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Commitment to Compliance
Welcome to The University of Texas at Austin's Office of Athletics Compliance Web page. We are pleased about your interest in compliance and hope that this page proves to be resourceful and answers most of your questions. We would love to hear from you and invite all inquiries to be directed to the person in our office that best suits your needs. Below you will find the biographies and contact information for the UT Athletics compliance staff.
Amy Folan | Email Amy
Associate Athletics Director for Compliance
Amy Folan embarks upon her second year in UT Athletics and brings a host of experience to her current position. At the NCAA, Folan's primary responsibility focused on NCAA Division I interpretations and legislation. She was directly responsible for assisting the Atlantic Coast, Atlantic 10 and Big 12 Conferences with interpretive issues. Folan served as a liaison to the Academic/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Legislative/Review Interpretations Subcommittee and the NCAA Division I Financial Aid Committee. She also served as a contact for the Gambling, Agents and Amateurism staff as well as the American Football Coaches Association, United Soccer League and National Golf Coaches Association. A native of Portland, Maine, and a 1996 graduate of the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's of arts in communication sciences, Folan went on to earn her master of education in sports management from the University of Georgia in 1997. She began her administrative career as a graduate assistant in Georgia's compliance office in January of 1997 and was promoted to Assistant Director of Compliance and Legislative Services to the Bulldogs in July of that year. She spent nearly two years at Georgia before accepting her position at the NCAA. Folan was a four-year letterwinner for UConn's women's soccer team that made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the final four in 1994 and the "elite eight" in 1993 and '96. An honor roll student, she earned Academic All-Big East honors during the 1995-96 academic year.
Lori Smith | Email Lori
Compliance Coordinator
Lori Smith, who was previously employed in the compliance office at Texas Tech University 2001-2003, began her duties at UT in July 2003. She supports Associate Athletics Director for Compliance Amy Folan in all facets of the UT compliance operation, including ensuring activities of coaches, staff and student-athletes remain in accordance with NCAA rules. During her tenure in Lubbock, Smith assisted in the interpretive process for coaches, staff, student-athletes and boosters, administered the Student-Athlete Special Assistance Fund, monitored the playing and practice season documentation, assisted in the administration of medical hardship and Administrative Review Subcommittee Waivers and assisted in monitoring official visits and recruiting activities for all sport programs. In addition, she also fulfilled the duties of the assistant athletic director for compliance during a four-month period in the spring of 2002. Smith also served one year as a graduate assistant and worked for one year as an undergraduate intern in the Texas Tech compliance department before being promoted to Compliance Coordinator. Smith earned her bachelor's degree in exercise and sports sciences/health from Texas Tech in August 2000 and went on to earn her master's degree in sports administration from Texas Tech in December 2001. She received the Jeannine McHaney Endowed Scholarship and a NCAA Women's Enhancement Scholarship in 2000-01. Smith is a member of the National Athletic Association for Compliance Coordinators (NAACC) and was invited in the summer of 2004 to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference as an Administrator.
Karen Jenke | Email Karen
Financial Aid Coordinator
Karen Jenke began working at The University of Texas in 1979 at the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS). She was a member of the Athletics Compliance Staff from 1999-2004, after which she returned to OSFS. Her current responsibilities include monitoring financial aid limits for both the individual student-athlete and team limits, working with coaches regarding athletic aid, administering the National Letter of Intent and monitoring the terms and conditions of awarding athletic and outside aid. Karen, a native of Abilene, Texas, earned a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's degree in vocal performance at the University of Texas at Austin. Karen has two children, Elizabeth and Sara.
Allison Taylor | Email Allison
Administrative Associate/Initial Eligibility-UT Admissions Office
Allison is a native Austinite and life-long Longhorn. After earning her bachelor of arts degree from The University of Texas in 1995, she went to work for the Registrar's Office at UT. In 1997, she moved to the admissions office as a transfer evaluator and in 1999 became the administrative associate for initial eligibility. Allison's job is to make sure that all incoming student-athletes meet the academic eligibility criteria established by the NCAA for participation in intercollegiate sports. When she's not working, Allison enjoys reading, traveling, and eating at her favorite restaurants.
Mindy Thompson | Email Mindy
Administrative Associate
- To come.
