University Athletics Committee

Meeting of February 9, 2007

Atending: Marty Schultz, Robert Kulesher, Steve Estes, Sunday Ajose, Michael Brown, David Dosser, Brenda Myrick, Nick Floyd, Terry Holland, Nita Boyce, Tim Metcalf, Rosie Thompson, Wm. Josephy Thomas

Welcome - Steve Estes, Chair UAC, called the meeting to order at 2:05 PM.

Chair’s report:

• Request UAC Report to Senate, March 20. The Senate will receive our report and comments, and needs the report by March 6. So Steve will send the report to the UAC for approval by email, and we will discuss it at our 9 March meeting. In general the report will read that ECU Athletics is functioning well, and in a manner consistent with the university mission.
• Steve distributed an article by Rob Benford for discussion at the next UAC meeting.

FAR Report - David Dosser

• Dr. Dosser followed up on a UAC effort to limit missed class time by athletes. A memo from C-USA in the Women’s Basketball Championship Handbook described Academic Services for visiting athletes; these services are consistent with the ECU “Academics First” proposal and Faculty Senate Resolution #06-04. Traveling students will have access to services including tutoring, computer services, proctoring exams, library resources, and other academic support services.
• Missed school days for athletic participation report distributed. It was noted that volleyball had 10 missed class days, and women’s soccer had 9 missed class days, in Fall 2006. A lot of these missed class days were due to the tournament; this is related to AD Holland’s proposal by volleyball to coordinate travel schedules (below).
• Dr. Dosser reported on UAC discussion from the Jan. 26 meeting regarding the excused class policy; a student-athlete was having trouble in a course regarding a university excused absence for athletic competition. It appeared that the student, in conjunction with Dr. Dosser and the student’s advisor, has worked out an understanding with the faculty. Dr. Dosser will report again later on the resolution of this issue.

Athletics Department Report

• Terry Holland reported that the University of Georgia has instituted an attendance policy similar to ECU’s. This policy is a measure of ECU’s leadership in missed class policy. Holland noted that while ECU is having an impact, we should recognize that this is an uphill fight. In addition to the UGA policy, ECU Volleyball made a proposal that seems to be gaining some traction. Proposal: we play two games consecutively at the opposing team site, alternating every year. This is not a new policy; it was used in the 1980s to save money. ECU has proposed to act unilaterally but is meeting some resistance; we are having an impact in that people are thinking about our proposals.
• Nick Floyd addressed student fees. Handouts were distributed describing percentage of fees allocated toward athletics, % fee increases, and relative revenues for all UNCs. Student fees for athletics are determined by the SGA in conjunction with requests for fee increases from the Athletic Department. SGA is positive in its support for Athletics. Report was received and Floyd and Holland were thanked for their work on providing this information.

Mike Brown - Leadership Studies Minor proposal in Arts and Sciences.

• Dr. Brown addressed a proposed interdisciplinary minor in leadership studies that will be housed in Arts and Sciences. Most of the courses in the minor already exist; the 2 LDSP courses are new. Dr. Brown described the philosophical foundations of the proposal. Terry Holland addressed what he hoped athletes study in such a course. Question and discussion ensued.
• Discussion: a course that earns student credit hours will be created by faculty using traditional methods. The proposed minor is flexible and can serve as a basis for many other types of courses that are discipline specific and are applied in nature.

Report: Rosie Thompson - Athletic Department Compliance Manual

• Rosie distributed the Department of Athletics Compliance manual for 2006-2007. The ECU report is based on the NCAA Manual. Tim Metcalf described how the report is used in the self study and the site visit, which will occur in late February. This self study is separate from the decennial NCAA compliance report, and is consistent with normal university processes of self study and reporting.
• It was noted in reviewing the report that Dr. Dosser does not report to Athletics. Also it was noted that the UAC is a Senate standing committee and reports to both the Senate and the Chancellor.

Discussion - items from the committee or for the good of the order – UAC

• It was noted that baseball begins its season this afternoon – all are encouraged to attend. Tennis has two matches tomorrow.

Adjourn

• Having covered all items on the agenda and a couple not on it, the UAC adjourned at 3:10 PM.