History

HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACADEMIC ADVISORS FOR ATHLETICS (N4A)

N4A’s Early History

The National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) has been in existence since 1975. At Michigan State University that summer, Dr. Frank Downing (University of Kentucky) and Dr. Clarence Underwood (Michigan State University) met to outline the development of the National Athletic Counselors Association (NACA). The current name, the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A), was adopted in 1977 at the second national convention in Miami.

N4A’s Organizational Structure

For 30 years, N4A’s organizational structure was as follows.  The Executive Board included:

• President (Elected by membership)
• President-Elect
• Past President
• Secretary (Elected by membership)
• Treasurer (Elected by membership)
• 5 Region Representatives (Elected by individual regions)

Also included were appointed (non-voting) positions:

• Convention Program Coordinator
• Historian
• Journal Editor
• Newsletter Editor
• Two-Year College Liaison
• Media Coordinator
• Parliamentarian

The number of committees, both standing and permanent, varied over the years. 

Regional affiliation was designated first by athletic conference and second by state.  By Executive Board action, regions could be realigned as new conferences emerged.

N4A’s Organizational Restructuring

Due to N4A’s continued growth, the Executive Board began researching the possibility of restructuring. In order to move the Association forward, at its 2005 mid-year Executive Board meeting in Grapevine, TX, Phil Moses (Past President, North Carolina State University), co-chair of the Long Range Planning Committee, presented options for a permanent National Office and an Executive Director’s position. The Board agreed to hold a retreat to examine N4A’s future.  On March 7, 2005, President Steve McDonnell (Texas A&M University) described the retreat to the membership in great detail highlighting that its purpose was to develop immediate goals regarding a National Office, Executive Director, and an overall restructuring of the Executive Board.

Those invited to attend the retreat provided a mix of current Board members, veteran and newer members. An attempt was made to include all five regions as well as ethnic diversity. Also included was a member of the “Committee for Change,” a Region V interest group concerned about N4A’s future direction.  Those attending the retreat in Tampa, FL, in 2005 were as follows:  Sandy Meyer (Penn State University), Dr. Karl Mooney (University of Central Florida), Julie Steinke (University of Toledo), Dr. Joe Luckey (University of Memphis), Kerry Howland (University of Tennessee—Knoxville), Phil Moses (North Carolina State University), Phil Hughes (Kansas State University), Dr. Brian Evans (Utah State University), and Steve McDonnell (Texas A&M University). Those invited but unable to attend were Tomas Jimenez (University of Virginia), Dr. Ferna Phillips (Boston College), Demetrius Marlowe (North Carolina State University), Dr. Johnnie Smith (Tennessee State University), Jacqueline Newton (UNLV), and Harold White (University of South Carolina).

Retreat facilitator, Dr. Tom Miller (University of South Florida), guided the group as it focused on N4A’s external environment, internal conditions, and its purpose and core values. The group also focused on developing short- and long-term goals including timelines and assignments. The plan that evolved from the retreat was reviewed by the membership before the restructuring work continued.

N4A Membership Approval

Prior to the annual June 2005 meeting in Raleigh, a draft of the reorganization plan was sent via the N4A listserv to the membership, and hard copies were included in the Annual Meeting attendees’ registration packets. In addition, at the convention, an Open Forum was held to discuss the restructuring, the National Office, and the Executive Director’s position. Those N4A voting members in attendance authorized the Executive Board to select a site for the National Office, to hire an Executive Director, move forward on the restructuring, and rewrite the Constitution and By-Laws.

Ad Hoc Committees

After membership approval to proceed, four Ad Hoc committees were formed by asking for volunteers via the N4A listserv. Committee results were presented at the 2006 mid-year meeting in Tampa.

Executive Director
The Executive Director committee was charged with researching Executive Director positions in constituent organizations and provided the Executive Board with a position description. Its position description was accepted in January 2006. On March 6, 2006, the position was advertised on the N4A listserv and shortly thereafter on the NCAA Web site and in the NCAA News.

