ACA STATEMENT ON

INTEGRATING ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS

 

“Intercollegiate athletics fosters positive identification and goodwill for the state and its University among graduates, citizens of the state, and individuals across the country. This good will, public support, and identification help the University serve its varied missions in all its activities.”

 

Board of Regents Policy on Intercollegiate Athletics

 

 

According to the Board of Regents, the Intercollegiate Athletics Program is an integral part of the University. Efforts must be made to break down the barriers that exist between athletics and academics within the University, and to promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. Despite accomplishments in the classroom and in their respective arenas of competition, many student-athletes and coaches often feel as if they are treated as unwelcome outsiders in a University community that should regard them with as much respect as other contributing community members.

 

The Advisory Committee on Athletics therefore strongly supports the integration of athletic administrators and coaches into the University governance structure so that they are no longer isolated from the broader University community. Efforts also must be made to insure that student-athletes are treated as integral members of the University community, eligible to participate in all its activities and to take full advantage of the opportunities and services that the University can provide to facilitate their development and graduation. Toward this end, the Advisory Committee on Athletics more specifically supports and encourages:

 

§  Coaches and other P&A staff in the Athletics Department, who meet the eligibility criteria, to apply for positions on University-wide committees.

§  Appearances by coaches at departmental or collegiate sponsored forums or meetings where issues that are relevant to student-athletes are discussed. This includes meetings of the Twin Cities deans and collegiate orientations for new faculty and department chairs.

§  Meetings between coaches and faculty to discuss the particulars of majors or career opportunities with groups of students.

§  Recruits to have an opportunity to meet with faculty from colleges/departments where student-athletes hope to enroll.

§  Regular informal meetings between faculty, coaches, and other Athletics Department staff, to discuss a variety of issues affecting campus life.

§  Broadening the guest coach program.

§  Student-athletes to invite faculty members to the student-athlete scholar banquet.

 

These are some examples of the kind of positive contact that should and can take place between coaches, other staff in the Athletics Department, faculty, instructors, and other university staff to enhance a sense of community among all constituencies on campus. On an annual basis, the Advisory Committee on Athletics, in consultation with the Athletics Department and others, should make every effort to expand this set of positive contacts and to carefully monitor the success of all such efforts to promote the integration of athletics and academics at the University.

 

 

Approved by the Assembly Steering Committee, October 2003