Intercollegiate Athletics Committee
Academic Senate, Los Angeles Division
Minutes of Meeting
January 10, 2003
Present:
M. Pollner, A. Cracchiolo, J. Riley, S. Hame, D. Morrison (Ex-officio), R. Carducci
Absence:
E. Sinclair
Staff:
M. Avila, D. Dang
Guests:
D. Guerrero, B. Stephenson
Meeting:
The meeting was called to order at 10:06 am
1.
PREVIEWING ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION WITH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR GUERRERO & B.
STEPHENSON
The committee reviewed issues and concerns that the committee wants to bring to D. Guerrero’s
attention.
Discussion:
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2.
Obtain D. Guerrero’s input and advice on how the committee could facilitate the academic
performance and progress of student athletes.
Members wondered if a representative can participate in the Athletic Department’s meeting to be
informed on current issues confronting the Athletic Department.
 Although M. Pollner is on the Special Action Committee, which gives the committee
tremendous involvement on reviewing student recruits than other schools, committee
members feel they receive most of their information concerning the Athletic Department
through the media, which can be inaccurate and usually bad news.
MEETING WITH DAN GUERRERO AND BETSY STEPHENSON
Chair welcomed new athletic director and gave an overview of the committee’s function. The
committee’s function can be broken down into three broad categories concerning student athletes.
I. Academic performance of athletes: Committee looks at graduation rate and GPA. The
committee noticed that the overall graduation rate and GPA at UCLA is comparable, if not better,
than most universities. However, the overall GPA for the men’s and women’s basketball team is
below national average.
II. Admission of student athletes: There is a growing disparity between high risk student
athletes and the overall UCLA student body on high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores.
Committee is concerned on how these high risk student athletes compete academically with the
overall UCLA student body.
III. Image and substances: Off-field activities that affects UCLA’s image, such as handicap
parking, fights, gifts, etc.
Other issues that the committee would like Athletics Director (AD) to address:
IAC Minutes, 11-1-02 Meeting
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How are athletic department and athletes affected by NCAA revision of eligibility based on
GPA/SAT score combination, possibility of UCLA changing to a semester system, and the “arms
race” with salary, stadium, training facilities, etc. among athletic departments?
Advice and guidance on what the committee might incorporate or be a voice for the athletic
department to enhance student athletes’ academic performance.
Are there additional levels of communication that can be opened? Committee is looking for
possible avenues to increase its current communication channel with the athletic department.
AD Daniel Guerrero’s response:
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AD’s missions are to produce a national competitive program, achieve high academic level
(including equity and diversity issues), and provide a “service” to UCLA and the UC system.
Image & Substance – There are 110 athletes on the football team and a few made some very
poor decisions. Their actions do not reflect the overall behaviors of student athletes. In
terms of the football team, Toledo was replaced not because of a single game. Toledo was
replaced because things that need to change will not occur under his management system.
UCLA annually admits approximately 600 student athletes. AD felt that the department is
achieving at a higher level than most schools in terms of student athlete’s graduation rate,
GPA, and athletic performance.
o It is a tough balancing act between recruiting athletes that are athletically talented and
excellent academic performers. However, AD believes that there is always room for
further improvement.
AD felt NCAA’s decision to modify its GPA/SAT score combination for eligibility will not have a
negative impact on how UCLA Athletic Department admits student athletes.
AD mentioned most universities run into the “red” with their “arms race,” which is not how
he wants to manage UCLA Athletic Department. However, AD believes UCLA should provide
first rate facilities for its athletes.
Committee members asked AD how faculty might provide support to student athletes.
o There is a mentoring program at UCI. Faculty members sign-up for a team and serve
as a support base for the athletes. This also provides faculty members a better
comprehension on the challenges that student athletes encounter.
o UCLA began a program where faculty members come to pre-game gatherings.
However, it does not provide a one-on-one interaction as the mentoring program at
UCI.
o AD would like to get consistent feedbacks from faculty members on student athletes’
progress in class.
o There are 3 staffs that work directly with student athletes on Academic issues. The
staffs are trained and report to the College of L&S in Murphy Hall on a weekly basis.
The staffs have used the College to assist them in resolving conflicts between student
athletes and professors.
Committee discussion
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Committee members like the idea of having a mentoring program. Members suggest
creating a pilot program with a few interested coaches and faculty members. Men’s tennis
coach, Billy Martin, was mentioned as a possible good candidate to participate in the pilot
program.
ACTIONS:
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J. Riley will meet with Jillian Ellis, women’s soccer coach, to brainstorm some ideas and will
report back to the committee.
IAC Minutes, 11-1-02 Meeting
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3.
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Chair will draft a letter to D. Guerrero to seek his suggestions in creating a pilot mentoring
program. The draft will be sent among committee members for inputs before sending the
final letter to D. Guerrero.
IMPACT OF SEMESTER/QUARTER SYSTEM
The Report of the Joint/Senate Administration Committee to Study the UCLA Academic Calendar
compared the graduation rate between UCLA’s and UC Berkeley’s student athletes. The report found no
differences between the quarter system (UCLA) and semester system (UCB). However, the report noted
that high risk student athletes’ academic performance was better on the semester system than the
quarter system but there were no data to support the claim. Report also looked at whether at risk
students in AAP academically performed better than students in non-supportive programs. The result is
that there were no differences on poor academic performances (i.e. on probations, STD, etc.). Greatest
impact on students will be adjusting from the quarter system to the semester system. In addition,
athletes on fall sport teams are in a disadvantage in the quarter system. They have to attend practices,
which prevent them from having a summer job to gain “real-life” experience.
ACTION: Committee will summarize its observations.
4.
REVIEW “CALL FOR COALITION ON INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS”
The faculty governance leaders from the Big Ten schools formed a coalition that will collaborate with the
Association of Governing Boards and the American Association of University Professors to address
national problems in intercollegiate athletics.
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Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics sent an email to all Pac-10 presidents. The email requests
Pac-10 presidents to consult with each other to select one or two presidents to participate on the
steering committee.
A member speculated that the coalition was created because faculty and athletic directors felt
disengaged from NCAA. In the past there were meetings between NCAA, faculty representatives
and athletic directors to address issues. Today, the power shifts to the NCAA commissioner.
Another member wondered what authority the coalition would have in confronting NCAA.
ACTION: Chair M. Pollner will write a letter to Senate Chair Lindsey stating that last year the
committee was asked to participate in a similar action. No action is necessary at this time.
The committee’s advice is to stay in touch with other PAC-10 presidents to see what
policies arise in the future.
5.
OTHER BUSINESS MINUTES
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Any comments on 11/1/02 minutes should be sent to Ms. Avila via email.
Reschedule February meeting
ACTION: Cancel February’s meeting and arrange a meeting date in March.
6.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 am