Policies and Procedures

Section III Postsecondary Affairs

T. Intercollegiate Athletics

1. Philosophy

   The Board reaffirms the role of intercollegiate athletics as a legitimate and significant component of institutional activity. The responsibility for and control of institutional activities in this area rest with the Board.

   In the area of intercollegiate athletics, the Board seeks to establish programs which:

   1. provide opportunities for student athletes to attend college and participate in athletic programs while pursuing and completing academic degrees;
   2. reflect accurately the priorities and academic character of its institutions;
   3. fuel school spirit and community involvement; and
   4. serve the needs of the institutions as they seek, through their athletic programs, to establish fruitful and sustaining relationships with their constituencies throughout the state and nation.

   Given these goals, the Board has a continuing concern and interest in the academic success of student athletes, the scope and level of competition, and the cost of athletic programs administered by its institutions. Consequently, the Board will, from time to time in the context of this policy statement, promulgate, as necessary, regulations governing the conduct of athletic programs at its institutions.

2. Policies

   The day to day conduct of athletic programs is vested in the institutions and in their chief executive officers. Decision making at the institutional level must be consistent with the policies established by the Board and by those national organizations and conferences with which the institutions are associated. In the event that conflicts arise among the policies of these governance groups, it is the responsibility of the institution's chief executive officer to notify the Board in a timely manner. Likewise, any knowledge of NCAA or conference rule infractions involving an institution should be communicated by the athletic department to the chief executive officer of the institution.

   The Board recognizes that the financing of intercollegiate athletics, while controlled at the institutional level, is ultimately the responsibility of the Board itself. In assuming that responsibility, the sources of funds used by intercollegiate athletics shall be defined in the following categories:

   1. General Education Funds - includes the funds that are appropriated to the institutions (state general account).
   2. Institutional Funds - includes any funds generated by the institution outside the athletic programs.
   3. Student Fee Revenue - includes revenue generated from the full-time and part-time student activity fee that is dedicated to the intercollegiate athletics program.
   4. Program Funds - includes revenue generated directly related to the athletic programs, including but not limited to ticket sales/event revenue, tournament/bowl/conference receipts, media/broadcast receipts, concessions/parking/advertisement, game guarantees and foundation/booster donations.

3. Funds allocated and used by athletic program from the above sources are limited as follows:

   1. General education funds - shall not exceed $665,500 for the universities and $247,500 for Lewis-Clark State College for Fiscal Year 1987. In subsequent years, the limits shall be computed by an adjustment for the rate of change in the general education funds allocated by the Board. Beginning in FY98, the limits for each institution may be raised by the amounts annually approved and budgeted for implementation of institutional gender equity plans.
   2. Institutional funds - shall not exceed $250,000 for Boise State University; $350,000 for Idaho State University; $500,000 for University of Idaho; and $100,000 for Lewis-Clark State College for fiscal year 2000. In subsequent years, these limits shall be computed by an adjustment for the rate of change in the general education funds allocated by the Board.
   3. Student fee revenue - shall not exceed revenue generated from student activity fee dedicated for the athletic program. Increases to the student fee for the athletic program shall be at the same rate of increase as the total student activity fees.
   4. Program funds - the institutions can use the program funds generated, without restriction.

   The president of each institution is accountable for balancing the budget of the athletic department on an annual basis. In accounting for the athletic programs, a fund balance for the total athletic program must be maintained. In the event that revenue within a fiscal year exceeds expenses, the surplus would increase the fund balance and would be available for future fiscal years. In the event that expenses within a fiscal year exceeds revenue, the deficit would reduce the fund balance. If the fund balance becomes negative, the institutions must submit a plan to the Board that eliminates the deficit within two fiscal years. Reduction in program expenditures and/or increase revenue (program funds only) can be used in an institutional plan to eliminate a negative fund balance. If substantial changes in the budget occur during the year resulting in a deficit for that year, the president shall advise the Board of the situation at the earliest opportunity.

   Donation to athletics at an institution must be made and reported according to policy. The amount of booster money donated to and used by the athletic department shall be budgeted in the athletic department budget.

