Perspective of the Faculty Athletics Representative

 

R. Dennis Leighton, DPT

Assistant Professor

Faculty Athletics Representative

University of New England

Biddeford, Maine

 

Division III Vice President

Faculty Athletics Representatives Association

 

 

 

Three Common Understandings:

 

  1. Athletics Directors, Faculty Athletics Representatives, and Senior Woman Administrators are working toward a common goal – creating a positive student-athlete experience
  2. The relationship between the Athletics Director and the Faculty Athletics Representative should not be adversarial
  3. We all recognize that, especially at Division III, athletics is part of the overall academic experience at our institutions.

 

 

 

Faculty Athletics Representatives can be an important link between athletics and the larger campus community. Faculty Athletics Representatives are frequently involved in –

 

  1. day to day contact with faculty colleagues
  2. participation in the Faculty Senate or other faculty governing body
  3. frequent conversations with the President/CEO of the institution.

 

This can be very useful in dealing with typical Division III conflicts between and academics and athletics, such as class conflicts or development of facilities.

 

In order to be maximally effective, the Faculty Athletics Representative should be active and visible on campus.

 

 

 

Faculty Athletics Representatives are integral in maintaining Institutional Control – a guiding principle of NCAA membership. This may include things such as –

 

1.     Compliance and eligibility

2.     Academic performance

3.     Awareness of conference and NCAA issues

4.     Periodic reports to the faculty

5.     Representing the institution to the NCAA

6.     Membership on the institutionÕs Athletics Advisory Board, and often chairing this committee

 

 

The relationship between the Athletics Director and the Faculty Athletics Representative is not one-way. As Athletics Directors reach out to Faculty Athletics Representatives, the Faculty Athletics Representatives should be looking for ways to support and compliment the athletic department.

 

The FARA Fall Forum, always in November, is a wonderful place for the Faculty Athletics Representative to learn more about his or her role.

 

 

What can the Athletics Director do about a disengaged or uninterested Faculty Athletics Representative?

 

  1. Talk to the Faculty Athletics Representative about what roles he or she can be most effective in working with athletics
  2. Talk to the President/CEO to appoint a faculty member who has the interest to work for the student-athlete
  3. Advocate for your Faculty Athletics Representative in terms of release time and travel funds