2008 Woodie Awards
Sports attendance policy under review
Jordan Parker
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Sports & Clubs
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UST's Faculty Senate rejected an attendance policy for student-athletes, proposed on April 3 because members said it undermined the faculty members' individual attendance policies.
Matt Prasifka, director of campus life and interim athletic director, is overseeing the policy-drafting process, according to Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Steve Sutton. "[Prasifka] is working with John Starner, chair of the faculty senate, and John Palasota, our faculty athletics representative," Sutton said.
The first draft of the policy outlined 10 expectations for student-athletes and their professors. "The purpose is to get a uniform record so students and faculty would have an agreement [about attendance]," Starner said. "So, a draft policy was brought forward. But athletics isn't unique; the same issues exist with other co-curricular activities."
Starner said that part of the problem with the draft is the fact that no one is charged with drafting new policies for review. "Matt Prasifka took the initiative to look at the policies of other schools and draft something," he said. He added that Prasifka based his draft on policies at St. Edward's University and Trinity University.
The senate contended that if the student-faculty attendance policy was approved, faculty members' individual attendance policies could be undermined. After discussing the proposal, the senate decided not to approve the draft policy. Starner said it also decided against rewriting it.
"A policy is important, but it must maintain the integrity of the faculty members' position and guide students," Starner said. "The existing policy is a little weak in those areas. Some people believe in red, and others believe in blue, and we have to decide what color to paint the cookies."
Matt Prasifka, director of campus life and interim athletic director, is overseeing the policy-drafting process, according to Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Steve Sutton. "[Prasifka] is working with John Starner, chair of the faculty senate, and John Palasota, our faculty athletics representative," Sutton said.
The first draft of the policy outlined 10 expectations for student-athletes and their professors. "The purpose is to get a uniform record so students and faculty would have an agreement [about attendance]," Starner said. "So, a draft policy was brought forward. But athletics isn't unique; the same issues exist with other co-curricular activities."
Starner said that part of the problem with the draft is the fact that no one is charged with drafting new policies for review. "Matt Prasifka took the initiative to look at the policies of other schools and draft something," he said. He added that Prasifka based his draft on policies at St. Edward's University and Trinity University.
The senate contended that if the student-faculty attendance policy was approved, faculty members' individual attendance policies could be undermined. After discussing the proposal, the senate decided not to approve the draft policy. Starner said it also decided against rewriting it.
"A policy is important, but it must maintain the integrity of the faculty members' position and guide students," Starner said. "The existing policy is a little weak in those areas. Some people believe in red, and others believe in blue, and we have to decide what color to paint the cookies."