APR Improvement Plans April 2014 Lindsey McDonnell Director of Certification Curriculum National Association for Athletics Compliance

What to Expect Improvement Plan Requirements Best Practices Resources

New or Revised Improvement Plan Requirements: Broad-based participation Institutional approval Analysis of Data THE PLAN

Broad based participation Significant input from appropriate institutional constituent groups both inside and outside of athletics.

Participation: APR Improvement Plan Team Primary Contact Lead for tracking impleme ntation 4-6 Others

Improvement Plan Team Department of Athletics Director of Academic Support Director of Compliance Head Coach Athletics Administrator Sport Supervisor Life skills coordinator Outside of Athletics FAR Academic Administrator Faculty Athletics Council Member Admissions Officer Financial Aid Administrator Enrollment Management Administrator Registrar Academic Advisor

Institutional approval Required: Chancellor / President Pick Two: Provost Director of Athletics Faculty Athletics Representative Head Coach Compliance Director Director of Academic Support

Analysis of Data Institutions must provide a meaningful analysis of the team(s)'s most current APR data. Entering SA Profiles Account for all Lost Points Reasons for Lost “E” Reasons for Lost “R” Patterns / Trends

Analysis of Data: Organize your info 1. Organize Your Data This is the form provided by the NCAA

Analysis of Data: Organize your info 2. Rely on Input from Individuals Outside of Athletics Are these numbers accurate? What trends/patterns do they see? Do they have additional data that will assist you? What issues do they identify? (this will come again later) Is there additional data available to clarify these issues?

Analysis of Data: Organize your info 3.Save and Review ALL Documents, Charts & Spreadsheets

Analysis of Data: Identify the Issues What questions would you ask your team questions about the following? What issues may be identified? Eligibility Retention Mitigating Factors Multiyear APR Academic Record of the Team 0/2

Elements of the APR Improvement plan Plan Activity/Assessment Timely Development of Plan Identify the Issues Program Areas Specific and Measurable Goals Steps to Achieve Goals Responsible Individuals Timeline to Complete Initiatives and Meet Goals Target APR Chart IssueProgram Area TeamInitiative/ Measurable Goal StepSteps Individuals/Officers Responsible for Implementation Specific Timetable for Completing the Work

Timely Development of Plan Implement immediately APR Improvement Plan must be developed in time for it to be effective for the current academic year Work with the NCAA staff

Identification of Issues Institutions must identify critical issues currently impacting the team(s) APR based on the analysis of the team(s)'s APR data. Example: Excessive missed classes and poor class attendance by student-athletes.

Program Areas Academic support Missed class time Recruitment of PSAs Student-athlete development Retention Post Eligibility programs Monitoring progress toward graduation Admission of PSAs Issue: Excessive missed classes and poor class attendance by student-athletes. What Program Area?:

Specific and Measurable Goals One issue may lead to multiple goals. Identify at least one goal per issue. S pecific M easurable A chievable R ealistic T imely

Specific and Measurable Goals Issue: Excessive missed classes and poor class attendance by student-athletes. Goals: (1)Monitor class attendance. (2)Reduce number of excused class absences due to team travel.

Steps to Achieve Goals Goal: (1)Monitor class attendance Steps: (Weekly, Monthly) class checks will be conducted by the (academic advisor, member of the coaching staff, compliance officer). (Coaches, Sport Administrators) will receive (daily, weekly, monthly) attendance reports. Professors will be requested to complete attendance reports (weekly, monthly). A class attendance policy will be included in grant-in-aid, which states: "Lack of class attendance without extenuating circumstance may be cause for the discontinuation of athletics aid." Use attendance policy during the academic year which conditions practice and competition opportunities on class attendance. Implement a penalty structure for "repeat offenders." Issue: Excessive missed classes and poor class attendance by student-athletes

Steps to Achieve Goals Goal: (2) Reduce number of excused class absences due to team travel. Steps: Determine which contests are within (50, 75, 100) miles of campus. Adjust schedules so that no class time is missed for away from home contests within (50, 75, 100) miles of campus. Have (FAR, Sport Administrator) approve travel schedule at the start of each semester. Issue: Excessive missed classes and poor class attendance by student-athletes

Responsible Individuals At least one staff member is assigned to each step Use positions not names Include individuals outside athletics Step: (Weekly, Monthly) class checks will be implemented for student- athletes. Class time missed due to team travel will be reduced by adjusting schedules so that no class time is missed for away from home contests within (50, 75, 100) miles from campus. Responsible Individual: Academic Support Staff, Coaching Staff, Eligibility Coordinator Faculty Athletics Representative, Head Coach, Sport Administrator

Timeline and Target APR Chart The goals can be immediate or in future years – Must be reasonable timeframe Each goal must have a timeline for completion – Be realistic – Completing early is fine – Completing late is NOT fine Target APR chart same as above – Be realistic – Scoring higher than anticipated is fine – Scoring lower than anticipated is NOT fine

Plan Activity and Assessment Dynamic document Conduct regular assessment Review critical issues Review measurable goals Review steps

Points to Remember Coach Involvement and Accountability is critical Develop a clear definition of “at-risk” student- athlete for use with you improvement plan Diversify staff responsibility for implementation Conduct a thorough data analysis Timeline Plan for the future

To Learn More About: Improvement Plan Requirement: Establishing Goals: Common Eligibility and Retention Issues: tion%2BIssues.pdf Identifying the Issues: Data Analysis Worksheet: Best Practices: ments.pdf Technical instructions: Have a question for me?