Posted: April 17, 2026
 
Sponsor : Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics and Physical Education

Bylaws with proposed changes

Charge with proposed changes in red

Goal: 

This Resolution is intended to update the bylaws of the Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics and Physical Education (FACAPE) as pertaining to 1) committee charges, to more accurately reflect the current work of FACAPE and academic support structures now in place at Cornell University and 2) committee composition, specifically student representation.

Background: 

The Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics and Physical Education (FACAPE) was established at the December 9, 1987 meeting of the Faculty Council of Representatives (former name of the Faculty Senate), combining the Committee on Physical Education and the Council on Physical Education. It is currently one of eleven Faculty Senate Committees at Cornell and charged with advising how the Department of Athletics and Physical Education can best complement and support the overall educational objectives of the University.

Charges

The original charges of FACAPE have guided the committee’s work, however, include several that are deemed inappropriate and/or do not accurately represent the current work and operations of the committee. For example, the charges call for FACAPE to provide “a series of seminars for all freshman athletes to cover library skills, study and reading skills, expectations of a student athlete at Cornell, etc.” Given the resources now readily available to all students at Cornell including physical infrastructures (e.g., The Learning Strategies Center), online resources (e.g., Cornell University Library), and Student-Athlete Support Services specifically for varsity student-athletes, incoming student-athlete needs would be best met by the professionals trained and already working in these areas, as opposed to a rotating group of faculty members. 

Another example is FACAPE holding “a series of meetings with the captains of the intercollegiate teams to discuss athletics and academics, and the role of the captains as academic role models.” The committee believes it is inappropriate to establish captains as designated academic leaders of the team, when that is not the primary reason for their selection or voting into that role. We propose that instead, FACAPE supports academic success through fostering a strong system of team faculty liaisons for varsity athletic teams in partnership with Cornell Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS). 

The original charges generally stated that FACAPE would become familiar with and provide counsel on “the schedules for fall, winter, and spring seasons for each team, and the guidelines for leaves and absences for intercollegiate teams.” However, this wrongly conveys that FACAPE is involved with creating the competition schedules, when this responsibility lies with the coaching staff. The guidelines for student absences for varsity athletic participation was formalized in 2018 as the FACAPE Missed Class Time Policy, and is reviewed and updated by FACAPE, as needed. The proposed revision for the charges more clearly states the role of the FACAPE Chair in the review and approval of varsity teams’ missed class time in accordance with this policy. 

Composition

The bylaws, as established in 1987, dictate the committee consists of nine members of the faculty (now appointed by the Nominations and Elections Committee), two student members (at least one of which must be an undergraduate) selected annually by the Staffing Committee of the Student Assembly (SA), the President of the Red Key Honor Society (now Co-Presidents), the University Ivy League Eligibility Officer (no longer listed), and the Director of Athletics, Dean of Faculty, and Associate Dean of Faculty as ex officio (non-voting) members. In addition to these committee members, additional staff including the Senior Deputy Athletics Director for the Student-Athlete Experience, Director of Physical Education and Recreational Services, and a Student-Athlete Support Services administrator attend committee meetings (with no voting privileges). The Senior AD for the Student-Athlete Experience serves as the AD’s liaison to the Office of General Counsel, Title IX Office, Admissions and Financial Aid Office to help ensure Cornell’s compliance efforts.

In December 2007, FACAPE approved the addition of Cornell’s Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an ex officio member of FACAPE. The FAR is recognized as the representative of the institution and its faculty in the relationship between the NCAA and the local campus. 

“The Red Key” was established in 1923 for the purpose of greeting and entertaining visiting teams, as well as all visitors to Cornell. The Red Key Athlete Honor Society, as it is now known, is a leadership organization comprised of student-athletes who are committed to academic excellence, fellowship among Cornell athletes, and community outreach.  Membership is limited to juniors and seniors nominated by their coaches and nominated athletes who best fit those Red Key ideals are then elected by the Society’s current membership.

The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) formed the Student Athlete-Advisory Committee (SAAC) in 1989, which expanded into three national SAACs in 1997 representing Division I, II, and III athletics. SAAC allows student-athletes to provide insight on their experience and offer “input on the rules, regulations, and policies that affect their lives on NCAA member institution campuses.” (NCAA Publications, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). NCAA legislation also mandates that all member institutions and conferences have a SAAC. 

The Cornell University SAAC was established in 1995, and consists of two members from each of Cornell’s 37 varsity athletic teams. They serve as representatives of their sport and provide a means of communication between Cornell student-athletes and Cornell athletics administration. In addition, they promote camaraderie amongst Cornell teams and provide valuable insight on legislation that governs their sports at the conference and national levels.

Given that SAAC is the nationally recognized student organization for shared governance and consists of student representation from all of Cornell’s varsity athletic teams, we believe that the Co-Presidents of Cornell SAAC should be full voting members of FACAPE, in addition to the Co-Presidents of the Red Key Honor Society. Cornell’s SAAC and Red Key leaders would each bring unique, valuable student-athlete perspectives and representation to FACAPE. With the proposed addition of two new voting student members, we propose reclassifying the two student members selected by the Student Assembly and Graduate and Professional Student Assembly to be ex officio (non-voting members).

Resolution: 

Whereas the Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics and Physical Education (FACAPE) is concerned with how the programs of the Department of Athletics and Physical Education can best complement and support the overall educational objectives of the University; 

Whereas much has changed pertaining to the student-athlete support infrastructures in place at Cornell since FACAPE’s establishment in 1987; 

Whereas FACAPE should become familiar and provide counsel on issues facing the University with respect to its relationship with the NCAA, ECAC, Ivy League, and other sport specific governing bodies; 

Whereas student representation has been core to FACAPE’s composition since its establishment in 1987 with the inclusion of the Red Key Honor Society Co-Presidents; 

Whereas the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is the NCAA recognized and mandated student organization for shared governance at the national, conference, and institution level;  

Whereas the formation of FACAPE preceded the 1995 establishment of the Cornell University SAAC; 

Be it resolved that the SAAC Co-Presidents shall become full voting members of FACAPE; 

Be it further resolved that the student members selected by the Student Assembly and Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, be reclassified as ex officio (non-voting) members;

Be it further resolved that FACAPE be allowed to revise its charges as detailed in the accompanying documents, to more accurately reflect the academic support systems and learning professionals in place at Cornell University and the current work and operations of the committee.