Compliance Status

Louisiana State University and A&M College is in compliance with this principle.

Narrative

The Chief Executive Officer of Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU), as illustrated by the organizational chart [1], has administrative and fiscal control over the institution’s intercollegiate athletic program [2]. As noted in Core Requirement 2.3, the LSU CEO serves as both the LSU System President and LSU Chancellor, and he reports directly to the LSU System Board of Supervisors.  As LSU Chancellor, he is responsible to the Board of Supervisors for the effective execution of

1. all laws relating to the LSU System;
2. all resolutions, policies, rules, and regulations adopted by the Board of Supervisors for the administration and operation of the system, and for the governance of all of its campuses; and
3. all policies, rules, regulations, directives, and memoranda issued at the system level, including the athletic department.

The chancellor's discretionary power is broad enough to enable him to meet his extensive responsibilities [3] [4].  The chancellor is responsible for appointing the university’s director of athletics, who serves at the pleasure of the LSU Board of Supervisors under the direction of the chancellor, as outlined in the Bylaws & Regulations [3]. There is an associate vice chancellor for university relations and a senior associate athletics director [1] to assist the LSU Chancellor with university athletics.

The chancellor is responsible for the LSU budget. This includes the functions of review and recommendation concerning the budgets of all divisions of the campus, including the athletic department, and the preparation of a consolidated budget, as well as execution of the budget as approved by the Board of Supervisors. LSU’s commitment to the athletic department is to maintain strong fiscal responsibility as a self-sustaining auxiliary of the university by making responsible financial decisions, maximizing fundraising opportunities and capitalizing on sponsorship assets [5].

In addition, the Athletic Council [6] was established to make recommendations to the chancellor concerning the specific areas outlined in the functions section of Policy Statement 110.R02, as well as to advise the chancellor on any issue or activity he/she may request.  In general terms, the purpose of the Athletic Council is to support the welfare of the student athlete, protect institutional integrity, and insure compliance with NCAA and SEC rules concerning academics. By virtue of its responsibility and the thoughtfulness of its actions, the Athletic Council should play a central and influential role in the governance of athletics at LSU. In addition, an institutional athletics council appointed by the chancellor serves as a policy-formulating and regulatory body in all matters related to the university’s intercollegiate athletic program as detailed in the Board of Supervisors’ Bylaws & Regulations [7].

Membership of the Athletic Council consists of 13 voting members and up to four nonvoting members. In appointing individuals to serve on the Athletic Council, the chancellor must consult with appropriate constituencies such as the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Student Government, and the governing boards of the affiliated support organizations. The faculty members, including the faculty athletic representative, are appointed by the chancellor from a list of candidates nominated by the Faculty Senate. The Faculty Senate shall provide a list of at least three candidates. A student and an alumnus also serve. The Athletic Council meets regularly, at least twice a semester, and through email discussions for less formal matters.  

On January 4, 2011, LSU completed and passed an SEC Athletics Compliance Review that is conducted every four years by an external review board. The review provided the following findings:

The athletics compliance program at LSU has been one that previous reviews have shown to be effective in assisting the University with its institutional control efforts. The program has continued to grow over the course of the SEC’s athletics compliance review cycles and with changes in leadership—both for the athletics department itself and within the athletics compliance office. This review found that the program clearly defines roles and responsibilities for athletics department and University staff and establishes planned action for completion. Those actions are carried out by a complex system of control that was demonstrated to be engaged and functioning [8].

Every 10 years, the university’s athletics programs are reviewed by the NCAA for certification purposes. The most recent NCAA Certification Review was completed in 2004. This process has been suspended, pending restructuring of the NCAA process. However, LSU continues to conduct an independent internal review of its athletics program, under the direction of the chancellor, in a process that parallels LSU’s review of all academic and support programs [9].

LSU’s Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF) is designated a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization separate from the university and receives no direct budgetary support from LSU [10]. TAF is required to make specific arrangements with the chancellor and the athletic department vice chancellor and director to utilize LSU property. As with the LSU Alumni Association and the LSU Foundation, the relationship between the Tiger Athletic Foundation and LSU exists only so long as the relationship remains in the best interest of LSU. Comprehensive Standard 3.2.13 further details the role of the institution-related entities.