Western State Colorado University Intercollegiate
Western State Colorado University Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics Policies, Procedures and Plans (3P) Manual Section: Academics - IAC Institutional Expectations for the Interaction of Academics & Athletics Last revised and updated and revised June 9, 2016
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Intercollegiate Athletic Committee (IAC) Resolution Institutional Expectations for the Interaction of Academics and Athletics The purpose of this document is to clarify procedures, policies, and expectations regarding situations where conflicts arise between athletic events and classes. The information in this document pertains only to intercollegiate sports. Thus it does not address conflicts related to other forms of athletic participation by students, such as club sports, intramurals, or the band and cheer squads. The hope of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee is that the dialog created from this document will include the issues that surround conflicts between all student co-curricular and extra- curricular activities and academic expectations. Overview Our belief is that intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of the Western State Colorado University campus and that student participation in intercollegiate athletics is a valuable part of the University experience for our students. Athletic participation should be accommodated within the academic context with the understanding that academics has priority at all times, student-athletes must satisfy all course requirements and faculty have authority in deciding how to handle conflicts. This committee recommends that conflicts between athletic participation and academics (for example, conflicts between the individual’s participation in school sanctioned athletic events and academic responsibilities such as classroom attendance, course work requirements, registration procedures and course scheduling) be accommodated as constructively as possible. It is also the goal of this committee to clearly communicate to the campus that it is the student-athlete's responsibility to notify faculty as soon as possible about conflicts with academic expectations and athletic events and therefore to seek accommodation. Expectations Given the current structure of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and requirements dictated by the NCAA, all concerned parties should understand that there will be situations that require student-athletes to be absent from classes during critical times and/or for extended periods (although our representatives to the RMAC, which include the University President, the Athletic Director, the Senior Woman Administrator, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Faculty Athletics Representative, are always attempting to limit these situations). Relevant documentation about the general attendance policy is printed in the catalog, which states: “Faculty and students have shared responsibility in the education process. Class attendance and participation is the student's responsibility. The interactions a student has with the instructor and fellow students represent a significant portion of the learning process in coursework. Therefore, class attendance and participation is essential for a successful education. Instructors may set attendance and participation policies for each of their courses, which are specified in the course syllabus. If a student violates an attendance or participation policy, instructors may withdraw a student from class, lower the earned grade, and deploy other actions as specified by the course policy.” (Western 2015-16 Catalog)
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Thus, faculty has a duty and a mandate to try to resolve such conflicts in a manner that does not unduly penalize the student. Responsibilities The following bulleted items list the responsibilities of each person. Student-Athlete Must contact faculty members before leaving on a trip to turn assignments in before departure or as directed by the faculty member. Attend classes unless on the traveling team because the academic life of the student-athlete is the responsibility of the student. However, situations can arise where a student-athlete may make the travel roster and/or qualify for a game or tournament at the last minute. In that event the student-athlete will provide as much notice as possible of the absence(s). Coach Email or otherwise contact faculty at least three days (72 hours) before departure for an away event. Be available to discuss problems between faculty and student athletes. Be willing to proctor exams or assist with other assignments as requested by a student and/or faculty member. Faculty member Clearly communicate class policies related to academic/athletic related absences. Equally apply consequences of missed classes to students and student-athletes absent for school related activities. The following potential reasons for contacting a coach are listed but individuals are encouraged to communicate with coaches whenever there is a need. Student-athlete performing poorly in the class. Faculty member wants to confirm an absence for a student-athlete. Student-athlete is performing particularly well in a class. Student-athlete is absent too often. Check on what other faculty members are doing when student-athletes miss class. Faculty Athletics Representative Chair the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. Serve as a liaison between faculty and athletics. Ensure academic integrity of athletic programs. Intercollegiate Athletic Committee (IAC) Senate By-Laws Section 13 Intercollegiate Athletic Committee.