The President, President-Elect, and Past President reviewed applications and selected finalists for interviews at which time finalists’ resumes were distributed to Executive Board members for comments. Interviews were conducted both in-person and via conference call. Jane Moore was hired in the fall of 2006.

Executive Director Committee members included Cayce Crenshaw, Chair (James Madison University), Melissa Perry (High Point University), Cynthia Reynolds (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill), Sue Sherburne (Penn State University), and Phil Moses (North Carolina State University).

National Office
At the Raleigh Open Forum in 2005, many N4A members expressed interest in having their institutions house the National Office. RFP’s were sent to the following schools: University of Central Florida, Gonzaga University, Indiana State University, Penn State University, Kansas State University, North Carolina State University, and SAMI (a private business in Kansas City).  Those interested submitted their proposals within six weeks, an adequate timetable to make a decision as to which ones were viable for consideration at the mid-year meeting in January 2006.

Two proposals were received: North Carolina State University and SAMI. At the mid-year meeting, the Executive Board voted to authorize the President (Sandy Meyer, Penn State University), President-Elect (Kerry Howland, University of Tennessee), and Past President (Steve McDonnell, Texas A&M University) to conduct a site visit to North Carolina State University.  After the site visit, an electronic vote of the Executive Board selected North Carolina State University as the home of the N4A National Office.

National Office Committee members included Phil Moses, Chair (North Carolina State University), Dan Carlson (University of Tennessee), Dr. Renae Myles (Delaware State University), Barbara Davis (University of Alabama), Dr. Joe Luckey (University of Memphis), and David Harris (University of Wisconsin).

Executive Board Restructuring
Although restructuring primarily focused on the need for a permanent National Office and an Executive Director, former presidents and Executive Board members had also indicated a strong need for N4A to utilize a more efficient Executive Committee structure.

By closely examining organizational schemes of constituent organizations (e.g., NACADA), the committee, after much discussion, proposed the new “N4A Board of Directors Organization Chart” at the mid-year meeting in Tampa (2006).

Rationale included the belief that the President needed a smaller Executive Committee, which could better participate in both expenditure and day-to-day operational decisions as well as provide fast and effective approvals or feedback to the President. Under the reorganization, the new Executive Committee consisted of the President, President-Elect, and Past President. The flexibility and responsiveness of a smaller, elected group helped facilitate the President’s execution of duties.

Committee Restructuring
Committee restructuring would also greatly enhance communication and accountability to the N4A leadership and membership.  By establishing Directors to oversee committee productivity, the restructuring created a more supportive environment for committee chairs and a greater responsiveness between committee work and the membership.  In addition, the restructuring created a climate of leadership development whereby participation on committees could lead to chairing the committee and later to Director positions. Members could readily identify the initial steps for leadership in the organization.

Organizational  Restructuring Committee members included Dr. Brian Evans (Utah State University) and Phil Hughes (Kansas State University), Co-Chairs, Ashlee Anderson (University of Washington), Dr. Liz Friedman (Michigan State University), Joan Hopkins (Eastern Kentucky University), Steve McDonnell (Texas A&M University), Mark Meleney (Florida State University), Jack Rivas (University of California, Santa Barbara), Hope D. Williams (University of Colorado at Boulder), and Tony Tollefson (US Olympic Education).

Constitution and By-Laws
The organizational restructuring necessitated a new Constitution and By-Laws.  In conjunction with the three other ad hoc committees, under the direction of N4A Parliamentarian, Tony Tollefson (US Olympic Education), and Past Parliamentarian, Jack Rivas (UCSB), the Constitution and By-Laws were revised to reflect the addition of an Executive Director, a National Office, and to accommodate the N4A Board of Directors Organizational scheme.

The membership in attendance and those not in attendance through absentee balloting approved the Constitution and By-Laws at the June 2006 Pittsburgh Convention.

Constitution and By-Law Committee members, in addition to Tony and Jack, included Lauren Mackey (University of Tennessee), Danez Marrable (Winthrop University), Dr. Ferna Phillips (Boston College), Dr. Brian Evans (Utah State University), and Phil Hughes (Kansas State University).

