Minutes of Meeting
UTC NCAA Certification Self-Study Steering Committee


February 26, 2003


Attending Steering Committee Meeting:

Missy Breeden 			Bill Miller
Susan Cardwell 			Laura Mincy
Leroy Fanning  			Matt Pope
Debbie Ingram 			Steve Sloan
Mike Jones			Paul Watson
Molly Kotarski			Barbara Wofford		

Excused:
Marvin Ernst
Vanessa Marsh
John Thornton

Chairman Watson called the meeting to order by thanking everyone for their participation and asked everyone to look over the minutes from the last meeting, Wednesday, February 12, 2003, and called for approval.  Barbara Wofford made a mtion for approval, and Dr. Leroy Fanning seconded. The minutes were approved.

It was then immediately mentioned that the minutes should note that Molly Kotarski should receive a raise for all her hard work in completing the Academic Integrity report.  All in attendance agreed. The Steering Committee turned their attention to the Academic Integrity report for any changes or omissions in the copy they all had received.  Laura Mincy began by stating that there needed to be some departmental job titles changes.  

With regard to Page 7, #2 – Appendix III-B: Along with the insertion of a table, it was suggested that an explanation should also be given in the form of an executive summary.   The committee agreed that the summary should be added to give the report a better flow and a clearer review of the data

With regard Page 8, Part (b) – Appendix III-C: The previous decision was applied to this section as well.

Dr. Watson mentioned that he had received an e-mail from Dr. Marvin Ersnt asking for a presentation on the Self-Study report, especially the Academic Integrity section. Dr. Ernst had asked if this report could be given to the Faulty Senate on March 6, 2003.  Dr. Watson indicated that it would not be possible to have everything completed in such a short timeframe and would speak to Dr. Ernst concerning this matter.

Dr. Watson suggested that Academic Integrity subcommittee should be aware of the goals and identify any problems.  He emphasized that the Academic Integrity report is at the center of the Self-Study and all other reports should revolve around it.

Dr. Watson also suggested that the Academic Integrity subcommittee sit down with appropriate personnel, and come up with a plan of action for problems that have been found by the report.

With regard to Page 12: “Initial drafts of the squad list are submitted to the Director of Financial Aid for verification of financial aid awards and for revisions.  The corrected draft is then submitted to the Director of Financial Aid for final review.”   The Steering Committee agreed to leave out the second sentence in the report.

Also with regard to Page 12: “Individuals authorized to certify academic continuing eligibility currently include the following…?”.  The Steering Committee suggested the need to include a list of the individuals that “review” the continuing eligibility along with the Faulty Athletics Committee members which certify the eligibility.

On Page 13: ATHUP – Steering Committee asked that the acronym be written out.

Also on Page 13: “The Associate Director of the Office of Records and Registration intends for the Office of Records and Registration to take a more active role in this aspect of assisting student-athletes to meet compliance requirement.”  The committee asked for the word “intends” to be replaced with a specific date as to when the problem was/is addressed.

On Page 14, #8: The current answer is not the information the question is what the self-study instrument is asking for.  The answer should include information from the instrument.  The Committee also asked for additional information concerning post-graduates and current athletes with a 3.0 GPA or greater.  

On Page 14, #9: The information that had been used to answer the above question #8 and was replaced, should be used to answer #9.  The Committee asked for #8’s old information to be placed at this point along with additional information on “Retention and Continuation Standards”.  

On Page 16, Self-Study Items for 2.2, #1: The Committee asked for more details to be added to this section.

On Page 17: “Two full-time, tenured professors are kept apprised of the academic support services.”  The committee would like all individuals associated with this activity to be named in the report.

On Page 18: “They receive grade reports and visit the academic center regularly.”  The Committee asked for more details as to what kind of reports are given to individuals.

On Page 19, Study Hall: “All other student athletes check in and out with the time clock 5 hours per week.”  The Committee asked for an explanation in the report as to differences in the study hours required by different student athletes.

On Page 23: Dr. Watson stated that the subcommittee had failed to answer two questions.  Dr. Watson asked Dr. Mike Jones to please complete these questions.

On Page 25 – 2.3 Scheduling: Dr. Fanning was asked to clarify the Faculty Athletics Committee ruling earlier in the day (2/26/03) as to non-conference games that might be played during the week of exams.  Laura Mincy asked if that meant Monday – Friday or the weekends also and whether it applied to home games too?  Dr. Fanning assumed the decision that to limit Monday – Friday away games of the exam week, but he would get a clarification from the Faulty Athletics Committee.

On Page 27, #4: A problem needs to be stated on page 19 as to all athletes going to the same academic advisor.  A plan needed to be devised to correct the same individual being used.  

On Page 28, #6: The Committee asked for the individual that the Faulty Athletics Committee voted to give computer access to be named in the report.

Old Business – Dr. Fanning gave an update of the Self-Study to the UTC UT Liaison Committee earlier that day, February 26, 2003.  Dr. Fanning asked all committee members to give their feedback on the report.  He also stated the committee’s appreciation to the work that had been put into the Self-Study report.

Dr. Watson asked each subcommittee chair to read and double-check the subcommittee reports to see how their report can be integrated to other subcommittee reports.

Dr. Watson gave March 21, 2003, as the cut-off date for any new information being added to the report.  Laura Mincy stated that the athletics department had had a sexual harassment seminar earlier that day and that information should be added.

New Business – The next possible Steering Committee meeting would be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2003.  Missy Breeden will contact everyone if the meeting will be held or put off until after spring break.

The Steering Committee meeting was then adjourned at 5:05pm


Respectfully Submitted



Missy Breeden
Liaison to the NCAA Steering Committee