4. Financial Reporting.

   The Board requires that the institutions adopt certain reporting requirements and common accounting practices in the area of intercollegiate athletic financing. The athletic reports shall contain revenues, and expenditures, in the detail prescribed by the Board office, including all revenue earned during a fiscal year. A secondary breakdown of expenditures by sport and the number of participants will also be required. The number and amounts of nonresident tuition waivers and the fund balances as of June 30 of the report year should be included in the report. The general format of the report will be consistent with the format used in recent years. The revenue and expenditures reported on these reports must reconcile to the NCAA Agreed Upon Procedures Reports that are prepared annually and reviewed by the external auditors. The institutions will submit the following reports to the Board:

   1. At the June Board meeting, the institutions shall submit an operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1 in a format prescribed by the Board office.

      (1) Actual revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year most recently completed.

      (2) Estimated revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year.

      (3) Proposed operating budget for the next budget year beginning July 1.

   2. At the February Board meeting, the following fiscal year's financial information will be reported by each institution:

      (1) Actual revenues and expenditures for the prior four (4) fiscal years

      (2) Estimated revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year.

5. Student Athletes - Conduct

   1. Each public college and university shall have a written policy governing the conduct of student athletes. At a minimum, those policies shall include:

      (1) A disclosure statement completed and signed by the student athlete prior to participation in any intercollegiate athletic endeavor, which shall include a description of (1) all prior criminal convictions, (2) all prior juvenile dispositions wherein the student was found to have committed an act that would constitute a misdemeanor or felony if committed by an adult, and (3) all pending criminal charges, including juvenile proceedings alleging any act which would constitute a misdemeanor or felony if committed by an adult.

      (2) This statement will be kept in the office of the athletic director. Failure to accurately disclose all incidents may result in immediate suspension from the team.

   2. Institutions shall not knowingly recruit any person as a player for an intercollegiate athletic team who has been convicted of a felony or, in the case of a juvenile, who has been found to have committed an act which would constitute a felony if committed by an adult. Exemptions to this restriction shall be granted only by the President of the college or university upon recommendation of the athletic director and faculty athletics representative. Such decisions shall be reported in writing to the Executive Director of the State Board of Education at the time the exception is granted.
   3. A student athlete convicted of a felony after enrollment, including a plea of nolo contendere on a felony charge, shall be removed from the team and shall not be allowed to participate again in intercollegiate athletics at any Idaho public college or university. Further, an institution may cancel any athletic financial aid received by a student who is convicted of a felony while the student is receiving athletic financial aid subject to NCAA regulations and the institution's applicable student judicial procedure. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit an institution from exercising disciplinary actions or from implementing student athletic policies or rules that go beyond the minimum requirements stated herein.
   4. Subject to applicable law, all institutions shall implement a drug education and testing program and shall require all intercollegiate student athletes to give written consent to drug testing as a condition of the privilege of participating in intercollegiate athletics.
   5. Institutions shall require their athletic coaches to hold an annual team meeting with their respective teams at the beginning of each season. The coaches shall be required to verbally review the team rules with team members at the meeting. Attendance at this meeting shall be mandatory. Each team member shall receive a written copy of the team rules and sign a statement acknowledging receipt of the rules and attendance at the meeting where the rules were verbally reviewed.

   6. Reporting Requirements

      (1) Student athletes shall immediately report any criminal charges to their head coach and to the athletic director. Coaches shall be obligated to inform the athletic director of any knowledge of charges against their athletes. The athletic director shall report the same to the chief student affairs officer and to the institutional president, who shall report the same in writing to the Executive Director of the State Board of Education as soon as possible, but not later than 10 working days after learning of the charges. The report to the Executive Director shall include a description of the alleged violation of law and the institution's proposed action, if any.

      (2) Coaches shall immediately report the conviction of any student athlete to the athletic director and the institutional president, who shall report the conviction in writing to the Executive Director of the State Board of Education as soon as possible, but not later than 10 working days after the conviction. This report shall include a description of the violation of law and the institution's proposed action, if any.

   7. Review Clause

      This policy shall be reviewed by the Board one year from the time that it goes into effect (effective date - November 16, 1995).

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