Boston College FAR Job Description

Position Title: Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR)

Supervisor’s Title: President of Boston College

Position summary: A full-time member of the faculty who represents faculty perspective on the institution’s conduct of its intercollegiate athletics program.  The FAR supports the faculty’s belief that the intellectual development of students coupled with academic integrity is the primary mission of an institution of higher education, and that the value of extracurricular activities, athletics included, shall be measured by their contribution to that mission.  One of the primary jobs of the FAR is to periodically review the academic progress of all student-athletes to verify their academic eligibility.  The FAR provides counsel to the Director of Athletics in NCAA and conference policy development, sits on athletics committees as appropriate, and, along with the Athletic Director, represents Boston College at conference and NCAA meetings.

General statement of duties:

• 1.      The FAR should periodically review with the Office of Learning Resources for Student-Athletes the academic progress of student-athletes.  The examination of student-athletes’ records would include but not be limited to their progress towards fulfilling major requirements, their courses selected, and their reliance on summer school.  The FAR should have access to all student-athlete transcripts and degree audits, and should receive grade reports on all student-athletes each semester together with summary statistics on grades by team.
• 2.      The FAR should, along with LRSA, Athletics Compliance, and Student Services, certify the academic eligibility of each student-athlete each semester, as required by NCAA regulations, before the athlete engages in any varsity competition.
• 3.      The FAR should serve on the Compliance Committee and play a role in the general oversight of NCAA and conference compliance efforts, including rules education for coaches, student-athletes, faculty, and staff, and periodic spot-checks of records to insure that all institutional compliance systems are engaged and functioning.
• 4.      In the Atlantic Coast Conference, the FAR casts the institutional vote on all matters.
• 5.      The FAR should, in consultation with Athletics administrators and, when appropriate, the President, formulate and convey the Boston College position on NCAA legislation.
• 6.      The FAR should participate in on-campus investigations of possible infractions of NCAA or conference rules.
• 7.      The FAR should assist in reviewing any major institutional inquiry into alleged or suspected rules violations and in the preparation of any major infraction reports submitted to the conference and the NCAA.
• 8.      The FAR should receive copies of all reports of secondary violations of NCAA rules, along with an annual summary of reported violations.
• 9.      The FAR should review the results of any NCAA or conference audits of Athletics.
• 10.  The FAR should play a prominent role in the NCAA’s periodic certification of the athletic program.
• 11.  The FAR should provide assistance and guidance to the LRSA Director in establishing appropriate academic guidelines to assist student-athletes to balance the rigors of extracurricular responsibilities with academic requirements.
• 12.  The FAR should meet periodically with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and inform student-athletes about the FAR role as an independent source of counsel, assistance, and information to student-athletes and coaches.
• 13.  The FAR should play a central role in discussions of appropriate matters related to intercollegiate athletics at faculty or institutional meetings, and should chair the Athletics Advisory Board.
• 14.  In conjunction with the Athletics Advisory Board, the FAR should prepare an annual report to the faculty on athletics.
• 15.  In conjunction with the Athletics Advisory Board, the FAR should conduct an analysis of the academic implications of each team’s practice and competition schedules each semester, and should prepare an annual report on this topic for the Academic Vice President and the Director of Athletics.
• 16.  The FAR should prepare an annual report for the President, the Academic Vice President, the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Director of Athletics, and the Director of LRSA on student-athletes who have left Boston College during the previous year without completing their athletic eligibility or graduating.
• 17.  The FAR should periodically review admissions procedures for student-athletes as well as data on the academic credentials (high school grades and class rank and SAT scores) of admitted student-athletes in comparison with other admitted students.
• 18.  The FAR and the President are the two individuals authorized to sign institutional requests for waivers of NCAA rules.
• 19.  The FAR should coordinate the application process for NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference postgraduate scholarships, and should participate in the selection of nominees for other academic and athletic awards.
• 20.  The FAR, together with all members of the athletic administration, should insure that appropriate standards of student-athlete conduct, on and off campus, are established, clearly communicated, and consistently enforced.
• 21.  The FAR should promote a balance among the academic, athletic, and social lives of student-athletes, affording them opportunities to enjoy the full range of collegiate experiences available to students generally.