UAH ATHLETIC COMPLIANCE & MANUAL PURPOSE
The University of Alabama in Huntsville compliance manual is written for the purpose of providing direction to UAH athletic and university staff through implementation of policies and to follow, with the overall goal of maintaining compliance with NCAA, conference, and university rules and regulations as it pertains to the athletic department. UAH follows the compliance model of building on the education of rules and regulations, implementation of policies and procedures that strengthen adherence to those rules and regulations, monitoring adherence through documents and electronic documentation, and finally enforcement through reporting of violations and penalties associated with the violations. UAH compliance is built on the philosophy that compliance with these rules and regulations is a joint responsibility of the entire UAH community.
The compliance office has an open door policy. Lengthy subjects/discussions may be best served by scheduling an appointment first.
UAH DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is to provide student-athletes with the opportunity to compete within a structured sporting environment that facilitates and enriches one’s intellectual, personal, cultural and professional development. UAH Athletics is committed to the complete welfare of all student-athletes and advocates an environment that promotes excellence in academic and athletic performance, ethical conduct, rules compliance, sportsmanship, diversity, and equity, regardless of gender or ethnicity. Through full integration into the fabric of the UAH campus community, intercollegiate athletics of the highest quality, and seeks to generate a unifying spirit among all institutional constituencies, without exception.
INSTITUTIONAL PURPOSE AND ATHLETIC PHILOSOPHY
We believe the student-athlete has the right and responsibility to exhibit integrity in academics, citizenship, and in athletic competition.
To this end, the athletics department will pursue policies in recruitment, advisement, and athletic competition scheduling that will foster the academic success and amateur standing of the student. Personnel services and facilities will provide an environment for the student-athlete, who will value health, safety, fair play, diversity, gender equity, and civic contribution.
While striving for academic excellence is the central mission of UAH, an important University goal is recognized participation in community activities. The reputation of UAH, as an integral part of Huntsville, will be enhanced by the student-athlete program through participation in highly competitive contest for the involvement, enjoyment, and the benefit of the community.
UAH is proud of its association with the NCAA and is committed to abiding by its rules and regulations. Per the Bylaws of the University of Alabama system, ultimate responsibility for intercollegiate athletics at UAH rests with the president of UAH.
UAH DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS PHILOSOPHY
The UAH Athletic Department abides by the mission of the University of Alabama in Huntsville to maintain a diverse academic community of the highest quality that facilitates intellectual, cultural, personal, and professional growth. We believe the student-athlete should have equitable opportunity to earn a quality education while participating in intercollegiate athletics.
To this end, the Athletic Department will pursue policies that foster the academic success and amateur standing of the student-athlete. UAH personnel, services, and facilities will provide an environment for the student-athlete that promotes physical, emotional, and social welfare, safety, sportsmanship, ethnic diversity, and gender equity.
While striving for academic excellence is the central mission of UAH, we believe another important goal is commitment to the community. The reputation of UAH, as an integral part of Huntsville, will be enhanced by the student-athletic program through participation in highly competitive contests for the involvement and enjoyment of the community. Personnel will demonstrate good citizenship and civic contribution, and will encourage student-athletes to develop the same attributes.
We believe all student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators have the responsibility to exhibit ethical conduct and integrity in academics, citizenship, and athletics competition.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is proud of its association with the NCAA and is committed to abiding by its rules and regulations. The University does not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or national origin, or against a qualified individual with a disability, and it maintains an affirmative action program for protected minorities and women. Per the laws of the University of Alabama System, ultimate responsibility for intercollegiate athletics at UAH rests with the President of the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES-HONESTY AND SPORTSMANSHIP – NCAA BYLAW 10.01.1
Individuals employed by (or associated with) a member institution to administer, conduct or coach intercollegiate athletics and all participating student-athletes shall act with honesty and sportsmanship at all times so that intercollegiate athletics as a whole, their institutions and they, as individuals, shall represent the honor and dignity of fair play and the generally recognized high standards associated with wholesome competitive sports.
NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETE BEHAVIOR STATEMENT
The NCAA Presidents’ Commission has adopted the following statement on student-athlete behavior and referred it for consideration in the development of the athletics certification program:
Student-athletes enrolled at NCAA member institutions should reflect the high standards of honesty and integrity set by the Association for the conduct of intercollegiate athletics. As NCAA member institutions strive to fulfill their educational missions, they share a right and a responsibility to preserve order and encourage ethical, responsible behavior through the formulation of standards shall be enforced.
Student-athletes should recognize the significance of their behavior as visible members of the campus and local communities. This same attention, however, also should inspire the institution to assure that its student-athletes receive the same treatment as students generally do in disciplinary or criminal matters. Intercollegiate athletics cannot be viewed as a refuge where student-athletes may escape responsibilities imposed on all citizens, nor should student-athletes be held to a higher standard of conduct than that imposed on the student body as a whole.
UAH CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (“UAH”) is committed to maintaining a supportive and safe educational environment, one which seeks to enhance the well-being of all members of its community. This commitment reflects the institution’s adherence to its mission, to its various policies supporting its mission, and to relevant state and federal laws. Within that commitment, UAH places importance on creating a secure environment for children. To that end, UAH has adopted a child protection policy and procedures.
In order to ensure the safety and well-being of children, individuals, including UAH faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and representatives as well as third-party vendors and their employees, representatives, or volunteers that contract for use of UAH facilities, with responsibilities that involve interaction with children (collectively “UAH personnel”), must carefully review and abide by the policy regarding abuse.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION
UAH is committed to maintaining a supportive and safe educational environment, one that seeks to enhance the well being of all members of the community. The UAH President, Director of Athletics, and Title IX Coordinator annually attest to the following as members of the NCAA-
- The school’s athletics department is knowledgeable about, integrated in, and compliant with institutional policies and processes regarding sexual violence prevention and proper adjudication and resolution of acts of sexual violence.
- The school’s policies regarding sexual violence prevention and adjudication — plus the name and contact information for the campus Title IX coordinator — are readily available in the athletics department and are distributed to student-athletes.
