NCAA SELF-STUDY CERTIFICATION

MINUTES OF THE FISCAL INTEGRITY SUBCOMMITTEE

APRIL 15, 2003, 10:00 A.M.

Present:          Ed Nolan, Ryan Rzepka, Marjorie Goodhue, Cheryl Verbruggan, Linda Switzer, Nick O’Shea, Simon Dover, Jane Bentham

Ed Nolan e-mailed everyone the draft report with the previously discussed changes.

Operating Principle 3.3

            Ed Nolan and Marjorie Goodhue met with Robert Johnson, Cindy Hermsen and Tracy Huth on two occasions regarding the University’s fiscal policies and procedures covering financial aid to student-athletes.  Ed indicated that due to staff turnover and shortages in the Financial Aid Department, financial aid administration responsibilities were often performed by the Compliance Coordinator and Associate Director in the Athletic Department to maintain compliance with NCAA rules and regulations.  As these responsibilities should be handled by the Financial Aid Department, it appears that the University does not have in place all procedures necessary to ensure that student-athletes are not provided with benefits that are prohibited by NCAA legislation (self-study question 3.3b).  This issue also impacts the Compliance Subcommittee (1.3) who must also address the adequacy of financial aid administration procedures.

            Ed indicated that based on information gathered to date, the answer to self-study question 3.3b should be no.  Since there is no current plan to address this finding (budget issue), the overall answer to question 3.3 should also be no.  Further review of the draft report may result in the University’s decision to establish a plan to address this issue.  Ed asked for discussion and concurrence from the subcommittee.  The subcommittee concurred with the proposed treatment of this issue in the draft report.

Operating Principle 3.2

            Ed indicated that the subcommittee’s answer to question 3.2 is currently no due to reasons documented in the report appendix covering 3.2.7.  Again, since there is no plan to address this finding (budget issue), Ed indicated that the overall answer to question 3.2 should also be no.  Further review of the draft report may result in the University’s decision to establish a plan to address this issue.  Ed asked for discussion and concurrence from the subcommittee.  The subcommittee concurred with the proposed treatment of this issue in the draft report.

Nick O’Shea presented written language outlining recommendations for a soccer stadium.  The subcommittee decided that a side letter should be presented to the University’s administration including this and other findings from the self-study that are outside the scope of the self-study report.

It was agreed that subcommittee members would read the draft report and sign off by April 23.  The final draft report with appendixes will be in Jane Bentham’s office by Wednesday, April 16.  You can sign off in person or by e-mail to Jane.  Also, if after reading the draft report, you have any comments, please e-mail Ed Nolan.  Ed will turn in the draft report to Vic Zambardi after April 23.  The report is due by April 30.