National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2007
« back to 2007 | Back to NCAA News Archive Index
Guest editorial - Report correctly identifies FAR role
There has been no shortage of critical commentary aimed at faculty athletics representatives since the Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics released its report, “The Second Century Imperatives: Presidential Leadership — Institutional Accountability.”
The report calls for an enhanced role of the FAR as an integral part of the agenda for reform in college athletics. Like several other erroneous perceptions about intercollegiate athletics that are identified and boldly challenged, the report properly criticizes the notion that FARs commonly set aside their core beliefs in the fundamental intellectual mission of the academy and turn a blind eye to entrenched, bad-intentioned and unethical practices found in some intercollegiate athletics programs.
Such misguided criticism only serves to further misalign intercollegiate athletics programs from the underlying mission of higher education by casting feelings of suspicion and doubt on those individuals who are charged with broad oversight responsibilities of an enterprise, which, like the entire university community itself, has grown exponentially in size, complexity and cost over the last few decades.
The responsibilities of the FAR within this maturing enterprise have swelled in the same way, at a most difficult time when intercollegiate athletics programs have become more autonomous in their planning and operations. Monitoring and institutional control by FARs and other campus leaders have thus become increasingly more of a challenge.
As is emphasized in the task force report, and in response to the latest round of criticism against FARs, we have reached a critical point at which it is incumbent on institutions and FARs to aggressively dispel misperceptions about the value of the faculty voice in intercollegiate athletics and to take a more active role in educating the broader campus community about the underlying principles that guide our work.
To be specific, FARs (1) commit to the principle that participation in intercollegiate athletics enhances the educational experience of students; (2) have an unfettered commitment to preserving academic integrity; and (3) place primary importance on student-athlete well-being. The long-standing and significant role FARs have held in monitoring intercollegiate athletics over the last half century places us in an indispensable position to contribute to the successful attainment of campus-based fiscal reform and the complete integration of athletics and academics called for in the Task Force report.
The Presidential Task Force thoughtfully recognizes the important role FARs have long held in bridging the gap between athletics programs and the broader mission of the university, as well as the key role they hold in today’s reform efforts. The report states that “the FAR on each campus is the faculty member best positioned to appreciate both the dynamics and problems of intercollegiate athletics, and he or she is most likely to understand student-athletes’ academic well-being.”
The Task Force adds that “the FAR is the person best equipped, both in terms of knowledge and time commitment, to monitor the successful integration of athletics and academics.”
While ultimate responsibility rests with the presidents and chancellors to generate the collective will and develop the structural backdrop for bringing diverse campus and community constituent groups together to discuss athletics reform, the FAR will remain the key individual on campus to help sustain the reforms and continue to monitor academic integrity, student-athlete well-being, and the integration of athletics and academics beyond the current reform effort. Constructing an integrated athletics program requires a full team of dedicated faculty, athletics administrators and campus leaders who, like the FAR, are keenly aware of the value intercollegiate athletics provides for student-athletes and are eager to promote a collaborative approach in changing the current culture in intercollegiate athletics.
To begin the change process, presidents and FARs will need to determine how knowledge about athletics programs can best be disseminated to the broader campus community to encourage constructive involvement of the general faculty in decision-making and planning of intercollegiate athletics programs and facilities. This should include a concerted effort to develop and implement comprehensive educational programs to sensitize both athletics administrators and the general faculty about the role of intercollegiate athletics as a meaningful and purposeful learning activity.
To accomplish that objective, it is most important that the individual serving as FAR be well-informed, be clear on critical issues in intercollegiate athletics, and be committed to the principles of preserving fiscal responsibility, academic integrity, and the value of integration of athletics and academics.
The FAR also should be proven effective in bridging trusting relationships with campus leadership and the general faculty. Presidential appointment of the FAR in consultation with faculty governance helps create a credible foundation for consultations between faculty and administration.
The Presidential Task Force calls on FARs to initiate such consultations on their individual campuses. FARs are empowered in their position to help facilitate campus- and conference-based discussions on athletics, and transmit advice to campus leaders. FARs must use their knowledge coupled with their authority to engage others in monitoring athletics policy and oversight of student-athlete academic success.
The Faculty Athletics Representatives Association already has begun to answer the Presidential Task Force’s call to act and has dedicated most of 2006 to teaching empowerment techniques to FARs through organized workshops, meetings and regular correspondence — equipping members with the skills needed to effectively perform their duties.
While the FAR will continue to be a responsible party in guaranteeing that intercollegiate athletics remains a learning experience for student participants, the responsibility circle is widening. Over the next year, FARA will identify and promote best practices for educating and engaging the general faculty and faculty governance in critical issues in intercollegiate athletics, so that the voice and advice of the broadest faculty body can be used by presidents and chancellors to make informed decisions about intercollegiate athletics. It is against this backdrop that the role of the faculty athletics representative will be most meaningful.
