 Montana State University-Bozeman
NCAA Athletics Certification Self-Study 2001-2002 Equity, Welfare and Sportsmanship 
Operating Principle
4.3 Student-Athlete Welfare Conducting the intercollegiate athletics program in a manner designed to protect and enhance the physical and educational welfare of student-athletes is a basic principle of the Association. Consistent with this fundamental principle, the institution shall:
Self-Study Items 1. Explain how the institution is organized to further its efforts related to the student-athlete welfare operating principle and provide evidence that matters concerning student-athlete welfare are monitored, evaluated and addressed on a continuing basis.
The Athletics Academic Center, staffed by a representative of the Registrar’s Office, acts as a liaison between athletics and the University. The Athletics Academic Coordinator provides information to student-athletes about services available on campus. This coordinator also works closely with the FAR on a daily basis to determine eligibility and to ensure that student-athletes are making progress towards the 25/50/75% NCAA guideline. The Academic Coordinator monitors academic progress by conducting grade checks when needed. A representative from the Financial Aid Office helps monitor compliance issues, along with the FAR and members of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. In addition, the Office of Student Affairs coordinates many programs such as Advance by Choice, Disabled Student Services, First Year Initiative, and Student Health Services, which are available to student-athletes and students generally. These areas of campus support are explained in Academic Integrity, Operating Principle 2.2.
2. Describe the institution's educational enhancement programs (e.g., education regarding career guidance counseling; personal counseling; health and safety; alcohol and other drug guidelines [see the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook, Guideline No. 1-E]; non-academic components of life skills programs) available to student-athletes. Describe practices/procedures in place to encourage and assure student-athletes' access to these programs.
Programs available to student-athletes regarding career guidance counseling and other educational enhancement programs are listed in Academic Integrity, Operating Principle 2.2. (See Table II-14)
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has adopted a Drug Education, Testing and Treatment Program for all athletes who participate in intercollegiate athletics. This program combines the use of a drug education component with a system for drug testing and referral to counseling and treatment, if necessary. For a detailed description of the program, please refer to pages 22-28 of the Student-Athlete Handbook. Other health and safety issues, including athletic training room information and strength and conditioning policies, are addressed in the Student-Athlete Handbook on pages 29-31 and 34-36.
Other university services available to all students, including student-athletes, are:
There is no formal life skills program within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, such as the NCAA’s CHAMPS program. Student-athletes use facilities and services provided to all students at MSU. The Dean of Students reports that many student-athletes utilize these campus services.
3. Describe the institution's process for conducting the student-athlete exit interviews required by NCAA Constitution 6.3.2 and the means by which this information is used to better the student-athlete experience. Describe other avenues available to student-athletes to provide input. Attach written materials (e.g., forms) used to document student-athlete exit interviews.
In past years, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics’ staff members have conducted student-athlete exit interviews for seniors who have exhausted their eligibility. These interviews have been kept on file in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. (See Appendix IV-G for a copy of the exit interview.) As of this spring, the faculty members of the Athletics Committee have begun conducting confidential exit interviews with student-athletes who have completed their eligibility or are graduating or leaving at the end of the academic year. This process consists of inviting student-athletes by letter (Appendix IV-H) to participate in filling out a questionnaire and meeting individually with the members of the Athletics Committee. Initial estimates from the Athletics Committee indicate that approximately 90% of eligible student-athletes have completed the exit interviews. The Athletics Committee then summarizes its findings and presents written reports to President Gamble and the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics with positive findings, recommendations, and key concerns from the interviews. In the fall, the Athletics Committee will request a verbal report from the Director in Intercollegiate Athletics on progress towards the recommendations. Other avenues available to student-athletes for input include the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Athletics Committee, which has two representatives from student-athletes. Student-athletes also have direct access to the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Associate Directors of Intercollegiate Athletics.
4. Describe and provide a copy of the institution's grievance or appeals procedures available to student-athletes.
Appendix G of the Student-Athlete Handbook outlines the steps involved in the grievance procedures of a student-athlete having a substantive issue over which the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has administrative responsibility. In summary, an athlete submits a written statement of his/her complaint to a Department of Intercollegiate Athletics’ Administrator. If the issue is not resolved, then the student can appeal to the Athletics Committee, which reviews the findings proposed by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. A further appeal can be made to the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Financial Aid Committee for a final decision by the University.
Students who disagree with an academic decision may file a grievance under procedures outlined in a pamphlet entitled "Conduct Guidelines and Grievance Procedures for Students" provided by the Dean of Students Office. Briefly, the steps in the grievance procedure include (1) an informal meeting with the instructor or administrator, (2) a written grievance presented to the instructor’s Department Head/Director before the end of the term, (3) a review of all evidence and interviews by the Department Head/Director, (4) an appeal of the Department Head/Director to the instructor’s College Dean, and finally (5) an appeal of the Dean’s decision to the Provost. The decision of the Provost is the final decision of the University.
5. Identify the administrator who is responsible for the institutional awareness of health, safety, and sports medicine policies. Describe the process by which these policies and guidelines are disseminated within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, who receives this information and how these issues are addressed within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. [Note: The institution may want to refer to the equitable medical care section of the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook Guideline No. 1-A as a guide in responding to this self-study item.]
The Senior Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics for Internal Operations is responsible for the health, safety, and sports medicine policies within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. The head trainer and strength and conditioning coach, as well as the head coaches, report directly to the Senior Associate Director for Internal Operations.
The department follows NCAA Sports Medicine Guidelines in establishing policies for health and safety of student-athletes. Additionally, coaches receive information during coaches meetings within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Information is provided to student-athletes in the Student-Athlete Handbook on pages 22-31 and pages 34-36, and also on a one-to-one basis by coaches and training room personnel.
6. Attach a copy of the institution’s emergency medical plan for practices and games, including its written emergency plan for the athletics program and specific coverage for out-of-season practices, strength training and skills sessions. [Note: The institution may want to refer to the equitable medical care section of the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook Guideline No. 1-A as a guide in responding to this self-study item.] Describe or provide a copy of the institution's emergency medical plan for practices and games, including its written emergency plan for the athletics program and specific coverage for out-of-season practices, strength training and skills sessions.
A copy of the institution’s emergency procedures for each athletic facility, including emergency personnel, emergency communications, and venue directions, is listed in Appendix IV-I. However, these plans do not cover specific out-of-season practices or skills sessions as suggested by the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook emergency care section.
7. Using the program area checklist for student-athlete welfare issues, provided as Attachment No. 4, please: Please refer to Attachment No. 4, Program Areas to Be Reviewed for Student-Athlete Welfare Issues, at the end of this section. The University’s new Equity Plan for Athletics in conjunction with the University’s Athletics Committee and the Policy Manual being developed by the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at MSU will provide the guidelines and oversight for continued compliance with the student-welfare issues discussed in this appendix.
8. Please provide the institution's student-athlete handbook.
Please refer to Appendix IV-J for a copy of the Student-Athlete Handbook.
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