Resolutions define roles in athletics, governance

The Auburn University Board of Trustees on May 7 unanimously adopted two resolutions clarifying its roles in governance and athletics.

One resolution stated the commitment of the board and the university to the accreditation process, and the other redefined the board's responsibilities for intercollegiate athletics.

Interim President Ed Richardson said officials at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools have indicated that the measures would help satisfy requirements for the removal from probation of Auburn's membership in SACS.

"What we've done today will go a long way toward our having the sanction of probation removed by SACS," Richardson said. "But, beyond SACS requirements, I believe that these resolutions are the right thing to do, period. By passing both resolutions unanimously, the board has shown its commitment to move Auburn University in the right direction for the future."

Richardson had until May 14 to file the university's response to the probation imposed by the accrediting agency last December. SACS will send a delegation to Auburn this fall to review compliance with the agency's criteria and will vote in December on the university's request to lift the probation.

The resolution of commitment to the accreditation process strengthened and renamed as a "Code of Ethics" a conflict-of-interest policy adopted by the board in 1991. The Code of Ethics addresses questions of minority influence on the board, personal financial gain through board action, potential conflicts of interest, disclosure of confidential information regarding board decisions and commitment of compliance to the code by individual trustees.

A key component of the resolution is creation of an audit committee - organized by the board - to ensure individual and group compliance with policies to prevent interlocking relationships or personal financial gain by board members.

The resolution on athletics defines the board's role in athletics as policy-making and places full responsibility for implementing policy in the hands of the president. As part of the changes in the policy, the board abolished its athletics committee and spread responsibilities among several other board committees.

Several of the changes followed guidelines recommended by the Association of Governing Boards, a national organization of boards of trustees. Although the changes are in response to criteria cited by SACS, Richardson said the new policies would benefit the university under any circumstances.