The comment from Northern Kentucky University Athletics Director Jane Meier came during a panel discussion of the FAR role, particularly as it relates to advocating the Division II athletics model. Meier, who has been the AD at Northern Kentucky for two-thirds of her 30-year stay there, said because of their objective — and tenured — status, FARs are better positioned to stand up for the integrity of college sports than anyone else on the campus.

“FARs should never minimize the value they bring to the table. You are the eyes and voice back to the president as to what is really going on in the athletics department,” Meier told participants.

“You must ensure the highest standards for student-athletes. Many coaches will do whatever they can to convince you that a student-athlete belongs at the institution whether he or she can succeed academically or not. Make sure you do all you can to understand the coach’s perspective, but above all else ensure the fit between the student-athlete and the school.”

Meier was among five panelists discussing the role of the FAR, both from a procedural perspective (such as certifying eligibility) and an aspirational one (such as serving as an intermediary between athletics and academics).

Division II Presidents Council Chair Charles Ambrose pointed out how the FAR role has changed over the years, particularly in Division II. He said what used to be a “prescriptive and regulated” role has become more of an active engagement in leadership.“Let’s think differently,” he said. “Take what Division II is providing with its strategic-positioning platform and make the integration of athletics and academics come alive. The FAR role is of the utmost utility in that effort. Yes, you are the academic backstop as it relates to the regulatory side of your job, but at the same time, you have an opportunity to change the way relationships within the Division II community are formed.”

The institute is for FARs nominated by their institution or conference who participate in leadership-development sessions. Each member develops an “action plan” to implement on his or her campus, similar to what student-athletes do annually at the NCAA national and regional leadership conferences. The primary goal for the faculty participants this year was to understand the Division II strategic-positioning platform and advance faculty involvement in the Division II athletics model.

Above: Student-athletes at Emporia State University conceived, planned and executed a “Take a Step Back in Time” dance that brought senior citizens to the campus for a successful interactive event. (Photos courtesy of Emporia State Sports Information)

FARs applaud oldie-but-goodie outreach effort

Division II’s community-engagement effort is resonating with just about every constituency group, even the faculty. Participants at the third annual Division II FAR Fellows Institute in October heard a community-engagement success story from Emporia State that Division II Presidents Council Chair Charles Ambrose is passing along every chance he gets.

“Emporia State student-athletes reached out to the many elderly in their community and now those people are taking mass transit to get to their games,” Ambrose told the NCAA Executive Committee in November.

Indeed, at the FAR Institute, Emporia State Associate Athletics Director Carmen Leeds talked about the school’s senior citizen prom that stemmed from an existing outreach effort in which Emporia State students visit senior citizens in their homes to help with tasks that younger folks could easily take for granted, such as yard work, snow shoveling and cleaning.

The “Take a Step Back in Time” dance brought the senior citizens to campus. Student-athletes welcomed their guests with an arm and escort into a ballroom of twinkling lights, candles and rose petals. “The student-athletes were nervous at first and unsure how to dance to this different style of music,” Leeds said. “However, once they asked the seniors to dance, they realized the seniors were eager to teach them. Many seniors even wanted to ‘set up’ these student-athletes with their grandchildren. As the event came to an end, many student-athletes said they hoped someone would have a similar event for them when they were older.”

The effort continues to pay dividends.

“Now,” Leeds said, “our players look into the stands and see seniors cheering their hearts out for ‘their’ student-athletes.”