Minutes of a Regular Meeting, June 22-23, 2004 - Digital Collections

REGENTS’ POLICY MANUALSECTION 6—ATHLETICSThe Director of Athletics shall be responsible for establishing appropriate procedures for AthleticsDepartment staff to work with the Athletics Council in recommending appropriate policies.The University shall conduct a drug testing program for all student-athletes in accordance withpolicies approved by the Director of Athletics.(RM, 12-02-03, p. 28868)6.3.5—GENERAL STUDENT-ATHLETE REGULATIONSA Student-Athlete Handbook shall set forth written procedures for the discipline of student-athletesfor conduct both on and off the athletics field. The procedures shall carry the clear intent and expectationof having a structured and consistent discipline plan for student-athletes, which will be demanded andenforced by the coaches or the Director of Athletics where appropriate.A written code of conduct for all student-athletes shall be developed. It must include a dress code forstudent-athletes traveling to athletics events or participating in any event in which the student-athletesrepresent the University. The code shall be included in the present Student Athlete Handbook. A copyshall be given to each student-athlete at the beginning of each year, and shall be discussed with thestudent-athletes by the Executive Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and the AssociateDirector of Athletics for Academic Affairs.A public relations and communications program for student-athletes shall be established. Studentathletesoften serve as representatives of the University. Many of them are unprepared for thoseresponsibilities and need guidance and training to prepare them for this role.A mentor program for student-athletes shall be established with guidelines for the mentors, developedby the Associate Director of Athletics for Academic Affairs.A liaison from the Athletics Department shall be named to work with the Office of Career Services.All student-athletes shall be afforded the opportunity to determine the occupations or professions forwhich they are best suited, and should work with the Career Services Office for assistance withemployment after graduating or leaving the athletics program, if they are not transferring to anothercollege or university institution of higher education.Any student-athlete charged with a crime (except traffic offenses or offenses not involving moralturpitude) will not participate on an athletics team while the charges are pending. The student-athlete mayrequest a review as to whether he/she should continue to participate on an athletics team while the chargesare pending. That decision shall be made by the President, upon the joint recommendation of the Directorof Athletics and the Athletics Council. The student-athlete’s scholarship will be continued unless it is theDirector of Athletics or authorized designee meets with the student-athlete and determineds, for theimmediate health and safety of the University community, that the student-athlete should be immediatelysuspended from the University. The Director of Athletics shall meet with the student-athlete. If animmediate suspension from the University is ordered by the Director of Athletics, the student-athlete shallbe entitled to a full hearing within 15 days to determine if the administrative action was appropriate. Evenif the scholarship is continued, the student-athlete may be removed from athletics dormitory facilities.(RM, 12-02-03, p. 28868)THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 299