Office of the Chancellor > Reports > Chancellor's Progress Report on Athletics

Progress Report on Implementation of Athletics Action Plan

June 29, 2004

The University of Colorado at Boulder is currently implementing the Preliminary Action Plan for the Reorganization and Oversight of Intercollegiate Athletics, which was announced on May 27, 2004. Below are the 17 specific action items outlined in the plan; each item is followed by a list of steps taken to implement the action, as of the date of this document. This Progress Report will be maintained with regular updates and will be shared with the Board of Regents and the general public.

1. The Athletics Director will no longer report to the Chancellor, but will report directly to the Provost, the campus's chief academic officer, in order to enhance accountability and oversight.
1. The campus administration is developing letters of delegation in order to implement this action item.
2. The Provost has established regular meetings with the Athletics Director and other personnel within the department.
3. The campus administration is in the process of clarifying day-to-day work relationships that will define areas of responsibility and lines of authority.
2. An Academic Policy Board for Athletics, composed of faculty, staff and students, will advise the Provost on a wide range of departmental issues, such as admissions standards, recruiting practices, hiring processes, long-range planning and others.
1. The Provost has requested and received from the Boulder Faculty Assembly a list of names to be considered for service on the Academic Policy Board.
2. The Provost is currently reviewing names recommended by the BFA as well as those recommended by other individuals and groups, with plans to name the APB membership by fall 2004.
3. The Provost is drafting a charge for the APB to be reviewed by the BFA and potential members.
3. The Provost will develop policies guiding academic decisions related to athletics, such as admissions, financial aid, eligibility, progress toward graduation and academic support, with input from the Academic Policy Board. For example, a plan will be developed to help ensure that recruits accepted to attend CU-Boulder are prepared to succeed academically.
1. The Provost has begun work on this action item, with plans for completion of initial drafts early in the fall 2004 semester.
2. Revised admissions policies will be implemented beginning in fall 2004, for student-athletes applying for fall 2005 enrollment.
4. The Provost will review and approve all personnel actions within the Athletics Department.
1. The Provost has established an expectation that, effective July 1, 2004, all personnel actions within the Athletics Department will be consistent with practices within the campus's Division of Academic Affairs.
2. In anticipation of procedural changes on personnel actions, the Provost has already begun the process of reviewing and approving personnel actions.
5. In order to help ensure independence in compliance responsibilities, the Provost will conduct the annual performance evaluation and set the salary for the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance, in consultation with the Athletics Director.
1. The Provost has reviewed the FY 2004-05 salary recommendation for the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance.
6. The Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities, Development and Business Affairs will report directly to the Provost; together, they will work closely with the campus's Chief Financial Officer to help ensure fiscal integrity.
1. The campus's Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer is meeting regularly (at least twice quarterly) with the Senior Associate Athletics Director.
2. Although not required by the NCAA certification process, the campus has decided to include an examination of fiscal integrity as part of the certification steps.
7. The Athletics Director will serve on the Chancellor's Executive Committee, the major policy advisory group, in order to enhance interaction with campus leadership.
1. The Athletics Director has been added to, and now serves on, the Chancellor's Executive Committee.
8. The Athletics Director will provide regular reports (at least quarterly) to the campus Dean's Council and to academic department chairs.
1. The Provost is in the process of scheduling regular meetings by the Athletics Director with academic leadership groups, beginning with the fall semester, on such topics as finances, academic success, recruiting, athletic success, and NCAA policy matters.
9. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will assume additional liaison responsibilities for oversight of the integration of athletics more fully into the life of the campus.
1. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs has met with many members of athletics personnel to initiate regular exchange of information.
2. Initial meetings have covered such topics as implementing the Action Plan, training on gender equity and sexual harassment, enhancing fan behavior at football and basketball games, interface between athletics and Student Affairs, support for students of color, mandatory orientation for new student-athletes, mandatory participation by new student-athletes in the Life Skills program, development of expectations for student-athletes, development and enforcement of team rules, review of staff responsibilities, and student-athlete mentoring.
3. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will follow-up on all issues discussed and maintain regular communication with athletics personnel and campus administration.
10. Athletics Student Services will report to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, in order to promote further integration of student athletes into the campus student body.
1. Integration of athletics student services has begun with the scheduling of meetings between athletics and student affairs personnel.
2. The Assistant Director of Athletics for Student Services now attends Student Affairs directors' meetings.
3. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs participated in recent campus interviews for new employees.
11. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will oversee development and adjudication of disciplinary team rules for all sports, in order to ensure fair and equal treatment and improved coordination of discipline matters campus-wide.
1. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs has begun the process of reviewing team rules.
12. The Associate Athletics Director for Compliance will assume additional duties for coordinating the department's educational and monitoring efforts related to compliance with general campus policies and practices.
1. The Associate Athletics Director will meet with the Provost in July 2004 to define expanded duties related to general campus policies and practices.
13. In line with campus-wide practices, the Vice Chancellor for Administration will review and approve all sponsorships and revenue contracts, in order to help facilitate consistent compliance with University and state regulations.
1. The Vice Chancellor for Administration has initiated review of all contracts.
2. The Provost and the Chief Financial Officer have asked the Vice Chancellor for Administration to review athletics contracts for state fiscal rule compliance as well as for any financial implications for the department and campus.
14. The campus's Director of Human Resources will review and monitor the department's employment practices, in order to ensure consistent compliance with policies set or implemented by the Boulder campus.
1. The Provost's Office is working with the Director of Human Resources to develop a list of areas for regular review and reporting.
15. The department's Gender Equity Committee will develop recommendations for addressing gender equity issues identified in recent studies.
1. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs has met with the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance to discuss the current status of work by the Gender Equity Committee as well as next steps for addressing gender equity issues.
16. The Athletics Media Relations Director will report to the Executive Director of University Communications, to help improve coordination among communications professionals on the Boulder campus.
1. The Executive Director of University Communications has met with the Athletics Media Relations Director to discuss strategies for improved communication.
2. Discussions have focused on better integrating activities and planning for the two units, in such areas as news services, photography, web communications, and publications.
3. Initial plans have been discussed for regular meetings between the personnel of the two units.
17. The University will conduct targeted financial audits and performance reviews of the Athletics Department on an annual basis.
1. An evaluation of business and financial controls within the Athletics Department is included among proposed audits by the Department of Internal Audit for fiscal year 2004-2005.