INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC

COMMITTEE MEETING

September 21, 2004

 

ATTENDING:  Ron Brinkert, Ray Diez, Lillian Elsinga, Cindy Flom-Meland, Sue Jeno, Paul Kriegler, Ray Lefebvre, Patti Mahar, Susan Nelson, Mark Rudolph, Lowell Schweigert, Bruce Smith, Roger Thomas, Paul Todhunter

 

Recorder:  Bev Hopman

 

Sue Jeno called the meeting to order at 3:38 p.m. in the Medora Room of the Memorial Union. 

 

Minutes:  Ray Diez moved that the minutes from the May 26, 2004, meeting be approved.  Lowell Schweigert seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Introduction of new members:  Sue Jeno welcomed the new members to the committee and asked both returning and new committee members to introduce themselves.  New members in attendance were Ray Lefebvre, Paul Kriegler, Rob Brinkert and Cindy Flom-Meland. 

 

Election of new Chair:  Sue Jeno said she has served as chair of the IAC for the last two years and will be unable to act as chair for the 2004-05 school year.  Lillian Elsinga nominated Paul Todhunter.  He respectfully declined.  Ray Diez nominated Susan Nelson.  Lowell Schweigert seconded.  Lillian Elsinga moved a unanimous ballot be cast for Susan Nelson.  Ron Brinkert seconded.  Motion carried.  Susan Nelson was named the new chair.

 

Selection of fall semester meeting dates and times:  Fall semester meeting dates were set for the third Tuesday of each month at 3:30 p.m.  Sue Jeno asked Roger Thomas if a coach has been selected to serve on the IAC.  Roger Thomas said because of the practice times and team travel, he will appoint a coach for fall semester and a different coach for spring semester. 

 

Review of IAC Duties and Responsibilities:  Sue Jeno verified that everyone had received the memo from Nancy Krogh listing the IAC committee members for 2004-05 and the information on the functions and responsibilities of the committee.  She reviewed those responsibilities as listed: 

  1. Formulate, review and update all policies pertaining to intercollegiate athletics, including those in the Athletic Department Manual.
  2. Review and recommend the annual athletic budget and provide guidance concerning other financial matters of the Intercollegiate Athletic Program.
  3. Review and approve all competitive schedules.
  4. Review and approve all Athletic Department awards to athletes.
  5. Provide information and assistance to the official representative of the University for all athletic conference and NCAA meetings.
  6. Ensure that the intercollegiate athletic program adheres to all policies, rules and regulations set forth by the University administration and the NCAA.
  7. Review policy relating to the use of athletic facilities as they relate to the Athletic Department.
  8. Review policies related to fundraising for athletics.
  9. Establish, implement and annually review policies on equity and nondiscrimination, including monitoring progress toward achieving full gender equity in UND Athletics.
  10. Participate in the search and screening process for head coaches and senior Athletic Department administrators
  11. Maintain and keep current committee website.

 

Update/review of final NCAA Self Study Report:  Roger Thomas said Phil Harmeson submitted the final report to the NCAA and recommended he be asked to report on it at the next meeting.

 

Strategic planning update:  Roger Thomas said the Athletic Department has had three strategic planning meetings to date and has identified specific areas that need attention.  The department is now at the stage to define how to “attack” each problem.  Some of the hot spots identified were Division I vs. Division II, the budget and public relations.  More information will be available at the next meeting.

 

