Sponsored by: Jim Earl, English For Action: 3 December, 2003 University Senate meeting

THE COALITION ON INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (COIA)

The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics (COIA) is composed of faculty leaders from NCAA Division I-A schools. It is one of several groups seeking long-range, comprehensive, moderate reforms in intercollegiate athletics. It seeks to represent the faculty voice in the growing national debate over the future of college sports.

The Coalition's goals are set forth in the attached "Framework for Comprehensive Athletics Reform" (also available at http://www.math.umd.edu/~jmc/COIA/Framework.html). Further information about the Coalition is available at its website: http://www.math.umd.edu/~jmc/COIA/.

The Coalition is working with the leadership of other stakeholder groups interested in athletics reform, including the NCAA itself, the AGB (Association of Governing Boards, representing the trustees and regents), and the AAUP (American Association of University Professors).

It is our hope that each faculty/university senate/council in Division I-A will join the Coalition by passing a resolution supporting the general goal of intercollegiate athletics reform. Because senate leadership typically changes every year, we ask each senate to designate a faculty member as an ongoing liaison to the Coalition. "Membership" implies no obligations.

We further encourage member senates to endorse the Coalition's Framework document. "Endorsement" does not imply acceptance of the Framework in all its details. Variations in governance structures and local circumstances may require senates to modify the Framework to some degree.

Member institutions will receive reform initiatives from the Coalition from time to time for consideration. Initiatives will typically take the form of "best-practices" recommendations. Institutions are not obliged to adopt these reforms, but are urged to consider their applicability to the local situation.

As soon as possible, please advise us of the name and email address of a designated liaison. The Coalition would also like to be notified of local changes in the Framework if and when it is endorsed.