1. U SPORTS GOVERnAnCE
David Goldstein and Rob Johnson
June 7, 2017

2. YEAR IN REVIEW Not one, but two transformative changes:
Governance Model
Architecture, Decision-Making Authority, and Culture all overhauled
Office/Senior Leadership
Board-approved Projects:
Re-Brand
U SPORTS Central – both implementation and delays
Terms of Reference for new Commercial Committee and Sub-Committees

3. GOVERNANCE: 3-YEAR REVIEW
Board has tasked Governance Committee with reviewing the new model
Goal is to develop an evaluation instrument and to have it completed by members this year
Results of the evaluation instrument would be presented at the Conference and Annual Meeting in June 2018

4. GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES
Administrative
Conflicts between Governance Policy and numbered policies; conflicts among numbered policies;
Determining Appropriate Level of Consultation
Board, Committees, Members, Staff – all still learning
Risk of “over-consultation” – bottlenecks and disguised membership-wide votes
Role Clarity
Board and Committee members represent conference, but owe fiduciary duty to U SPORTS
Governance Policy: “With a view to furthering the general interests of U SPORTS and not the interests of individual and group stakeholders”

5. STRUCTURAL OVERVIEW Board Management Advisory Council
4 Presidents, 4 ADs, 1 Member-at-Large
Management Advisory Council
4 Conference Executive Directors, 4 Conference Presidents or their Delegates
Standing Committees
Finance, Governance, Human Resources, Executive
Operating Committees
Sport (plus STSCs), Commercial (plus sub-committees), Eligibility, AFA, Equity, International

6. WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS?
Updated Decision Matrix available online
Board is designed to be a Governance Board
“Nose in and fingers out”
Approves strategy and policy, provides financial oversight, oversees management
Responsible for Standing and Operating Committee Terms of Reference
Members still vote on admission of new members, articles, by-laws, and director elections

7. HOW ARE DECISIONS MADE?

8. IMPORTANCE OF COMMITTEES IN THE NEW MODEL
Committees – voice of the membership in the new governance model
Prior Model: Decisions made by membership-wide debates and votes
New Model: Committees consult with membership and make recommendations to CEO or Board
Intended Result: Faster and more nimble decision-making
Secondary Result: Committee membership and participation more important than ever!

9. PROTECTING AnD PROMOTInG MEMBER EnGAGEMEnT
Committees don’t make recommendations on their own:
Responsible for consulting with membership
Responsible for consulting with other committees
Committee Recommendation Approval Form
U SPORTS HQ (Basecamp)
Members have every opportunity to keep track of committee activity, provide input, give feedback

10. U SPORTS GOVERnAnCE
Questions?