Division II faculty athletics representatives participated in a pilot program recently to discuss how best practices can give the FAR role more meaning at the institutional, conference and national levels. The agenda at the inaugural Division II FAR Fellows Institute October 7-9 in Indianapolis included sessions to develop models for success and the opportunity to talk with Division II conference commissioners.

Diane Husic, former longtime faculty athletics representative at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and now the chair of the biology department at Moravian College, helped organize the initiative along with Division II Vice President Mike Racy.

"We ended up with the right balance regarding simply doing the job versus developing leadership skills to be more effective," said Husic. "We didn't want this to be a compliance seminar, and we didn't want it to be an orientation for new FARs. We're trying to find a niche, and our next step is to work with the steering committee to make this an annual gathering."

FARs drafted a mission statement urging them to play "a strategic role to ensure academic integrity, facilitate institutional control of intercollegiate athletics and enhance the student-athlete experience." It also says the FAR must collaborate with the president and appropriate constituencies "to provide significant leadership in the governance of the intercollegiate athletics program."

Husic said among the most productive sessions was a joint meeting between FARs and conference commissioners.

"The FARs appreciated the time with the commissioners," she said. "We had each commissioner introduce their FARs and talk about the role the FAR has in their conference. We talked about ways of trying new things like getting involved with the conference SAAC and taking bigger leadership roles in a variety of educational initiatives."

Part of the agenda centered on enhancing communication skills and becoming a more effective leader. Participants also presented ideas on major case studies during the seminar, which will be sent to conferences as training material.

NCAA President Myles Brand addressed the group to begin the three-day gathering and praised Division II promotional efforts in general, including the division's "balance" image that features a stylized "A" that emphasizes the two pillars of academics and athletics.

"The whole idea of balance is the right approach for Division II," Brand told the group. "That manifests itself in the way you represent yourself, and the way you tell and market your story as Division II members. Your ability to think through and position yourself to make decisions is impressive."

Brand cited as an example the Division II National Championships Festival, which brings hundreds of student-athletes to one site for several championships. The first festival was held in the spring of 2004; a fall-sports version will be in 2006. Brand said that approach has contributed to a better student-athlete experience at the championships.

He also said FARs can play an integral role in the collegiate sports model. First, he said, faculty are responsible for ensuring that athletics are aligned with the university mission.

"Athletics are a part of the university and not an ancillary enterprise," Brand said. "The mission of college sports cannot differ from the mission of higher education."

The second principle of the collegiate model, Brand said, is that student-athletes are like apprentices in any other part of the institution. The third principle is ensuring a level playing field, as well as the health and safety of student-athletes.

Brand acknowledged the business aspects of intercollegiate athletics, but he said that FARs are obligated to ensure that institutions do not stray from the collegiate model.

The Division II FARs also used the institute to review the Division II strategic plan and the Division II Institutional Self-Study Guide, which provides a roadmap for how an athletics program should be organized. Among the guiding principles are suggestions for involving FARs in the athletics-policy decision-making process and keeping the lines of communication open. Also, FARs should have input on academic and eligibility issues in particular and should be regarded as a key contact for student-athletes who have questions in those areas.