UNC-system athletic programs consider changes

_Due to a reporting error, Monday’s page 3 story “UNC system considers athletic changes” incorrectly stated the athletic task force was created by system President Thomas Ross last March. He announced the creation of the task force in January. The story also stated that Ross had not yet endorsed the report. He is expected to issue his own proposals for consideration by the UNC-system Board of Governors by the end of the year.
The story also incorrectly stated that the task force was created in response to the 2010 NCAA investigation of possible improprieties involving UNC-CH’s football program. The task force was prompted by recent athletics-related issues on several UNC-system campuses, not just the UNC-CH investigation.
The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the errors and any confusion._

UNC-CH isn’t the only school making changes to its athletic program.

Other system universities are also altering their programs following a report recently released by a system-wide task force on athletics.

The task force, composed of athletic directors, chancellors and university administrators, was created by system President Thomas Ross last March in response to the fall 2010 NCAA investigation of possible academic improprieties involving UNC-CH’s football program.
Ross has not yet endorsed the report.

He is expected to announce his decision in November.

But many schools are already taking initiatives to improve student-athlete practices.

In response to the report, Western Carolina University plans to create a new evaluation system for recruiting, as well as a code of conduct for student athletes.

“We’re going to talk to other schools and try to put one together for ourselves,” said Chip Smith, director of athletics at WCU.

The report suggested changes schools could put in place, including increased monitoring of student athletes who fall below a university’s academic admissions standards.

“I’m looking at this report from the athletic director’s point of view,” Smith said.

“Even if the report is not accepted, I think these are good ideas, and we want to implement them.”

At the NCAA’s retreat earlier this month, administrators from Division I schools across the nation discussed revamping the association’s rules and regulations, but the results of this meeting have not yet been released.

Some schools say the task force’s report anticipates changes that could come from the retreat.

WCU Chancellor David Belcher said he will heed both reports when considering changes to his university’s athletic program.
“It looks to me that a number of changes are going to come down from the NCAA in the coming months, so we’ll be looking to both for changes,” he said.

The UNC task force’s report also prompted some Division II schools to review their student athletic programs — but some suggestions, such as revising the tutoring system, do not apply to schools in that division.

“At UNC-Pembroke there are no athletic department-funded study halls or resource centers,” Dan Kenney, the university’s athletic director, said in an email.

“UNC-P student athletes must utilize the excellent academic support services that UNC-P provides all students.”

Contact the State & National Editor at state@dailytarheel.com.