2009 Report to the Faculty Senate by the Faculty Athletic Representative
The Athletic Council met in October, February and April this year to provide information to members about NCAA issues, academic support services and the academic performance of our student-athletes. At the February meeting, the council approved the re-alignment of the subcommittee structure to more closely reflect the upcoming third cycle of NCAA Certification areas:
Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance
Academic Integrity
Gender Diversity and Student Well-Being
The subcommittee charges were also changed to reflect the new areas for oversight. The Subcommittees met separately to conduct business relative to the council's work and to begin preparation for the next NCAA Certification.
Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance Subcommittee (Chair, Jevita deFreitas)
The committee reviewed the principles within the NCAA self-study and discussed the major areas of responsibility. The committee recommended that a brief overview of the offices external to the Mason Athletic Department that provide a "check and balance" of the Compliance areas be given at the final meeting of the full council in April 2009.
At the April meeting, the Office of the Registrar presented an overview of the Certification Process, the timeline, and the NCAA Compliance Assistant Internet (CAi) used to determine student-athlete eligibility. The Office of Financial Aid submitted a timeline for Mason student-athletes and verification that communication between the Office of Financial Aid and the Department of Athletics ensures student-athlete scholarship issues and concerns are handled in a timely fashion. The subcommittee also recommended that a process be created to include the Equity Office in future reviews of the EADA (Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act). (Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance Subcommittee 2009 Report)
Academic Integrity Subcommittee (Chair, Bob Baker)
The committee engaged in the preparation of a report evaluating Academic Support Services for student-athletes using the recommended evaluation guide provided by the NCAA. The purpose of the evaluation is to provide recommendations that can improve the overall effectiveness of the institution's academic support services for student-athletes. The required eight areas for review included:
1. Academic counseling and/or advising resources and services
2. Tutoring
3. Academic progress monitoring and reporting
4. Assistance for student-athletes with special academic needs
5. Assistance for at-risk student-athletes
6. Academic support services facilities
7. Academic evaluation of prospective student-athletes
8. Student-athlete degree selection.
An evaluation committee of faculty, students and staff external to the athletics department were selected to conduct this evaluation and to provide a written summary of their findings and recommendations to the Director of Athletics and the Athletic Council. The report is in draft form and will be finalized for presentation to and review by the Athletic Council at its first meeting in Fall 2009. The committee also reviewed the NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) 2007-08 cohort results. Three Mason teams fell below the NCAA 925 cutpoint: Women's Track (Indoor and Outdoor), and Men's Volleyball. Of these three teams only Men's Volleyball received a Contemporaneous Penalty. (Academic Integrity 2009 Report).
On April 22, 2009, the NCAA announced that three Mason teams received public recognition for their academic performance rate: Men's Basketball, Women's Tennis and Women's Softball. Public recognition is given to the member institutions whose APR falls within the top 10% in each sport.
Gender Diversity and Student Well-Being Subcommittee (Chair, Sandy Hubler)
The committee focused its efforts on enhancing its relationship and communication with the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and increasing the number of Exit Surveys completed by student-athletes. The committee revised the existing survey instrument to incorporate NCAA required questions and refined the instrument to facilitate ease of completion. To date more than 50% of exiting student-athletes have submitted their survey. In person interviews with graduating students from each team are being conducted by the Faculty Athletic Representative and the Senior Associate Athletic Director. (Gender Diversity and Student Well-Being Subcommittee 2009 Report)
In the 2007-2008 academic year student- athletes were compared with the general student body with the following results:
Student AthletesStudents Generally
Males2.892.82
Females3.093.03
Combined2.992.93
* All GPA statistics computed by the Office of the RegistrarI would like to thank each member of the Athletic Council for their commitment to excellence and invaluable guidance and support.
Linda Miller
Faculty Athletic Representative
April 23, 2009
Cc: President Alan Merten Senior Vice-President Maurice Scherrens Assistant Vice President/Director, Athletics Tom O'Connor Senior Associate Athletics Director Sue Collins
