A Call for Robust Faculty Engagement with the Athletic Department
Whereas the faculty of the University of Michigan are tremendously proud of our student-athletes’ successes; and
Whereas we regard U-M’s athletic prowess as a shared mark of distinction; and
Whereas, at other universities, the faculty are directly involved in the oversight of athletic operations; and
Whereas, at the University of Michigan, faculty were until 2002 members of a Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics, which oversaw the operations of the Athletic Department; and
Whereas a new Advisory Board for Intercollegiate Athletics was created in 2002. The ABIA is chaired by the Athletic Director, and it has no independent powers concerning the operations of the Department; and
Whereas in previous years faculty government has pointed out that the ABIA’s operational rules do not promote transparency or good government; and
Whereas the work of the Athletic Department is increasingly complex, and benefits from the expertise and knowledge that our world-class faculty offer; and
Whereas the Department is irrevocably tied up with the larger University in which it sits, and its operations are aspects of the mission of public education; and
Whereas the University as a whole would benefit from greater transparency and accountability in the Athletic Department;
Now be it resolved:
That the newly created Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office should be given greater responsibilities in relation to the Athletic Department. The EICO should have a presence within the Athletics operation so that athletes, coaches, and staff would feel comfortable discussing difficult matters with a supportive and independent third party;
That the ABIA should be reconstituted as an Advisory Committee of the Senate Assembly, as described in Regents Bylaw 4.06. Like the 11 committees that currently advise U-M Vice-Presidents, the ABIA would operate under a faculty chair, who would work closely with the Athletic Director to set the agenda, assemble materials, and engage relevant parties to discuss operational issues with the ABIA as necessary;
That the ABIA would be empowered–like other Senate advisory committees–to discuss and offer advice around the full range of activities managed by the Athletic Department, under agreed-upon rules of confidentiality; and
That the ABIA chair would prepare an annual report and discuss it with the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs in closed session.
Adopted by the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs on April 13, 2026