Virginia Shepherd, president of the Vanderbilt Faculty Senate and one of the organizers of the SEC Faculty Governance Conference, announced the recommendations at a news conference in Vanderbilt's Wyatt Center. See below for the full text. click to listen (mp3, 8:44). Also available in .wav format for use in radio news. Photo, click here for a high resolution image of Shepherd at the news conference. To download sound files: right click and "save target as" or just drag the blue link to your desktop. The larger wav file will provide the best quality for editing for use in radio news. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Faculty representatives from all 12 of the Southeastern Conference schools concluded their two-day meeting on the role of academics in college sports at Vanderbilt University this afternoon, by forming the SEC Association of Faculty Leaders and urging "significant reform of intercollegiate athletics." The group of about 40 faculty representatives made recommendations that would result in the increased role of the faculty in athletic department policy-making; closer study of athletic seasons and scheduling and their impact on academics and student welfare; and standards that would promote the academic success of student athletes. The meeting was the first of its kind of SEC faculty leaders, who came together to consider the role of academics in intercollegiate athletics. Virginia Shepherd, president of the Vanderbilt Faculty Senate and co-organizer of the meeting, said the meeting far exceeded organizers' expectations and that the group's vote on the issues in the final report was nearly unanimous. "I think the voices that are being heard now from the presidents down to the faculty to the governing boards are that we need reform, but we want to retain athletics and we want the best academic situation and options for those student athletes," she said. Among the recommendations issued from the meeting, the group urged that competition scheduling should be based on academic considerations instead of on revenue considerations and that the NCAA and the SEC should examine the length of athletic seasons, the number of competitions and athletes’ nontraditional season activities and their impact on student welfare and academic performance. The faculty discussed issues related to the proposed NCAA reforms in intercollegiate athletics and concluded that student athletes who are admitted to member institutions should have a strong likelihood of academic success, that the six-year graduation rate of student athletes should equal or exceed that of the other students at the institution and that there should be processes in place to guarantee institutional control of the quality of all academic programs. Among its general conclusions, the faculty group "endorsed the efforts of the presidents and chancellors of the Bowl Championship Conference schools to formulate and enact proposals for significant reform of intercollegiate athletics" and urged the presidents and chancellors "to continue their cooperative efforts and to engage their faculties in this process." In addition, the group recommended that faculty at their colleges and universities play an increased and "significant role" in oversight of athletic department activities, policies and personnel decisions. In order to identify best practices, the group agreed to share information about the academic oversight bodies at their respective institutions. The group assembled on May 1 as a collection of faculty leaders from the 12 SEC schools and adjourned as the newly-formed SEC Association of Faculty Leaders. Shepherd said they now are "an organized faculty voice that the presidents and chancellors will listen to" as they consider reform efforts. "I don’t want to go so far as to say we are going to set policy," Shepherd said of the new leadership group, but "the support we’re going to give to our chancellors and presidents is going to be very important." The SEC Association of Faculty Leaders announced its next meeting, to be hosted by the University of Arkansas at the SEC Headquarters office in Birmingham, for sometime next year. In the meantime, a steering committee has been established to examine the role and composition of the group. Contact:Susanne Loftis, 615-322-NEWS susanne.loftis@vanderbilt.edu SEC Faculty Assembly Recommendations On May 1 and 2, 2003, faculty leaders from all 12 SEC schools met to discuss general faculty governance issues and issues specifically related to the currently proposed NCAA reforms in intercollegiate athletics. We have the following statements and recommendations. 1 - We have officially formed the SEC Association of Faculty Leaders. Commissioner Slive has graciously offered the SEC Headquarters in Birmingham for our meeting next year which will be hosted by the University of Arkansas. 2 - As faculty representatives of the SEC universities, we endorse the efforts of the presidents and chancellors of Bowl Championship conference schools to formulate and enact proposals for significant reform of intercollegiate athletics. We urge the presidents and chancellors of our institutions to continue their cooperative efforts and to engage their faculties in this process. Specific Recommendations from our four subcommittees: Faculty Governance Subcommittee: We recommend that faculty members be given a significant role in the oversight of athletic department activities, policies and personnel decisions. Furthermore, it is the intention of this group to collect and share information regarding the academic oversight bodies at each member institution in order to identify best practices. Student Welfare Subcommittee: We will send two representatives - one from Alabama and one from Tennessee, to the October, 2003 meeting of the Student Athlete Representatives in Birmingham. Costs and Commercialization Subcommittee: We recommend that the NCAA and SEC examine the length of seasons, the number of competitions, and nontraditional season activities, and their impact on student welfare and academic performance. We recommend that competition scheduling should be based on academic considerations and not on revenue considerations. Academics Subcommittee: We recommend that all student athletes who are admitted to member institutions should have a strong likelihood of academic success. We recommend that the six-year graduation rate of student athletes should equal or exceed that of other students at their institution. Statement of Principle: We reaffirm that there should be processes in place to guarantee institutional control of the quality of all academic programs.

The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS)  provided educational support for an ongoing exhibit at Cheekwood that highlights a disappearing folk art traditionally found on Latin American drivers'  trucks and buses. "Dichos: Words to Live, Love and Laugh by in Latin America" is on display to the public through Jan. 17. Dichos are sayings or amusing expressions that individuals drivers inscribe on their vehicles in a variety of graphic styles and colors. With the emergence of corporate trucking companies and the government push for standarized public transportation, the number of vehicles decorated with dichos is becoming more scarce. CLAS offered two teacher workshops to help K-12 instructors maximize the content as a teaching tool with their students.

Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu

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Vanderbilt students, faculty and other interested individuals came together recently for a unique improvisational art experience directed by renowned artist Oliver Herring. Participants worked with Herring to create a so-called TASK event on a Sunday afternoon in the Ingram Art Studio. With each TASK, Herring invites people to join him a specific time and place. Participants contribute their ideas for the project into a pool. Each idea selected is then interpreted as the participants choose, using different props and materials. Following the TASK at Vanderbilt, Ian Berry, Tang Museum associate director; and Vanderbilt Assistant Professor of Art Vesna Pavlovic moderated a conversation between Herring and the public. The conversation was the first in a series of new Art Klatch at Vanderbilt events.

Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu

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Vanderbilt professors Jonathan Gilligan and Michael Vandenbergh are among researchers who have identified 17 activities that individual households can do to significantly reduce overall carbon emissions. The steps are explained in the recently published article "Household actions can provide a behavioral wedge to rapidly reduce U.S. carbon emissions." The paper also uses behavioral research to estimate the actual number of people who might choose to take these actions to reduce carbon emissions.

Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, 615-322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu

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Five alumni who have distinguished themselves through a variety of careers  and have made significant contributions as staff members of the university's student media were inducted into the Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame on Oct. 16, 2009. Those who were honored are: U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander; Skip Bayless, ESPN sports commentator; Mary Elson, managing editor, Tribune Media Services; and Sam Feist, vice president of Washington-based programming for CNN. In addition, a permanent exhibit recognizing all Hall of Fame members has been installed in the Sarratt Student Center, the longtime home of Vanderbilt Student Communications.

Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, 615-322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu

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