Texas Rio Grande Valley Athletics

NCAA Bylaw 4.02.2 states a faculty athletics representative (FAR) is a member of an institution’s faculty or administrative staff who is designated by the institution’s president or chancellor or other appropriate entity to represent the institution and its faculty in the institution’s relationships with the NCAA. In Bylaw 6.1.3 the NCAA states the FAR shall be a member of the institution’s faculty or an administrator who holds faculty rank and shall not hold an administrative or coaching position in the athletics department.  

The major responsibilities of the Faculty Athletic Representative at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are in the areas of compliance and academic integrity, although success in those areas requires teamwork and cooperation among a number of individuals on campus. The FAR shall have the following responsibilities and others as shall be assigned by the President:
 
Communication
·          The FAR serves as liaison between UTRGV faculty, administration, and the department of intercollegiate athletics.
 
·          The FAR reports annually to the Faculty Senate on the academic performance of student-athletes and other matters related to the department of intercollegiate athletics.
 
Advocate for Student-Athlete Academic Development and Welfare
·          The FAR serves in an oversight capacity for the personal welfare of student-athletes. Such oversight shall include playing an active role with the institution’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and either participating in orientation sessions and in the mandated student-athlete exit interviews or reviewing the results of the exit interviews.
 
·          The FAR reviews reports regarding the academic performance of student athletes. Such reports will be reviewed 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 UTRGV. The FAR reports such information to the Athletic Council, Faculty Senate, and the President.
 
·          The FAR works with the Director of Athletics regarding major appointments in the department of intercollegiate athletics to insure individuals placed in positions of responsibility are fully committed to the academic development and welfare of student-athletes. 
 
Institutional Oversight and Review
·          The FAR chairs the Athletics Council.
 
·          The FAR monitors the recruitment, eligibility, and academic progress of student-athletes.
 
·          The FAR is a signatory on NCAA forms ensuring that the processes used to verify that student-athletes meet all NCAA and institutional requirements for eligibility, practice, financial aid, and competition are effective.
 
·          The FAR signs all requests for waivers and appeals of NCAA legislation, rules or processes.
 
·          The FAR is responsible for the administration of the annual coaches’ certification exam that all coaches must pass before recruiting off-campus.
 
·          The FAR will be informed of any allegations of major violations of NCAA rules or regulations or of any inquiries into alleged or suspected rules violations.
 
·          The FAR will be actively involved with any investigation and the preparation of an infractions report submitted to the NCAA.
 
·          The FAR receives the results of any audits of the department of intercollegiate athletics.
 
·          The FAR will be involved in student-athlete appeals (i.e. non-renewal of financial aid, transfer denials).
 
In order to fulfill the duties and responsibilities described above, the FAR will receive a three credit hour release per academic year. To facilitate the FAR’s professional development, the FAR will attend the FARA annual meeting.  A travel budget for the FARA meeting will be provided by the office of the vice president overseeing the athletics program or the president’s office. The FAR will also attend NCAA conventions, athletics conference meetings, compliance seminars, and training programs when deemed appropriate by the FAR and the President.
 
The FAR will perform other duties that relate to the intercollegiate athletics programs assigned by the President.
 
The FAR job description will be reviewed and updated every five years by the FAR, the chair of the Faculty Senate, and the President.