Minutes – Athletics Committee of Faculty Council
Committee members present: Carol Moder, Bob Hunger, Brad Morgan, Don Murray, John Phillips,
David
Yellin, Thomas Wetzel
Also in attendance: Rick Allen (Athletic Dept), Marilyn Middlebrook (Athletic Dept)
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Minutes of the 30 Aug 02 meeting were reviewed and approved.
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Moder briefly described the responsibilities of the Athletics Committee
as compared to the Athletics Council using the descriptions provided to committee
members. There was no discussion –
committee members seemed clear and comfortable with the differences.
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Moder asked if committee members received the information she sent
regarding the recent confrontational incident involving athletes from several
teams. All had received the
information. Hunger stated that he
didn’t feel consideration of this type of activity fell under the purview of
the committee. There was no additional
discussion.
Ø
Discussion moved to an examination of three potential issues for
review by the Athletics Committee during the coming year.
1.
Comparing advising services available to athletes and to students in
general.
-Middlebrook described some of the services available to athletes, emphasizing that one major difference between advising services provided to athletics and the general student population was the degree to which her office works with the athletes. She emphasized this is especially true of athletes identified as “at risk.”
-Additional
discussion indicated that advising services (including all services, e.g.,
academic, career, etc.) available for the general student population and
funding for those services should be ascertained and reported to the
committee. Hunger, with the
assistance of Phillips, will look into this for the general student population,
while Moder will obtain similar information from Middlebrook regarding athletes.
2.
Tracking of athletes to determine what happens to them after leaving
OSU.
-Allen reported that although this information would be extremely helpful, the Athletic Department does not have that information compiled in a systematic way.
-Middlebrook reported that since 1992, there are records of rosters by sport, and since 1997 there are records indicating graduation by sport. These records are especially detailed for the last three years.
-Subsequent discussion led to the conclusion
that Middlebrook would supply this information to Moder for use by the
committee to consider developing a recommendation to Faculty Council pertaining
to record keeping/tracking of athletes by the Athletic Department with the
hopes to facilitate student retention and graduation rates of athletes.
3. Interview students (general and athletes) regarding their views on issues or problems with intramural and intercollegiate athletics.
-Allen stated that the NCAA mandates that at least a sample of athletes be interviewed as they leave the university; however, this is very difficult to accomplish. Middlebrook, although not opposed to interviews, felt that athletes may not be comfortable or totally open with a group of faculty whom they do not know. However, the committee felt that such interviews with the general student population would be useful in obtaining input about intramurals, and interviews with student-athletes should be explored. Moder will contact Yellin and explore the possibility of him working on this issue.
The
next meeting of the Athletic Committee is scheduled for