HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Administrators from around the Sun Belt Conference will gather Friday, March 6 as the league office hosts the Sun Belt Conference Academic Summit at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

The event will feature a number of programs with important academic issues being the primary focus.  Topics for discussion include academic support programs for student-athletes, admissions practices, the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), and plans for academic reform in the college athletics community.

The event, which begins at 8 a.m. Friday morning, will be held in conjunction with the 2009 Sun Belt Basketball Championships which is being held at Hot Springs’ Summit Arena.  This will be the second consecutive year that the league has held its Academic Summit in connection with the basketball championship. 

“We had a very good turnout at the Academic Summit last March and we expect active conversation and sharing of best practices again this year,” said Sun Belt Conference Associate Commissioner Dr. Kathy Keene.  “It is important that representatives from our institutions meet regularly because it enhances the culture of academics in collegiate athletics.”

The idea for the event was first conceptualized by the respective Faculty Athletic Representatives at the Sun Belt member institutions, led by North Texas’ Dr. Bill McKee who serves as the Chairman of the group.

“The Sun Belt Conference Academic Summit provides an opportunity for leaders from member campuses and the conference to focus for a full day on academic best practices in intercollegiate athletics,” said Dr. McKee. “At last year’s inaugural Academic Summit we experienced the creative potential of collaborative problem solving, resulting in some major shifts in our schools' academic support programs.  Our agenda for this year promises for another valuable learning experience.”

In addition to hosting league Presidents, Faculty Athletic Representatives, and other Sun Belt administrators, the event will also feature several guest speakers.  Steve McDonnell, Academic Advisor at Colorado State University, Dr. Tom Paskus, Principal Research Scientist for the NCAA, Matt Burgmeister, Associate Director of Academic and Membership Affairs for the NCAA, Dr. David Clough, Faculty Athletic Representative for the University of Colorado, and Dr. Colby Jubenville, Director of the Center for Sport Policy and Research and an Associate Professor for Middle Tennessee State University, will all address the audience on an array of subjects. 

AGENDA

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Introduction/Welcome

                        Dr. Bill McKee, Faculty Athletic Representative, University of North Texas

                        Dr. Kathy Keene, Associate Commissioner, Sun Belt Conference

8:15 a.m.          Creating a Culture of Graduation

                        Mr. Steve McDonnell, Consultant with the Compliance Group

                        Former Director of Athletic Academic Support Program-Texas A&M

9:15 a.m.          Determining a Conference APR Threshold

                        Dr. Tom Paskus, Principal Research Scientist NCAA

10:15 a.m.        Break

10:30 a.m.        Risk Assessment of Athletic Academic Services, including Strategies                                  to Reduce Academic Fraud

                        Mr. Steve McDonnell, Consultant with the Compliance Group

                        Former Director of Athletic Academic Support Program-Texas A&M

11:30 a.m.        Lunch

12:15 p.m.        Facilitating Learning and Achieving Graduation: A Preview from the

                        Working Group Examining Issues related to Academic Risk

                        Mr. Matt Burgemeister, Associate Director of Academic and Membership Affairs, NCAA

1:30 p.m.          APR and Recruiting-Working with Coaches to Connect the Dots

                        Dr. David Clough, Faculty Athletics Representative, University of Colorado

2:40 p.m.          Breakout Sessions

                        Academic Directors, Advisors, Counselors, Provost, etc...

                                    Best Practices Roundtable

                                    Dr. Kathy Keene -Moderator

                        Faculty Athletic Representatives, Athletic Directors, etc..

                                    The Interactive Reality-Based Sportsmanship Platform

                                    Dr. Colby Jubenville, Associate Professor, Middle Tennessee State                                           University.  Director, Center for Sport Policy and Research

3:45 p.m.          Campus Discussions

4:30 p.m.          Wrap Up/Evaluations