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FARA Constitution - Click here to download a PDF of the Constitution.

See below for the FARA Constitution in its entirety.

CONSTITUTION
OF THE
FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION\

MISSION

The mission of the Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (FARA) is as follows:

  • To clarify and articulate the role of the FAR on individual campuses;
  • To enhance the level of institutional support provided to FARs in support of their efforts to ensure academic integrity, institutional control and student-athlete welfare;
  • To provide orientation and professional development programs for FARs;
  • And to offer a collective voice for FARs on intercollegiate athletics issues of national significance.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  • We believe that intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of the mission of the academic institution. We acknowledge the benefits of intercollegiate athletics, and we believe that intercollegiate athletics can bring many positive attributes to the collegiate community.
  • We believe that the well-being of the student-athlete is an essential concern of the university. We take seriously the faculty athletics representative’s responsibility to ensure that student-athletes are supported properly and treated fairly.
  • We believe that institutional academic integrity is essential. It is the faculty athletics representatives’ role to ensure that the academic institution establishes and maintains the appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics.
  • We believe that conference academic integrity is essential. It is the faculty athletics representatives’ role to advocate the appropriate emphasis on academics in the conference.
  • We believe that academic integrity must be a priority within the NCAA. It is FARA’s role to advocate the appropriate emphasis on academics in NCAA discussions, NCAA committee decisions and NCAA member legislation.
  • We believe that FARA is the collective voice of faculty athletics representatives in all three NCAA divisions. It is FARA’s role to advocate

 

ARTICLE ONE--Name
The name of this organization shall be Faculty Athletics Representatives Association, herein called FARA.

ARTICLE TWO--Purposes
The purposes of FARA are as follows:

  •  (a) To address academic issues affecting the integrity of intercollegiate athletics. Among such issues are any that significantly affect positively or negatively a student-athlete's commitment or opportunity to achieve a baccalaureate degree.
  • (b) To provide a means by which faculty athletics representatives (FARs) may express their views and concerns about intercollegiate athletics.
  • (c) To study and evaluate proposed NCAA legislation, and to inform FARA members of the nature and implications of proposals that are of concern to those members.
  • (d) To inform other constituencies about FARA's position on proposed NCAA legislation and issues affecting the integrity of intercollegiate athletics.
  • (e) To disseminate to FARA members any information that should be of interest to them.
  • (f) To assist FARA members in promoting the fundamental principles of the NCAA. These include:
    • (1) Maintaining athletics programs as a vital part of the educational program and ensuring that student-athletes are an integral part of the student body (NCAA Constitution 2.5).
    • (2) Ensuring that participation in intercollegiate athletics is motivated primarily by the educational, physical, mental and social benefits to be derived, so that a clear line of demarcation between amateur and professional sports is maintained (NCAA Constitution 2.9 and Bylaw 12.01.2).
    • (3) Establishing and maintaining an environment in which a student-athlete's activities are conducted as an integral part of the student-athlete's educational experience (NCAA Constitution 2.2.1).
    • (4) Establishing and maintaining institutional control of the intercollegiate athletics program (NCAA Constitution 2.1).
    • (5) Compliance with all applicable rules and regulations of the NCAA and monitoring intercollegiate athletics programs to ensure such compliance (NCAA Constitution 2.8).
    • (6) Involving student-athletes in matters that affect their lives (NCAA Constitution 2.2.6).
  • (g) To hold regular and special meetings as means of implementing the above purposes and conducting the business of FARA.

 

ARTICLE THREE--Membership

  • (a) Eligibility. All FARs of institutional members of the NCAA are members of FARA. All FARs of provisional institutions are non-voting members of FARA.
  • (b) Conditions of Membership. Members will remain in good standing as long as they occupy the position of institutional FAR.
  • (c) Continuing Education. All FARs should attend periodic educational meetings such as the FARA Annual Meeting and Symposium, NCAA Regional Rules Seminars, Title IX Seminar, and/or NCAA Convention.

