3.2.11 Control of Intercollegiate Athletics

Comprehensive Standard: The institution’s chief executive officer has ultimate responsibility for, and exercises appropriate administrative and fiscal control over, the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.

X  Compliance
     Partial Compliance
     Non-Compliance

Narrative:

The organization chart of Georgia State University shows that the Director of Athletics reports directly to the University President.[1] The Director of Athletics is a university administrator and, therefore, serves at the pleasure of the university president.

In addition to direct presidential oversight, the university provides two key mechanisms by which the intercollegiate athletic program is held accountable to the university and its faculty.  As an administrative unit of the university, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, like any other administrative unit, is reviewed on an on-going regular basis by the university Administrative and Support Unit Review Committee.  Additionally, the University Senate has an Athletics Committee that has a faculty chair and a majority membership by university faculty.

In addition to direct control over the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, the university president also maintains appropriate fiscal control over the Georgia State University Athletic Association (GSUAA).  The GSUAA is a legal entity distinct from Georgia State University.  The BOR Policy Manual requires all “cooperative organizations” (such as the GSUAA) to sign a uniform memorandum of understanding.[2] This memorandum specifies that the cooperative organization must annually have an independent audit and must provide a copy of that audit to the university president.[3]  (Further discussion of the GSUAA's MOU can be found at Standard 3.2.13.) Additionally, the organization’s financial records must be available for inspection by the university president.

The president also maintains appropriate administrative control over the GSUAA.[4]  The By-Laws of the GSUAA Board of Trustees prescribe that all Board Officers are appointed to a two-year term by the university president.  Any Board Officer vacancies during the two years are also filled by appointment by the university president.  The BOR Policy Manual (Section 1905) specifies that cooperative organizations may continue a relationship with the university only when the president determines that a continuing relationship is in the university’s best interest.

Supporting Documentation:

  1. Georgia State University Organizational Chart
  2. BOR Policy Manual Section 1905
  3. BOR Memorandum of Understanding between Georgia State University and GSUAA
  4. By-Laws of the GSUAA Board of Trustees: