Senate Bill 11-12-23
| Bill ID: | 11-12-23 |
| Name: | Representation of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics on the University Senate |
| Proposed: | 11/17/2011 |
| Sponsor: | Kevin Anderson, Director of Athletics |
| Proposal: | The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) would like to be more centrally engaged in the campus. ICA is currently composed of 763 student athletes and 27 coaches of our athletic teams. The coaches in effect are teaching and mentoring student-athletes at the University in addition to coaching them. The coaches in Athletics would like an opportunity to become more involved in the affairs of campus. Missy Meharg, Head Coach of the Women's Field Hockey Team and Chair of the Coaches Council volunteered to serve on the Campus Affairs Committee. At the time, the President's Office made the assessment that coaches should be considered as part of the "faculty" constituency. Coach Meharg was given a seat on the committee for the 2011-2013 years and has been an active member of the committee. When the committee discussed the potential helmet policy this year, Coach Meharg was able to give them insight on the rationale for the recent Athletics requirement that all student-athletes wear a helmet when operating motorized scooters. It is this type of perspective that may be useful to the Senate. However, not having permanent ex-officio seat on the committee may not guarantee that involvement. The students and coaches involved in the athletics program are members of the campus community that are not officially represented on the University Senate. Representation on the Senate and its committees would give Athletics a pathway to bring campus issues to the Senate and a voice in the decisions made on our campus. ICA would like the Senate to consider allowing representation of members of Athletics on both the Senate and its committees as follows: 1. The Director of Athletics could be made a voting or non-voting ex-officio of the Senate. 2. The coaches could be allowed to elect a single seat as a "faculty" senator or as a "single-member constituency" senator on the Senate. 3. The Chair of the Coaches Council could be added to the membership of the Campus Affairs Committee as an ex-officio member. 4. The Chair of the Student Athletes Advisory Council (SAAC) could be added to the membership of the Student Affairs Committee as an ex-officio member. 5. The Vice Chair of SAAC could be added to the membership of the Student Conduct Committee as ex-officio member. |
| Active? | No |
Status
| Status: | Completed |
| Completed On: | 05/01/2012 |
History
| Status: | Complete |
| Related Files: |
| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Senate |
| Received: | 2012-04-12 |
| Decision Date: | 2012-04-19 |
| Decision: | The Senate voted in favor of the report |
| Next Step: | Presidential Approval |
| Related Files: |
| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Senate Executive Committee (SEC) |
| Received: | 2012-03-30 |
| Decision Date: | 2012-04-05 |
| Decision: | The SEC voted to place the item on the April 19, 2012 Senate agenda |
| Next Step: | Senate Review |
| Related Files: |
| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Elections, Representation, & Governance (ERG) Committee |
| Received: | 2011-12-06 |
| Decision Date: | 2012-03-28 |
| Actions: | The ERG Committee reviewed the charge at its December 6th, 2011 meeting and discussed the data that would need to be compiled for the Committee's review and deliberations. At the February 2, 2012 meeting the ERG Committee reviewed the structure of the Athletics Department, the Human Resources employee category status definitions that encompassed coaches, the history of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Senate representation, and the current membership of the Senate as defined in the University Plan of Organization and the Senate Bylaws. The Committee discussed its recommendations and several members volunteered to draft a report to be voted on at the March meeting. At the March 28, 2012 meeting the ERG Committee voted to approve the report and recommendations. |
| Next Step: | Senate Executive Committee (SEC) Reivew |
| Related Files: |
| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Senate Executive Committee (SEC) |
| Received: | 2011-11-22 |
| Decision Date: | 2011-11-29 |
| Decision: | The SEC voted to charge the ERG Committee with reviewing the proposal. |
| Next Step: | Elections, Representation, and Governance (ERG) Committee Review |
| Related Files: |