ARTICLE FOUR--Officers

  • (a) Officers of FARA. The officers of FARA will be President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Division I Vice President, Division II Vice President, Division III Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer. The non-renewable term of office for each officer shall be one (1) year except for the Secretary-Treasurer who shall serve a two-year renewable term.
  • (b) Duties of Officers:
    • (1) President. The President is the chief executive officer of FARA and chairperson of the Executive Committee. He/she will be responsible for the agenda for the annual FARA Annual Meeting and Symposium, the FARA programming at the NCAA Convention, and planning and administering the affairs of FARA in a way that furthers the mission and purposes of the organization. He/she will, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, make any appointments called for by these bylaws or other appointments considered necessary to conduct the affairs of FARA. The President will be a member of the Nominating Committee and serve as chair. At the conclusion of his/her term as President, he/she will assume the role of Immediate Past President. If for any reason the President is unable to continue in office, the President Pro-Tem, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, shall determine who will complete the term of the vacated Presidency.
    • (2) President-Elect. The President-Elect will serve as a general assistant to the President, carrying out such duties as the President may assign him/her. He/she will serve as a member of the Executive Committee and the Nominating Committee. He/she will serve as President Pro Tem in case of the President’s absenceAt the conclusion of his/her term as President-Elect, he/she will assume the role of President.
    • (3) Division I Vice President. The Division I Vice President will have responsibility for planning FARA meetings based on recommendations of the President, President-Elect, and the Executive Committee. He/she will serve as a member of the Executive Committee and represent Division I's interests in all aspects of his/her duties.
    • (4) Division II Vice President. The Division II Vice President will have responsibility for planning FARA meetings based on recommendations of the President, President-Elect, and the Executive Committee. He/she will serve as a member of the Executive Committee and represent Division II's interests in all aspects of his/her duties.
    • (5) Division III Vice President. The Division III Vice President will have responsibility for planning FARA meetings based on recommendations of the President, President-Elect, and the Executive Committee. He/she will serve as a member of the Executive Committee and represent Division III's interests in all aspects of his/her duties.
    • (6) Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for recording minutes of the FARA Executive Committee and business meetings, filing and preserving FARA's official records, managing the FARA budget in accordance with the FARA Executive Committee financial policies, reporting on budgetary matters at FARA business meetings, assembling and coordinating materials for possible publication in the NCAA News or general newsletter mailings, and collecting and distributing biographical information on candidates for election to FARA positions. The Secretary-Treasurer will serve as a member of the Executive Committee.
    • (7) Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President will serve as a member of the Executive Committee and the Nominating Committee. He/she will assist the President by performing duties assigned by the President. He/she will serve as President Pro Tem in case of the President and President-Elect’s absence or inability to serve.

ARTICLE FIVE--Executive Committee

(a) Composition. The Executive Committee will consist of fifteen members: the officers of FARA and eight other members. The eight additional members will consist of one from a Division I institution that is neither a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) or a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) institution, two from Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) institutions, one from a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) institution, two from Division II institutions, and two from Division III institutions.

(b) Terms of office. The term of office on the Executive Committee for the officers shall coincide with the terms of their elected position. The term of office for the eight (8) additional members shall be two (2) years, nonrenewable. These terms should be staggered so that four (4) new members are elected each year (two (2) from Division I, one (1) from Division II and one (1) from Division III). In the case of an Executive Committee member changing institutions or an institution represented by a committee member changing classification, that Executive Committee member may continue to serve on the Executive Committee so long as they remain FARA members and continue to meet the criteria of the position to which he/she was elected.

(c) Duties. The Executive Committee will be empowered to conduct business of FARA subject to approval of the membership. The President of FARA will preside at meetings of the Executive Committee.

(d) Vacancies. Unanticipated vacancies on the Executive Committee may be filled by an emergency appointment at the discretion of the President or President Pro Tem with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee. The appointed individual will serve for the duration of the vacated term. The person appointed will be eligible for election to a subsequent full term, except for the President-Elect.
ARTICLE SIX--Elections

(a) Nominations

(1) The President, President-Elect, and Immediate Past President will serve as the Nominating Committee. The President will chair this committee.

(2) The committee will prepare a slate of candidates by June 15 and will solicit nominations from the membership. The membership can nominate additional candidates by submitting to the President a nominating petition endorsed by at least five (5) FARA members by September 1. Candidates should submit a biography to the Secretary-Treasurer. The slate shall be published on the FARA Web site and in other appropriate publications by September 15.

(3) All candidates must be FARA members in good standing.

(4) Nominations will close on September 1.
(5) A list of all candidates and their brief biographical profiles will be posted on the FARA Web site.
(b) Elections
(1) The President-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer will be elected by the FARA membership, excluding provisional members. Balloting will be done electronically on the FARA Web site or by other means determined by the Executive Committee. Balloting will conclude on November 1.

(2) Vice Presidents and Divisional Representatives: Balloting for these positions will be conducted concurrently with the officer elections. Voting will be by division (I, II and III) with FARA members of the individual divisions electing only their representatives and Vice Presidents.

(3) The candidate with the most votes cast wins the election. In the event of a tie, run-off election will be conducted until a candidate receives a plurality of votes cast.

(c) Commencement of terms: Incoming officers and Executive Committee member’s terms will begin at the close of the FARA Annual Meeting and Symposium.
ARTICLE SEVEN--Meetings

(a) FARA shall conduct a business meeting annually in conjunction with the FARA Annual Meeting and Symposium. An additional meeting may be conducted at the NCAA Convention if deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. FARA may also meet at other times if the Executive Committee deems such meetings to be necessary. All meetings are chaired by the President.

