McNeese State University

Section 2:
Core Requirements
2.1	2.2	2.3
2.4	2.5	2.6
2.7.1	2.7.2	2.7.3
2.7.4	2.8	2.9
2.10	2.11	2.12
Section 3:
Comprehensive Standards
3.1.1	3.2.1
3.2.2.1	3.2.2.2	3.2.2.3
3.2.2.4	3.2.3	3.2.4
3.2.5	3.2.6	3.2.7
3.2.8	3.2.9	3.2.10
3.2.11	3.2.12	3.2.13
3.2.14	3.3.1	3.4.1
3.4.2	3.4.3	3.4.4
3.4.5	3.4.6	3.4.7
3.4.8	3.4.9	3.4.10
3.4.11	3.4.12	3.4.13
3.4.14	3.5.1	3.5.2
3.6.1	3.6.2	3.6.3
3.7.1	3.7.2	3.7.3
3.7.4	3.7.5	3.8.1
3.8.2	3.8.3	3.9.1
3.9.2	3.9.3	3.10.1
3.10.2	3.10.3	3.10.4
3.10.5	3.10.6	3.10.7
Section 4:
Federal Requirements
4.1	4.2	4.3
4.4	4.5	4.6
4.7	4.8

McNeese State University
Compliance Plan for Reaffirmation

Section 3.2.11: Governance and Administration

Judgment of Compliance

Compliance

Partial Compliance

Non-compliance

Requirement

The institution's chief executive officer has ultimate responsibility for, and exercises appropriate administrative and fiscal control over, the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.

Narrative

McNeese State University is in compliance with Comprehensive Standard 3.2.11.

As indicated in the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors Board Rules, the University President is charged with administrative and fiscal responsibility for the institution's intercollegiate athletics program. As Chief Executive Officer of the University, the President exercises this authority as administrative and fiscal agent over all intercollegiate athletics programs.

Administrative and Financial Authority of the President

University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors Bylaws identifies the administrative and fiscal responsibilities of the President:

Specific responsibilities of the president shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:
1. Administering the institution over which he/she is appointed and exercising complete executive authority therein, subject to the direction and control of the System President and the Board; [and]
5. Assuming and retaining control at all times over the budget of the institution, including functions of review and recommendation concerning the budgets of all divisions of the campus and the preparation of a consolidated budget, as well as execution of the budget as approved by the Board; and development and administration of the campus operational, auxiliary enterprise, and restricted funds budgets as approved by the Board, including establishment of priorities for expenditures and achievement of revenue projections as set forth in the approved budgets. (Bylaws, Sections IV.1 and 5)

Day-to-day operations in the Athletics Department are the responsibility of the Director of Athletics who reports directly to the President. The Director of Athletics presides over monthly athletics department staff meetings which are reported to the President via the Compliance Office. The Athletics Director also meets directly with the President as needed. Final approval for hiring and dismissal of Athletics Department staff rests with the President or his designeé.

The President exercises fiscal control over the Athletics Department by delegating daily responsibility to the Director of Athletics. The Director of Athletics and the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance, assisted by the University Budget Officer, prepare the annual athletics budget, which is reviewed by the Executive Staff and approved by the President before submission to the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System for final approval. The budget audit is coordinated by the University’s Vice President of Business Affairs and conducted by the Legislative Auditor.

The President also oversees any external funds that the Athletics Department receives from the McNeese Athletic Foundation (MAF), which is executed under the auspices of the McNeese State University Foundation. Any MAF funds expended for University athletics programs or any other university use must be approved in writing by the Director of Athletics and the Vice President for Business Affairs prior to expenditure. Policies regarding administration and control of funds used in the University’s athletics program are published in the McNeese State University Athletics Department Policy Manual:

Financial Administration and Control [.] All funds, including those from outside sources, used in an institution's athletics program will be processed by the institution's chief financial officer and approved by the President. All financial processes and budgets are subject to audit by state auditors. Annual budgets for the Athletics Department are prepared by the Budget Officer and the Athletics Director with input from the Senior Woman Administrator and the head coaches. The Athletics Department budget is approved by the President, the President’s Executive Staff, and the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. (Athletics Department Policy Manual, 22-23)

McNeese is a member of the Southland Conference and competes at the I-A level in all sports except football which competes at the I-AA level. The McNeese athletics program achieved NCAA certification in 1997 and will undergo review for recertification in November 2006. NCAA certification and periodic compliance audits conducted by an independent, external entity attest to the President’s efficacy in supervising the University’s athletic operations and budget.