Department reports 

  1. Compliance:  Jared Bruggeman was at an NCAA meeting. Roger Thomas reported that the NCAA has moved into an environment of self-reporting.  Rather than requiring every minor violation be turned into the NCAA, more of the responsibility has been shifted to the college campuses.  Schools submit their minor violations to their conference offices.  Lillian Elsinga said Jared Bruggeman’s policy of reporting to the IAC is an excellent professional procedures.  Sue Jeno asked that the IAC continue to be kept informed of any violations.
  2. Budget:  Athletics is currently reassessing its budget.  Increased costs, including women’s hockey WCHA fees, new medical expenses and scholarship increases, have caused shortages in other areas.  Lowell Schweigert asked if there was a cut in the marketing budget.  Roger Thomas said that there has not been a cut, but the emphasis has been on basketball and volleyball to increase fan attendance at the BESC.  Lillian Elsinga asked what portion of athletic scholarships were covered by student fees.  Roger Thomas said Athletics receives approximately $800,000 from fees.  This year’s scholarship budget is around $1.3 million.  Paul Todhunter asked if Athletics took advantage of some of the tuition compacts.  Roger Thomas said the main recruiting areas besides North Dakota are Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana and Wisconsin.  Wisconsin is not currently a part of any tuition exchange program.
  3. Facilities:  Roger Thomas reported that the new Betty Engelstad Sioux Center is now open and the volleyball team has started playing games there.  When asked why basketball was being played in the Ralph Engelstad Arena, Thomas replied that part of the reason was the money generated from suite sales and also the ability to use the Ralph as a recruiting tool.  Sue Jeno asked how season ticket sales went for basketball.  Roger Thomas said season ticket sales stayed about the same, but that attendance at volleyball has been between 600-700 per game which is considerably higher than attendance was at the Hyslop.  The plan is to grow volleyball and soccer into revenue producing sports.  Paul Todhunter asked what the long range plans were for the old REA.  Roger Thomas said estimates have come in at around one million dollars to repair the old Engelstad Arena’s roof and siding.  It would also cost about one million dollars to tear it down.  If it’s torn down, Athletics would like to build an indoor track and practice facility.  An architect has been hired by UND Facilities to look at various options.  Paul Kriegler said it would give student-athletes a safe place to go in winter.  The Hyslop is now used primarily as a practice facility.
  4. Scheduling:  Roger Thomas said finances have become an important issue in scheduling now that the NCC has changed.  The conference match ups with Fargo and Brookings are gone and those teams have been replaced with teams such as Ferris State and Delta State.  Team travel and guarantees are higher as a result.  Sue Jeno asked if the non-revenue sports are affected as much.  Roger Thomas replied that it impacts them but has more effect on the revenue sports.  Paul Todhunter asked about the future of the NCC and whether the teams would be traveling to the same number of games.  Roger Thomas answered that UND will try to keep most of their games within the region to keep travel days and missed classes to a minimum.  The NCC does not have any schools waiting to join the conference and may have trouble surviving if UND and UNO were to leave the conference.  Lillian Elsinga said Tim O’Keefe indicated an unintended consequence of eliminating the NDSU game may be a decrease in revenue.  Mark Rudolph said the Fighting Sioux Club generates revenue from annual givers who receive ticket preference and preferred parking.  Membership has remained fairly stable.  Roger Thomas said Rob Bollinger and Jeff Bowen work with athletic development and long term giving.
  5. Open positions:  Roger Thomas said the two vacant assistant athletic director positions previously held by Sherry Penner and John Sirignano are being combined into one position which will function as the Athletic Department’s financial officer and senior women’s administrator.  With the opening of the new BESC, facilities and game management duties no longer require a full time AD.  Changes in the coaching staff include: Dave Hakstol replacing Dean Blais as head men’s hockey coach; Cary Eades as a new assistant coach in men’s hockey; Tim Bennett replacing Matt Granstrand in soccer; Dan Tannahill replacing Steve Christian in women’s golf; and the addition of a new full time assistant coach in swimming, Steve Parsons. 

 

Scheduling conflicts:  Roger Thomas said the Athletic Department has identified some upper level classes that traditionally conflict with practice times.  The work done by the IAC through the Dean’s Council has made progress toward solving this issue.  Sue Jeno recommended that the IAC keep this as an ongoing project.  Bruce Smith said to submit the list of problem classes to IAC.  It will then be presented to the Dean’s Council.

 

Class credit for student-athletes:  In March 2002, the IAC endorsed the Student Senate resolution recommending college credit be awarded for participation in varsity athletics.  Ron Brinkert said the proposal was discussed at a PEXS staff meeting and received a “lukewarm” reception.  While Ron Brinkert was on developmental leave no further action was taken on the proposal.  After much discussion, Ron Brinkert said he will discuss this with the PEXS staff and will report at the October IAC meeting.

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.  The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 3:30 p.m.