(b) The Executive Committee meets annually in the spring and in conjunction with the FARA Annual Meeting and Symposium, the NCAA Convention, and other times as the President or a majority of the Executive Committee shall deem necessary.

ARTICLE EIGHT--Committees

In addition to the Executive and Nominating committees (see Articles V and VI), the following shall be the standing committees of FARA:

(a) Legislative Review Committees (LRC)

(1) The Division I LRC shall be composed of a minimum of four (4) members, one from a Division I institution that is neither a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) or a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) institution, two from Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) institutions, and one from a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) institution. The members shall be appointed by the Division I Vice President in consultation with the Executive Committee to a one-year renewable term. The Division I Vice President will designate one (1) member to serve as the chair of the committee.

(2) The Division II and Division III LRCs shall each be composed of a minimum of four (4) members. The members shall be appointed by the Division Vice President in consultation with the Executive Committee to a one-year renewable term. The Division Vice President will designate one (1) member to serve as the chair of each committee.

(3) The duties and responsibilities of the LRCs shall be: (a) to review potential and proposed amendments to the NCAA Constitution or Operating Bylaws whenever deemed appropriate, but no less than once during an academic year; and (b) to report such proposed changes to the FARA membership at the FARA Annual Meeting and Symposium, along with recommendations as to FARA’s position regarding proposed amendments.

(b) Awards Committee: The Executive Committee as a whole will serve as the Awards Committee. This committee will solicit nominations from the membership for the David Knight Award for Outstanding Service to FARA, and select the recipients. Recipients will be chosen on the basis of their extraordinary contributions to FARA, and need not be members of FARA. This award is not required to be given each year. This award will be presented at the FARA Annual Meeting and Symposium.

(c) Communications Committee: This committee will be appointed by the President of FARA with recommendation from the Executive Committee, and shall include one member of the Executive Committee from each Division, and the FARA Secretary-Treasurer. The President shall appoint the Chair of the committee. Other FARs, either from the Executive Committee, or non Executive Committee members, may be appointed to the committee by the FARA President. The Communications Committee shall appoint the editor of the FARA Voice in consultation with the FARA President and the Executive Committee and will provide general oversight to the FARA Voice, the FARA web site, the FARA list serves, and any other means of FARA communications. The editor of the FARA Voice shall be a member of the FARA Executive Committee.

(d) Budget Initiatives Committee: This committee will be appointed by the President of FARA with recommendation from the Executive Committee, and shall include one member of the Executive Committee from each Division, and the FARA Secretary-Treasurer. The President shall appoint the Chair of the committee. Other FARs, either from the Executive Committee, or non Executive Committee members, may be appointed to the committee by the FARA President. This committee will be responsible for developing the bi-annual FARA budget request.

(e) In addition to standing committees, ad hoc committees may also exist as part of FARA. Such committees will be appointed on an as-needed basis by the President of FARA, with the cooperation and advice of the Executive Committee. Selection of the committee members, terms of service, and duties and responsibilities of ad hoc committees will be determined by the President at the time of such committee’s creation.

ARTICLE NINE--Parliamentary Authority

(a) The Parliamentarian for FARA shall be an Executive Committee member appointed by the President. He/she shall be responsible for maintaining parliamentary procedure throughout FARA meetings. Parliamentary decisions may be explained by the Parliamentarian. Such decisions may be reversed only by a three-quarters (3/4) majority vote of the members present.

(b) The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern FARA in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules this organization adopts.

ARTICLE TEN--Resolutions

Resolutions. Any member of FARA may offer a resolution to be considered at any meeting of the association provided that the resolution is submitted in writing to the President at least one week prior to the Executive Committee meeting at the FARA Fall Annual Meeting and Symposium or at the NCAA Convention. The President, in consultation with the Executive Committee, will determine whether the resolution is germane to the nature and purposes of FARA and consequently appropriate for consideration by the association.

ARTICLE ELEVEN—Amendment of Bylaws

Amendments

(a) Proposed amendments accompanied by the written support of at least five (5) members may be submitted to the President in writing. The Executive Committee can also propose amendments.

(b) Proposed amendments shall be distributed in writing and via the FARA Web site to the membership at least 30 days before the opening day of the business meeting at which the amendment is to be considered for adoption.

(c) Amendments to proposed amendments may be presented from the floor of the business meeting at which the proposed amendments are considered. Approval of amendments to proposed amendments shall require a simple majority of the members present and voting.

(d) Approval of amendments shall require a two-thirds (2/3rds) majority of the members present and voting.

Faculty Athletics Representatives Association
January 6, 2007
Revised November 2010