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13.1 Duties. The duties of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee shall include but not be limited to making recommendations to the Senate concerning intercollegiate athletic policy, such as intercollegiate sports supported by WSCU, standards for student participation, and oversight of participation based upon overall student progress. 13.2 Membership. The Faculty Athletic Representative shall be appointed by the President and will chair this committee. The Faculty Senate shall appoint four members from nominated candidates to the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. In addition, the Athletic Director, the Assistant Athletic Director, the Senior Woman Administrator and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president or designee will be non-voting members of the committee. Two students, one male and one female, each with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5, and not currently on an intercollegiate roster, will be appointed to the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee by the Student Government Association. (Amended 10/21/02; 11/05/08; 4/13/09). Athletics Director Direct all aspects of intercollegiate athletics. Serve as a liaison between faculty and coaches. Be a non-voting member of IAC. Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations and Compliance Supervise all aspects of each student-athlete’s eligibility. Serve as a liaison between faculty and coaches. Be a non-voting member of IAC. Senior Woman Administrator Ensure gender equity during the decision-making process in intercollegiate athletics. Represent women’s interests, experiences by providing perspective at the institutional, conference and national level. Lead student-athletes in successfully balancing academics and athletics. Be a non-voting member of the IAC. Scheduling of Classes The University should make an effort to minimize schedule conflicts and to maximize course offerings in meeting student-athlete course requirements. This could be accomplished by: 1. Early registration for athletes; 2. Evaluation of the number of courses being offered at 8:00 a.m. In cases where it is known in advance that multiple schedule conflicts will arise (for example, when a required weekly part of the course conflicts with athletic team practice), it may be advisable for the student not to take that particular course during the term. This possibility should be a part of the consideration at the beginning of the semester, when student-athletes inform their instructors of known conflicts. Coaches should also be aware of such situations and advise accordingly.
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Communications between Athletics and Faculty The coaches and administrators within the athletic department would very much like to hear from faculty should there be a concern with poor attendance, poor academic performance, disruptive classroom behavior, etc. -- or if a student-athlete is performing particularly well in a class. It is expected (and currently practiced by the majority of the athletic staff) that coaches monitor the progress and status of student-athletes in their courses. Coaches determine which student-athletes must complete Progress Reports at the 4-, 8- and 12-week points of the semester. Response to these inquiries by faculty is voluntary but helpful to the Athletics Department in recognizing and averting academic problems among the student- athletes. This document was accepted by WSC Faculty Senate January 10, 2005, and revised by the IAC December 2008.
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Intercollegiate Athletics Policies, Procedures and Plans (3P) Manual Section: Academics - IAC Institutional Expectations for the Interaction of Academics & Athletics Last revised and updated and revised June 9, 2016
1
Intercollegiate Athletic Committee (IAC) Resolution Institutional Expectations for the Interaction of Academics and Athletics The purpose of this document is to clarify procedures, policies, and expectations regarding situations where conflicts arise between athletic events and classes. The information in this document pertains only to intercollegiate sports. Thus it does not address conflicts related to other forms of athletic participation by students, such as club sports, intramurals, or the band and cheer squads. The hope of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee is that the dialog created from this document will include the issues that surround conflicts between all student co-curricular and extra- curricular activities and academic expectations. Overview Our belief is that intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of the Western State Colorado University campus and that student participation in intercollegiate athletics is a valuable part of the University experience for our students. Athletic participation should be accommodated within the academic context with the understanding that academics has priority at all times, student-athletes must satisfy all course requirements and faculty have authority in deciding how to handle conflicts. This committee recommends that conflicts between athletic participation and academics (for example, conflicts between the individual’s participation in school sanctioned athletic events and academic responsibilities such as classroom attendance, course work requirements, registration procedures and course scheduling) be accommodated as constructively as possible. It is also the goal of this committee to clearly communicate to the campus that it is the student-athlete's responsibility to notify faculty as soon as possible about conflicts with academic expectations and athletic events and therefore to seek accommodation. Expectations Given the current structure of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and requirements dictated by the NCAA, all concerned parties should understand that there will be situations that require student-athletes to be absent from classes during critical times and/or for extended periods (although our representatives to the RMAC, which include the University President, the Athletic Director, the Senior Woman Administrator, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Faculty Athletics Representative, are always attempting to limit these situations). Relevant documentation about the general attendance policy is printed in the catalog, which states: “Faculty and students have shared responsibility in the education process. Class attendance and participation is the student's responsibility. The interactions a student has with the instructor and fellow students represent a significant portion of the learning process in coursework. Therefore, class attendance and participation is essential for a successful education. Instructors may set attendance and participation policies for each of their courses, which are specified in the course syllabus. If a student violates an attendance or participation policy, instructors may withdraw a student from class, lower the earned grade, and deploy other actions as specified by the course policy.” (Western 2015-16 Catalog)
