Authority
The authority for the FAR’s oversight responsibilities comes from the President, the NCAA Bylaws, and the Pac-12 Conference Bylaws.
Additionally, the FAR:
- Maintains access to and a working relationship with the Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator, Athletics Chief Compliance Officer, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Director of Student Conduct, and other key personnel within the institution and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
- Reports to the Faculty Senate periodically regarding the operation of the athletics program.
- Chairs the Athletic Council and the University Compliance Committee and serves as a member of other committees as assigned.
Responsibilities
Academic integrity
The FAR ensures the academic integrity of WSU’s intercollegiate athletics program.
- Periodically review appropriate records (for both individual student-athletes and for sport teams) to ensure that decisions related to admissions, academic advising, evaluation of academic performance, and the extent of academic support services are made in ways that are consistent with the primary academic mission of the institution.
- Ensure that WSU has in place effective mechanisms for evaluating whether student-athletes have met all of the academic eligibility requirements for practice, financial aid, and intercollegiate competition established by the NCAA, the Pac-12 Conference, and WSU.
- Ensure that all certifications for both initial and continuing academic eligibility have been performed correctly, and with adequate documentation.
- Prepare (or request on the basis of FAR specifications) periodic reports on the academic preparation and performance of student-athletes and discuss such reports with the President, the faculty, and the athletics department.
Compliance
The FAR assumes joint responsibility with the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Athletics Chief Compliance Officer for ensuring compliance with all NCAA, Pac-12, and institutional rules.
- Maintain oversight of compliance-related activities undertaken within the athletics department and coordinate the compliance-related activities of campus units located outside the athletics department including, but not limited to, efforts focused on academic-eligibility certifications (noted above), rules education and staff training, rules interpretations, and periodic spot-checks of records to ensure that all institutional compliance systems are engaged and functioning.
- Play a central role in any major institutional inquiry into alleged or suspected rules violations and in the preparation of any infraction reports submitted to the Pac-12 Conference or the NCAA.
- Review the results of any periodic audits of the athletics department that may be conducted.
- Play a major role in any NCAA athletics certification program reviews.
- In collaboration with athletics administration, ensure that appropriate standards of student-athlete conduct are established (for both on and off campus behavior), clearly communicated, and consistently enforced.
Student-Athlete experience
The FAR serves as an advocate for student athletes, ensures student athletes’ well-being, and promotes the development of student-athletes as a whole—as students, athletes, and members of the community.
- Promote a balance between academics, athletics, and the social lives of student-athletes, which affords them opportunities to enjoy the full range of collegiate experiences available to students generally.
- Participate in student-athlete exit interviews, facilitate student-athlete participation on athletics boards and committees, and inform student-athletes about the FAR role as an independent source of counsel, assistance, and information.
- Encourage and facilitate interactions between student-athletes and the mainstream of institutional activities.
- Ensure that testing, counseling, evaluation, and other career-planning services are made available to student-athletes.
Communication/administration
- Serve as a key advisor on athletics-related matters by the President and others involved in the administration of intercollegiate athletics.
- Represent the faculty perspective in the governance of intercollegiate athletics and play a central role in discussions of matters related to intercollegiate athletics at athletics committee meetings and at faculty senate meetings.
- Play a significant role in the shaping of institutional voting decisions on Pac-12 Conference and NCAA legislation.
- Participate in NCAA and Pac-12 committees, councils, and in other capacities as appropriate.
- Hold a major role in institutional searches for key athletics department personnel.
Other
Perform other duties as assigned by the President and/or as appropriate under the NCAA and Pac-12 Bylaws.
Resources
The University will provide appropriate resources to the FAR consistent with the responsibilities listed. Resources provided to the FAR will be subject to annual approval by the University President and expenses associated with the performance of these responsibilities will be paid through the Office of the President.