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

Progress Report on Implementation of Athletics Action Plan

Updated as of Sept. 3, 2004
(Most recent additions in bold type)

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.
4. As of Aug. 10, membership of the APB has been finalized, with representation by faculty, staff and students. Faculty members will include several members of the Boulder Faculty Assembly intercollegiate athletics committee. APB membership, including lengths of terms, includes:
   1. Scott Adler, chair, Political Science faculty, three-year term
   2. Liz Bradley, Computer Science faculty, one-year term
   3. Ted Snow, Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences faculty, two-year term
   4. Mel Branch, Mechanical Engineering faculty, three-year term
   5. Patty Limerick, Center for the American West faculty, two-year term
   6. David Clough, Chemical Engineering faculty, two-year term
   7. Cal Duncan, Business faculty, one-year term
   8. Pamela Diggle, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology faculty, two-year term
   9. Ron Stump, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, three-year term
   10. Bill Kaempfer, Vice Provost, three-year term
   11. Karen Morris, Associate Athletic Director, three-year term
   12. Veronica Crespin, UCSU representative, one-year term
   13. Veronica Johns-Richardson, representative of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, one-year term
   14. Pi'i Aiu, Head Volleyball Coach, one-year term
5. A charge for the APB is being drafted and will be presented to the group for review at its first meeting in the fall 2004 semester. The charge will include focusing on a wide range of departmental issues, such as admissions standards, recruiting policies, hiring processes, and long-range planning.
6. The first meeting of the APB is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 7. The agenda includes reviewing and finalizing the group's charge, discussion of admissions standards, and reviewing recruiting practices. Provost DiStefano is scheduled to attend, providing feedback for board members' comments and questions.
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.
3. Admissions and athletics personnel are beginning discussions on early identification of potential recruits, including information about their academic preparation, prior to the start of the recruitment process.
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.
4. As of Aug. 10, 2004, duties of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs have been revised to include a number of responsibilities related to athletics. These duties are expected to constitute about half of the Vice Chancellor's appointment. Key personnel in Student Affairs will assume additional responsibilities to help maintain and enhance services offered by Student Affairs.
5. Following is a description of the Vice Chancellor's new responsibilities within athletics:
   • Enhancing student-athlete welfare
   • Fully integrating the department within the campus
   • Ensuring compliance with recruiting policies
   • Enacting appropriate team rules and adjudication processes
   • Assisting in addressing issues of diversity, gender equity, sexual harassment and violence against women
   • Accomplishing Athletics Vision 2010
   • Maintaining a highly competitive athletics program
   • Enhancing the reputation of the department
6. The VCSA has regular access to the staff, Athletics Director and programs of the department in carrying out these responsibilities.
7. The VCSA participates, as appropriate, in areas of compliance, fiscal management, policy development, facilities, competition and contracts.
8. The VCSA participates on such committees as the Athletics Executive Committee and other departmental committees, as well as the Academic Policy Board for Athletics and the NCAA Certification Committee.
9. The VCSA completes reports and assessments as necessary in accomplishing the responsibilities of the position and reports to the Provost.
10. The VCSA continues to be involved in interviewing candidates for coaching positions.
11. The VCSA is working with the department to implement recruitment practices that comply with the campus guidelines announced in March 2004 as well as new recruiting rules set by the NCAA. These practices will follow a set of principles that will be refined and approved by the Chancellor, the Academic Policy Board, and the Chancellor’s Athletics Compliance Committee.
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.
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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.
4. The Athletics Department is fully involved in the planning of the campus visit by Jackson Katz, addressing violence against women. The Athletics Department, along with other departments, has provided funding support for the visit, and presentations are scheduled for the coaches, staff and student-athletes.
5. The UCSU student leadership has initiated round-table discussions with student-athletes to discuss their integration into campus life.
6. UCSU leaders have discussed their interest in helping foster more student attendance at the Olympic-sport events.
7. UCSU leaders are planning strategies to support the effort to integrate student athletes more fully into campus life.
8. UCSU leaders regular attend meetings of the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).
9. The Residence Halls Association has initiated a promotion in support of student athletes, including the widespread distribution of tee-shirts showing “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” support.
10. The SAAC group, which consists of current student-athletes, have participated in a number of leadership events and roundtable discussions with campus groups. SAAC currently is working to build collaborative relationships with other campus student leadership groups.
11. The Athletics Department’s director of student athlete development is helping plan and coordinate the Jackson Katz campus events.

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.
2. A document is being developed which describes the meaning of being a CU student-athlete. It will define the desired experiences and outcomes for a student-athlete. The document also will include a set of standards for the student-athletes of all teams.
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.
2. The issue of gender equity is being considered as part of the department’s NCAA Recertification process.
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.
4. On July 29, University Communications hosted an informal meeting of both departments, in order to share information and identify opportunities for mutual support.
5. The Athletics Media Relations Director and the Ucomm Executive Director continue to communicate frequently to help improve coordination between the two areas.
6. Ucomm is collaborating with athletics personnel on the “Compete with Class” campaign, an effort to improve sportsmanship and fan behavior, as well as other communications strategies related to athletics.
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.