Lorrie Clemo is faculty athletics representative at State University of New York at Oswego and president of the Faculty Athletics Representatives Association.
|
By Lorrie Clemo
State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego
There has been no shortage of critical commentary aimed at faculty athletics representatives since the Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics released its report, “The Second Century Imperatives: Presidential Leadership — Institutional Accountability.”The report calls for an enhanced role of the FAR as an integral part of the agenda for reform in college athletics. Like several other erroneous perceptions about intercollegiate athletics that are identified and boldly challenged, the report properly criticizes the notion that FARs commonly set aside their core beliefs in the fundamental intellectual mission of the academy and turn a blind eye to entrenched, bad-intentioned and unethical practices found in some intercollegiate athletics programs.
Such misguided criticism only serves to further misalign intercollegiate athletics programs from the underlying mission of higher education by casting feelings of suspicion and doubt on those individuals who are charged with broad oversight responsibilities of an enterprise, which, like the entire university community itself, has grown exponentially in size, complexity and cost over the last few decades.
The responsibilities of the FAR within this maturing enterprise have swelled in the same way, at a most difficult time when intercollegiate athletics programs have become more autonomous in their planning and operations. Monitoring and institutional control by FARs and other campus leaders have thus become increasingly more of a challenge.
As is emphasized in the task force report, and in response to the latest round of criticism against FARs, we have reached a critical point at which it is incumbent on institutions and FARs to aggressively dispel misperceptions about the value of the faculty voice in intercollegiate athletics and to take a more active role in educating the broader campus community about the underlying principles that guide our work.
To be specific, FARs (1) commit to the principle that participation in intercollegiate athletics enhances the educational experience of students; (2) have an unfettered commitment to preserving academic integrity; and (3) place primary importance on student-athlete well-being. The long-standing and significant role FARs have held in monitoring intercollegiate athletics over the last half century places us in an indispensable position to contribute to the successful attainment of campus-based fiscal reform and the complete integration of athletics and academics called for in the Task Force report.
The Presidential Task Force thoughtfully recognizes the important role FARs have long held in bridging the gap between athletics programs and the broader mission of the university, as well as the key role they hold in today’s reform efforts. The report states that “the FAR on each campus is the faculty member best positioned to appreciate both the dynamics and problems of intercollegiate athletics, and he or she is most likely to understand student-athletes’ academic well-being.”
The Task Force adds that “the FAR is the person best equipped, both in terms of knowledge and time commitment, to monitor the successful integration of athletics and academics.”
While ultimate responsibility rests with the presidents and chancellors to generate the collective will and develop the structural backdrop for bringing diverse campus and community constituent groups together to discuss athletics reform, the FAR will remain the key individual on campus to help sustain the reforms and continue to monitor academic integrity, student-athlete well-being, and the integration of athletics and academics beyond the current reform effort. Constructing an integrated athletics program requires a full team of dedicated faculty, athletics administrators and campus leaders who, like the FAR, are keenly aware of the value intercollegiate athletics provides for student-athletes and are eager to promote a collaborative approach in changing the current culture in intercollegiate athletics.
To begin the change process, presidents and FARs will need to determine how knowledge about athletics programs can best be disseminated to the broader campus community to encourage constructive involvement of the general faculty in decision-making and planning of intercollegiate athletics programs and facilities. This should include a concerted effort to develop and implement comprehensive educational programs to sensitize both athletics administrators and the general faculty about the role of intercollegiate athletics as a meaningful and purposeful learning activity.
To accomplish that objective, it is most important that the individual serving as FAR be well-informed, be clear on critical issues in intercollegiate athletics, and be committed to the principles of preserving fiscal responsibility, academic integrity, and the value of integration of athletics and academics.
The FAR also should be proven effective in bridging trusting relationships with campus leadership and the general faculty. Presidential appointment of the FAR in consultation with faculty governance helps create a credible foundation for consultations between faculty and administration.
The Presidential Task Force calls on FARs to initiate such consultations on their individual campuses. FARs are empowered in their position to help facilitate campus- and conference-based discussions on athletics, and transmit advice to campus leaders. FARs must use their knowledge coupled with their authority to engage others in monitoring athletics policy and oversight of student-athlete academic success.
The Faculty Athletics Representatives Association already has begun to answer the Presidential Task Force’s call to act and has dedicated most of 2006 to teaching empowerment techniques to FARs through organized workshops, meetings and regular correspondence — equipping members with the skills needed to effectively perform their duties.
While the FAR will continue to be a responsible party in guaranteeing that intercollegiate athletics remains a learning experience for student participants, the responsibility circle is widening. Over the next year, FARA will identify and promote best practices for educating and engaging the general faculty and faculty governance in critical issues in intercollegiate athletics, so that the voice and advice of the broadest faculty body can be used by presidents and chancellors to make informed decisions about intercollegiate athletics. It is against this backdrop that the role of the faculty athletics representative will be most meaningful.
Lorrie Clemo is faculty athletics representative at State University of New York at Oswego and president of the Faculty Athletics Representatives Association.
© 2010 The National Collegiate Athletic Association
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy