COMMITTEE:          University Athletic Committee

 

MEETING DATE:    February 2, 2010

 

PERSON PRESIDING:        Scott Below

 

REGULAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:        M. Felts, A. Rodriquez, M. Moore, C. Christian, S. Below, S Jilcott

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:    N. Boyce, N. Floyd, T Metcalf, G. Overton,

 

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE:  Ruffin McNeil, T. Holland, R. Thompson

 

Actions of Meeting

Agenda Item:             Introduction of Coach Ruffin McNeill

Action Taken:            Coach Holland introduced Coach McNeill, the new ECU football coach. Coach McNeill shared his philosophy with the committee and updated the committee on his activities for the first weeks he has been on the job.  He indicated the importance that academics have in the student’s life and with the University and this would be very important to his team.  He also discussed the importance of service and always working towards making ECU a better place. He summarized by indicating how his teams will also work towards these goals of moving ECU forward every day.

 

Agenda Item: Report from Athletics Director

 

Terry Holland reported on the state of ECU athletics.  Coach Holland discussed the process of hiring Coach McNeill and how well the entire alumni base and University has embraced him.  He noted that for the signing day party to be held on Wednesday the 3rd, there were over 400 tickets issued and last year there were less than 200.  Pirate Club memberships are up and the general spirit is up.

 

Construction is moving along.  The football stadium should be ready mid-summer which will be well before the season starts.  Construction on the softball field is coming along as is the planning on the other projects.  The weather has had some impact.

 

The sports programs are doing well as Women’s basketball is off to a tremendous start and baseball is ranked in almost every pre-season poll.  Along with football winning the conference championship things are going well.  Men’s basketball is still struggling and every effort is being made to work through this.

 

Agenda Item:             Report of Assistant Athletic Director for Student Support – Nita Boyce

 

                                    Nita discussed a concern with the requirements across campus for proctoring.  Her department was beginning to see that many students in face-to-face classes are being required to take online quizzes and these quizzes are being required to be taken in a lab.  It appears that the reason for the lab was in case the quizzes (or exams) froze up, the instructor could be certain that the computer did freeze and they then would be comfortable in resetting the quiz.  It appears in this situation that a proctor is not being required, so the lab is serving as the proctor. For quizzes that have a proctor this shouldn’t be an issue.

 

                                    Scott Below had asked Nita to share this in her next meeting with Provost Sheerer and that the committee could follow up on this if necessary.  The concern from athletics is that when athletes are traveling they couldn’t meet this requirement.  Scott noted that the University excused absence policy should govern this.  The other concern though is who serves as a proctor when athletes are on the road since the Coach can’t serve in this role.  

 

 

Agenda Item:             Report from Scott Below, Committee Chair

 

                                    Dr. Below advised the committee of a sub-committee meeting regarding review of the performance of previous special talent waivers.  The sub-committee reviewed three individuals admitted in fall 2009 under the special talents waiver.  He noted that one of the individuals was performing above expectations, one at expectations and the third below expectations.  He noted that the committee would continue to monitor these three to determine if they would be able to continue at ECU. 

 

 

The committee then adjourned.  The academic integrity subcommittee met. 

 

Nita Boyce provided the committee with details concerning:

 

 

The committee discussed how much time, effort and cost was devoted to the men’s basketball team which consists of approximately 12 student-athletes while there are approximately 400 other student-athletes on campus.

 

Next Meeting: TBD

Submitted by:  Cal Christian