Additional Significant Organizational Changes

Careful examination of the structural chart (Appendix B) reveals some significant changes. Most noticeable are deletion of the National Secretary and Treasurer’s positions. Secretary and Treasurer responsibilities were assumed by the Executive Director. At the Board of Director’s Meeting in Phoenix (2007), taking meeting minutes was assigned to the Historian.

Presidential-appointed positions include the Convention Planner, Convention Program Planner, Parliamentarian, two At-Large Directors, and the chair of the Past Presidents’ Advisory Council. The sole membership-elected position is that of the President-Elect. Regions continue to elect Regional Directors (formerly Region Representatives). Division Director positions, elected by divisional committee chairs, include Director of Professional Development, Director of Student-Athlete Development, and Director of Membership Services.

Other Presidential appointments include the Academic Athletic Journal Editor, and the N4A Newsletter Editor housed in the Membership Services Division.

Committee Restructuring

Committee Divisions were organized as follows:

Professional Development

• Research
• Long Range Planning
• Model Practices
• Institutes

Student-Athlete Development

• Ethnic Concerns
• Student-Athlete Recognition
• Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual & Transgender
• Learning Concerns, Enhancement
• Life Skills

Membership Services

• Membership and Orientation
• Legislative Affairs
• Two-Year Colleges

Position Descriptions and Terms of Office

Further information on elected and appointed positions, including responsibilities, can be found in the current Constitution and By-Laws.

N4A’s Move to NACDA Affiliation

During the Recession of 2009, many universities and their athletics departments across the country were hit with significant budget reductions. This significantly affected travel budgets and the ability of N4A members to attend national conventions.

In consideration of the long term viability of the N4A and the National Office, President Gerald Gurney (University of Oklahoma) appointed an Ad Hoc Committee headed by Jack Rivas (UCSB), Chair of the Past Presidents’ Group, and members of the Executive Board to explore affiliation with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). NACDA’s interest in affiliating with the N4A would provide a significant savings in management and convention costs. The membership appreciated the concept of joining the combined conventions of similar athletics professional organizations. During the 2010, Board of Directors’ Meeting, the Board voted to accept the affiliation contract.

NACDA affiliation management will begin in August 2012 when the N4A Office will officially move to Westlake, OH. Due to prior contractual obligations, the N4A is unable to join NACDA’s National Conventions until June 2014.

What is NACDA?
NACDA was officially founded in 1965 and serves as the professional association for athletics administrators. Other professional associations under NACDA’s umbrella include, but are not limited to, the following:

National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA)
National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD)
International Collegiate Licensing Association
National Association for Athletics Compliance  (NAAC)
National Alliance of TwoYear College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA)

How will N4A benefit from its affiliation with NACDA?

NACDA provides N4A with financial respite and provides opportunities for networking, research, and access to potential corporate sponsorship. By consulting the NACDA Convention website, you will note that eight of the affiliate associations hold their Conventions in conjunction with the NACDA Convention (CABMA, CEFMA, ICLA, MOAA, NAAC, NAADD, NACMA and NATYCAA). All Affiliate Associations have designated dates for their Conventions. Please refer to this link - http://www.nacda.com/convention/nacda-convention.html – to view a complete listing of Convention dates/times.N4A will still have its own Convention, but the process will be streamlined.  N4A maintains its autonomy with its Convention programming.

NACDA provides interns to its affiliates, which offers N4A more affordable research opportunities. Administratively, N4A is not burdened with the expenses for an Executive Director or a National Office. NACDA assumes administrative responsibility in collaboration with N4A’s Executive Board.

In addition to the increased opportunities to work with NACDA and its Affiliate Associations for educational sessions during the year and at the Conventions, N4A will have additional opportunities to pursue “big time” sponsors to help defray costs. N4A’s partnership with NACDA allows for the Association to become better affiliated with sponsors who work in athletics..