committee decided to focus its work on three primary areas:

• The welfare of student athletes
• The Athletics Department budget
• The future addition of two women's sports programs.

Welfare of student athletes: After broad discussion, the committee narrowed its focus in this area to evaluation of the athletics program by student athletes. The committee recognizes the importance of evaluations in maintaining the quality of student athletes' experiences while at AASU and in addressing any concerns the evaluation process reveals.

Student athletes evaluate their experiences in two ways: (1) exit interviews of graduating student athletes. These interviews are conducted by the Faculty Athletics Representative. (2) annual evaluations by all student athletes at the end of each academic year.

The Faculty Athletics Representative discussed problems he had encountered in conducting exit interviews, primarily ones of time and coordination. He will continue to work on this process and continue to keep the committee updated on his findings.

Lynn Roberts (PE), who oversees annual evaluations, discussed problems of coordination and tabulation with these evaluations. Ms. Roberts discussed ways of solving problems with coordination. She also has begun working with CIS to develop an opscan form so that evaluations can be done electronically instead of having to tabulate them herself. She expects this system to be in place for the upcoming year.

Athletics Department budget: The committee is charged with conducting a review of the annual budget for intercollegiate athletics at AASU. This was an important area of work and discussion for the committee. Michael Toma (Econ) agreed to head a subcommittee to examine the budget and write a report that will be forwarded to the President. This is also a specific charge of the committee.

Future addition of women's sports programs: Because of AASU's need to add two new women's programs in several years, the committee regarded this as an important area of attention. The university will need to determine which sports will be chosen and how funds will be allocated to support those programs. The committee discussed both of these issues will the Director of Athletics.

Recommendations for Next Year:

1. Continue to focus on areas of priority to ensure that the committee plays an effective and meaningful role in reviewing and making recommendations on AASU athletics programs and policies.

2. Continue to monitor and learn more about the evaluation process by student athletes. Specifically, the committee is interested in how the data is collected, how the information is used, and where the information goes. The committee would like to see the evaluation process formally defined and prescribed in the Athletic Department's policies.

3. Continue to review and provide input on the Athletic Department's budget. The committee recognizes the improved health of the budget after two years of deficits. Specifically, the committee should continue to encourage this development and to encourage conservative discretionary spending increases until there is more clarity about start-up costs for future women's sports; continue to encourage improved budget planning; and continue to learn more about how monies are allocated.

4. Continue to monitor and provide input on the selection of and planning for future women's sports programs.

Submitted April 30, 2003