Minutes – Athletics Committee of Faculty Council

22 Nov 2002; 2:00 – 3:00 P.M.; Academic Enhancement Center

Committee members present: Carol Moder, Bob Hunger, John Phillips, Thomas Wetzel, David Yellin,

Also in attendance: Rick Allen (Athletic Department), Marilyn Middlebrook (Athletic Department)

Ø A tour of the Academic Enhancement Center was given by Middlebrook – quite an impressive facility.

Ø Minutes of the 25 Oct 02 meeting were reviewed and approved.

ØA wrap-up discussion of the survey of Advising Services was conducted. Moder provided and reported on the survey to the Faculty Council (FC) and its Executive Committee. The survey also has been placed on the FC website and sent to the O’Colly. A suggestion of the importance of, and interest in, mid-term grade checks was referred to the Learning Resources Committee of the FC for their possible pursuit. Although there was a consensus among the Athletics Committee that there was no need to pursue this item further, Middlebrook encouraged the use of the Web to post course information such as syllabi and grades. There was agreement with syllabi and other course related information, but not with grades. There also was a suggestion (Hunger) that a summary sheet be developed by OSU administration on which services available would be listed and described. Such a sheet would be similar to the one developed and distributed to Faculty by the Graduate College that summarizes important deadlines and rules of the Graduate College.

ØA continuation of the discussion related to the tracking of athletes after leaving O.S.U. then ensued. Moder reported that the Alumni Association has records of only donors and members for pre-1993, and of donors, members and graduates for post-1993. Hence, there would still be a “gap” for student-athletes that did not graduate. Allen & Middlebrook pointed out that walk-on athletes do not count toward graduation rates and retention statistics (NCAA rules), so tracking is primarily conducted only on scholarship athletes. Additionally, tracking of walk-ons after leaving O.S.U. would be very difficult. However, tracking of scholarship athletes after their leaving O.S.U. has been fairly comprehensive since 1997 (Middlebrook – examples were shown as a demonstration). There was a suggestion that coaches of individual sports may be able to provide additional help. In summary, the committee felt that information from tracking could benefit many aspects including how intercollegiate athletics contributes to the student experience, to society after student athletes leave the University, and to other components such as recruiting and retention of student athletes. Hence, Moder will develop and distribute to the Athletics Committee a preliminary draft of a motion for consideration at the January meeting. This motion will pertain to recommending the tracking of student athletes that attend and leave O.S.U., with preliminary focus being on scholarship (athletic related financial aid) athletes.

ØInterviews of student athletes was then discussed. The Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) is meeting on Monday, November 25 at 7 P.M. in the Varsity Room of the Academic Enhancement Center. Thomas Sterling and David Yellin of the Athletics Committee will attend to observe the meeting and make a contact since the SAAB may be a future avenue for student athlete interviews by the Athletics Committee. Rick Allen also will be in attendance. Moder said she had received a couple of suggestions of athletes that would be good to interview since they represented a good model of a student athlete. Hence, committee members should develop guidelines, questions, and topics to explore with student athletes and bring these to the next meeting for discussion.

ØThe next meeting of the Athletics Committee was scheduled for Friday, January 24 at 2:00 P.M. in the Academic Enhancement Center.