At Sam Houston State University (SHSU), the President serves as the institution’s chief executive officer and has ultimate responsibility for, and exercises appropriate control over the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program. SHSU is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) [1] and is in compliance with NCAA regulations concerning the governance of its athletics program. SHSU is also a member of the Southland Conference [1], an athletics conference consisting of 13 member universities in three states.
The Director of Athletics is a direct report to the President, as reflected in both the University’s and the Department of Athletics’ organizational charts [2] [3]. The job description for Director of Athletics states the Director of Athletics, “Reports to the President of the University” [4]. Through this supervisory relationship the President exercises administrative and financial control of intercollegiate athletics at SHSU, including athletic policies and procedures, operating budgets, recruiting standards, and academic standards for student athletes. The President works closely with the Director of Athletics by writing, reviewing, and signing the head coaches’ contracts; consulting with the Director of Athletics to determine sporting events schedules; and meeting regularly with the athletics’ compliance officer to make certain SHSU teams are abiding with all NCAA rules and regulations. In addition, the Presidents conducts annual performance evaluations of the Director of Athletics, as is done for each direct report [5] (See Standard 5.5).
The Director of Athletics also serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet [6]. The President’s Cabinet’s purpose is:
To study, review, and make recommendations on matters brought up by the committee members; to consider university-wide issues and make recommendations where appropriate; to disseminate information on university-wide activities; and to coordinate, where necessary, university-wide activities and policies [6].
The Athletics Advisory Council, reporting to and appointed by the President, advises the Director of Athletics, and ultimately the President on athletic matters. The committee’s purpose is:
Serves as an advisory committee to the Athletics Director in matters pertaining to policy and procedures of intercollegiate athletics. Reviews annually all policies of the Southland Conference and NCAA and recommends appropriate actions to the Athletics Director. Participates in the planning for future needs through evaluation of the overall scope, needs, and benefits of the athletics program. Such planning includes the promotion of athletics programs in the university environment and community and assistance in designing recruitment and persistent strategies that will provide access to and success of student athletes in the completion of a degree program [7].
In addition, as required by the NCAA [8], the President of SHSU appoints a Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) to represent the institution’s relationship with the NCAA and its conferences [9].
Verification that the chief executive officer has ultimate responsibility for, and exercise appropriate control over the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program is also evidenced through the Compliance Review of Southland Conference Members. Approximately every four years, each member of the Southland Conference is reviewed by an external agency on a variety of compliance issues, one of which is “Governance and compliance organization” [10]. The review of SHSU’s athletics programs was most recently conducted in February 2016, and the following was included in the Executive Summary of the external review report:
The President, Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) and Athletics Advisory Committee (AAC) all provide substantive institutional control and oversight of athletics operations, including compliance. The President meets regularly with the Assistant Athletic Director for Certification and Compliance (AADCC) and/or the Compliance Coordinator (CC), the Director of Athletics (AD), and the FAR.
As discussed previously, the Faculty Athletics Representative and the Athletics Advisory Committee are appointed by and report to the President.