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Thus, faculty has a duty and a mandate to try to resolve such conflicts in a manner that does not unduly penalize the student. Responsibilities The following bulleted items list the responsibilities of each person. Student-Athlete Must contact faculty members before leaving on a trip to turn assignments in before departure or as directed by the faculty member. Attend classes unless on the traveling team because the academic life of the student-athlete is the responsibility of the student. However, situations can arise where a student-athlete may make the travel roster and/or qualify for a game or tournament at the last minute. In that event the student-athlete will provide as much notice as possible of the absence(s). Coach Email or otherwise contact faculty at least three days (72 hours) before departure for an away event. Be available to discuss problems between faculty and student athletes. Be willing to proctor exams or assist with other assignments as requested by a student and/or faculty member. Faculty member Clearly communicate class policies related to academic/athletic related absences. Equally apply consequences of missed classes to students and student-athletes absent for school related activities. The following potential reasons for contacting a coach are listed but individuals are encouraged to communicate with coaches whenever there is a need. Student-athlete performing poorly in the class. Faculty member wants to confirm an absence for a student-athlete. Student-athlete is performing particularly well in a class. Student-athlete is absent too often. Check on what other faculty members are doing when student-athletes miss class. Faculty Athletics Representative Chair the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. Serve as a liaison between faculty and athletics. Ensure academic integrity of athletic programs. Intercollegiate Athletic Committee (IAC) Senate By-Laws Section 13 Intercollegiate Athletic Committee.
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13.1 Duties. The duties of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee shall include but not be limited to making recommendations to the Senate concerning intercollegiate athletic policy, such as intercollegiate sports supported by WSCU, standards for student participation, and oversight of participation based upon overall student progress. 13.2 Membership. The Faculty Athletic Representative shall be appointed by the President and will chair this committee. The Faculty Senate shall appoint four members from nominated candidates to the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. In addition, the Athletic Director, the Assistant Athletic Director, the Senior Woman Administrator and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president or designee will be non-voting members of the committee. Two students, one male and one female, each with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5, and not currently on an intercollegiate roster, will be appointed to the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee by the Student Government Association. (Amended 10/21/02; 11/05/08; 4/13/09). Athletics Director Direct all aspects of intercollegiate athletics. Serve as a liaison between faculty and coaches. Be a non-voting member of IAC. Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations and Compliance Supervise all aspects of each student-athlete’s eligibility. Serve as a liaison between faculty and coaches. Be a non-voting member of IAC. Senior Woman Administrator Ensure gender equity during the decision-making process in intercollegiate athletics. Represent women’s interests, experiences by providing perspective at the institutional, conference and national level. Lead student-athletes in successfully balancing academics and athletics. Be a non-voting member of the IAC. Scheduling of Classes The University should make an effort to minimize schedule conflicts and to maximize course offerings in meeting student-athlete course requirements. This could be accomplished by: 1. Early registration for athletes; 2. Evaluation of the number of courses being offered at 8:00 a.m. In cases where it is known in advance that multiple schedule conflicts will arise (for example, when a required weekly part of the course conflicts with athletic team practice), it may be advisable for the student not to take that particular course during the term. This possibility should be a part of the consideration at the beginning of the semester, when student-athletes inform their instructors of known conflicts. Coaches should also be aware of such situations and advise accordingly.
4
Communications between Athletics and Faculty The coaches and administrators within the athletic department would very much like to hear from faculty should there be a concern with poor attendance, poor academic performance, disruptive classroom behavior, etc. -- or if a student-athlete is performing particularly well in a class. It is expected (and currently practiced by the majority of the athletic staff) that coaches monitor the progress and status of student-athletes in their courses. Coaches determine which student-athletes must complete Progress Reports at the 4-, 8- and 12-week points of the semester. Response to these inquiries by faculty is voluntary but helpful to the Athletics Department in recognizing and averting academic problems among the student- athletes. This document was accepted by WSC Faculty Senate January 10, 2005, and revised by the IAC December 2008.
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