David A. Dosser, Jr., Ph.D.

Faculty Athletics Representative (50%)

Report of Activities

July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006

The following is a partial listing of activities:

Summer Session II 2005

· Administered the 2005-2006 NCAA Division I Coaches Certification Test to coaches in all sports. Coaches must pass this test to be eligible to recruit off-campus. Coaches may retake the test in 30 days if they do not pass. The test was administered during July and August with certification running until July 30 of the next year.

· Prepared an academic integrity report on the spring 2005 semester for the University Athletics Committee and the Faculty Senate.

· Met with all student-athletes (Over 400 in 16 squad meetings) during August 2005 to establish initial and continuing eligibility, to provide mandatory NCAA rules review, to review changes in academic requirements, and to emphasize the primacy of the educational mission of ECU.

Fall Semester 2005

· Represented ECU on the C-USA Strategic Planning Committee. This committee (composed of four ADs, four SWAs, and four FARs with one representative from each member institution) began work in November with a teleconference.

· Reported to the Faculty Senate on September 13, 2005 on academics and athletics at ECU.

· Attended three University Athletics Committee (UAC) Meetings (9/21, 10/26, and 11/30). Reported to this committee on issues associated with integrating athletics into the overall educational mission of the university. Assisted the committee chair in organizing and conducting the meetings as this committee recently became a senate committee. Previously the FAR chaired the UAC when it was an administrative committee.

· Served as a resource to the academic integrity subcommittee meeting on October 26. The academic integrity subcommittee is composed of faculty members of the UAC. The subcommittee reviews the academic progress of each student-athlete each semester and works to ensure that academic integrity is maintained.

· Wrote congratulatory emails to student-athletes who earned athletic and academic honors during this semester.

· Served on search committees for the head men’s and women’s golf coaches.

· Began efforts to get a better and broader perspective on the missed class time problem by discussing this issue with student-athletes, faculty members, coaches, members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, members of the University Athletics Committee, student development staff members, and athletic administrators.

Spring Semester 2006

· Continued work with the C-USA Strategic Planning Committee. An in-person meeting was held in Dallas in January along with two additional teleconferences. The strategic plan developed by this committee was presented to the membership at the Spring Meeting in May for review and comments and to the Board of Directors in June for approval.

· Attended four University Athletics Committee (UAC) Meetings (2/1, 3/8, 4/3, and 5/4). Reported to this committee on issues associated with integrating athletics into the overall educational mission of the university. Assisted the committee chair in organizing and conducting the meetings as this committee recently became a senate committee. Previously the FAR chaired the UAC when it was an administrative committee.

· Obtained IRB approval and administered an NCAA survey on Growth, Opportunities, and Learning of Students in College (GOALS) to student-athletes on the men’s and women’s track and cross country teams.

· Wrote congratulatory emails to student-athletes who earned athletic and academic honors during this semester.

· Served as a resource to the academic integrity subcommittee meeting on February 1. The academic integrity subcommittee is composed of faculty members of the UAC. The subcommittee reviews the academic progress of each student-athlete each semester and works to ensure that academic integrity is maintained.

· Served as a member of the PCS Phosphate Outstanding Male and Female Scholar-athlete Awards Committee.

· Served as a member of the Pat Draughon Post-graduate Scholarship Committee.

· Served as a member of the Walter and Marie Williams “Spirit of the East” Post-eligibility Scholarship Committee.

· Prepared an academic integrity report for the fall 2005 semester for the University Athletics Committee and the Faculty Senate.

· Attended a meeting of C-USA FARs on the SMU campus in Dallas on March 4. This meeting was held in conjunction with the C-USA Women’s Basketball Tournament, which allowed additional interaction with C-USA staff members and athletics department staff members from conference institutions.

· Continued efforts to better understand the missed class time problem started in the fall semester.

Summer Session I 2006

· Attended C-USA 2006 spring meeting in Destin FL May 15 through May 18. Met with conference faculty athletics representatives (FARs), Athletic Directors (ADs), and Senior Woman Administrators (SWAs).

· Attended the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar June 4-6, 2006 in Dallas.

· Attended the C-USA Summer Rules Workshop June 6-7, 2006 in Dallas.

· Chaired the Student Development Review Committee. This committee composed of representative faculty members and coaches was charged with reviewing the student-athlete academic support services and making recommendations regarding program, resource, staff, and space needs.

· Completed work on a formal report detailing findings from my review of the missed class time problem. This report summarizes my findings and describes suggestions that will help us address this problem.

Throughout the Year

· Met with Chancellor Ballard as requested to discuss matters relating to academic integrity, rules compliance, and welfare of student-athletes within the Department of Athletics. Kept Chancellor Ballard informed via email otherwise.

· Met periodically with Provost Smith to discuss ways to further bridge the gap between academics and athletics especially in regard to eligibility and compliance issues and concerns along with plans to increase resources and improve procedures for ensuring academic integrity.

· Met regularly with the Director of Athletics and the Senior Associate Director of Athletics to address matters related to rules compliance, academic integrity, and welfare of student-athletes.

· Met several times each week with the Senior Woman Administrator/Director of Compliance to address matters related to rules compliance, academic integrity, and welfare of student-athletes.

· Met regularly with the Director of Student Development and her staff to address matters related to academic integrity and academic support for and progress of student-athletes.

· Met monthly with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Sought their input regarding matters related to student-athlete welfare. Worked with them to address concerns including support for academics, missed class time, the university excused absence policy, and time demands of athletic participation.

· Met regularly with individual student-athletes to learn about their experiences at ECU and to hear their concerns.

· Attended monthly compliance meetings with all head coaches and was available to assist with academic matters.

· Served on the executive board of the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club) and attended quarterly board meetings.

· Regularly attended athletic competitions and practices to support student-athletes and to learn more about athletics demands.

· Continued to work with the Chair of the Faculty Senate and members of the office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, members of the UAC, and the Provost to clarify and to address violations of the university excused absence policy.

· Worked with coaches to address their concerns regarding academic support for and progress of their student-athletes.

· Spent considerable time becoming more familiar with ECU, C-USA, and NCAA policies and procedures.

· Participated in C-USA conference calls dealing with compliance issues, NCAA legislative matters, and FAR business.

· Continued to chair the Professional Sports Counseling Panel. I am working to get this committee revitalized.

· Continued to chair the Transfer Release Committee.

· Represented the faculty by reviewing requests to use Chancellor’s Special Talent waivers to admit student-athletes who did not meet ECU published admissions criteria and making recommendations.

· Took advantage of opportunities to explain the FAR role, the commitment of ECU to academics within the department of athletics, and the academic success of ECU student-athletes through newspaper articles, radio and TV appearances, and presentations to civic groups.