Rhonda Place | Email Rhonda
Assistant Compliance Coordinator
- To come
Aketa Emptage | Email Aketa
Compliance Graduate Assistant
Aketa Emptage is originally from Raleigh, N.C. In 2001, she earned her B.A. in political science with a minor in Spanish from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. As an undergraduate student she worked extensively in the athletics department in areas of compliance, academics, football recruiting and was a four-year member of the cheer/dance team. After graduation she worked as a legal assistant at Covington and Burling in Washington, D.C. In October 2002, she returned to WFU to serve as the coordinator of women’s basketball operations and compliance, charged with duties ranging from operations, marketing, and special events, to assisting the senior associate AD/SWA. She is also a recipient of the 2003 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for Ethnic Minorities. While in her first year as a graduate assistant for The University’s Office of Athletics Compliance, she is attending the LBJ School of Public Affairs and pursuing a master's degree in public affairs. |
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| Dear Alumni, UT Faculty and Staff, and Friends: |
Two of the important cornerstones of University of Texas Athletics are the loyalty and enthusiasm of Longhorn fans who have demonstrated by their interest in our teams and their attendance at events that they are without equal.
The UT athletics departments appreciate this marvelous fan support, which stimulates and encourages our student- athletes and energizes our entire organization. We must be cautious, however, not to let enthusiasm for athletics lead us into conflict with the very specific rules and regulations of the National Collegiate Athletic Association or the Big 12 Conference.
The NCAA definition of “a representative of the University’s athletics interests” is very broad and encompasses many — if not all — of the people who are regular attendees at our sports events. If you fall into this category, there are a number of activities regarding contact with student-athletes and recruits that could put the University at
risk for NCAA sanctions.
We have summarized the applicable NCAA rules in this pamphlet. Please take the time to read it carefully, and should you have any questions, call the athletics compliance office at (512) 471-7285.
The University is charged with the responsibility to exercise “institutional control” of its athletics programs. We are committed to maintaining responsible programs.
The University of Texas is grateful for all you have done to make this one of the nation’s model programs. We know, based on our contacts with the alumni, UT faculty and staff, and friends across the state and the country, that you share our earnest ambition for athletics success achieved within the rules.
Gratefully,
DeLoss Dodds
Director of Men’s Athletics
Chris Plonsky
Director of Women's Athletics |
A Message to Our Donors
 Introduction
Are You a UT Representative
NCAA Bylaw
Definitions
Key Points
Faculty & Staff
Contact With Enrolled Student-Athletes
Booster Groups
Contact Info
Visit NCAA.org
INTRODUCTION
Institutional control of athletics is a fundamental requirement of NCAA legislation. The NCAA constitution provides that each institution shall be responsible for ensuring that members of the institution’s staff, student-athletes and other individuals or groups representing the institution’s athletics interests comply with all applicable NCAA rules.
This brochure is intended to provide you with basic information concerning NCAA rules that apply to a “Representative of the University’s Athletics Interests.” The brochure highlights rules concerning situations encountered by alumni, UT faculty and staff, and friends of The University of Texas.
Because of the complexity of NCAA rules, this brochure does not include all applicable situations and should not be relied upon exclusively. We need your help complying with these rules. If you have any questions concerning prospective or enrolled student-athletes, please direct your inquiry to:
Amy Folan
Associate AD for Compliance
The University of Texas
Intercollegiate Athletics
P.O. Box 7399
Austin, Texas 78713
folanag@athletics.utexas.edu
ARE YOU A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNIVERSITY’S ATHLETICS INTERESTS?
You are considered a “Representative of the University’s Athletics Interests” (a booster) if you:
» are or have been a member of any organization promoting The University of Texas Athletics Departments.
» have ever made a donation to the Athletics Departments, to a men’s or women’s athletic program, or to any booster organization.
» Have ever assisted in evaluating or recruiting prospects.
» Have ever helped to arrange or have provided employment to enrolled student-athletes, prospects, or a prospect’s parents or relatives.
» Have promoted the University’s athletics programs.
Once you become a Representative of the University’s Athletics Interests, YOU retain this status FOREVER! As a “Representative of the University’s Athletics Interests,” you are bound by NCAA, Big 12 Conference and The University of Texas rules. The University of Texas is RESPONSIBLE for your actions!
NCAA Bylaw 6.4.2.1.
Revocation or Withholding of Privileges: Any individual who has engaged in conduct that is determined, either by the University, the Big 12 Conference, or the NCAA, to be a violation of any NCAA Legislation, rule or regulation, regardless of whether such violation results in the imposition of sanctions, shall be subject to the revocation or withholding of any athletically related benefit or privilege received by that individual from the University. Such benefit or privilege may include, without limitation, ticket privileges which may be withheld by the University for that period of time which the University, Big 12 Conference, or NCAA deems appropriate, The revocation of ticket privileges may result in an individual being denied admittance to any University hosted athletics event.
DEFINITIONS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Prospective Student-Athlete: A “prospect” is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a “prospect” if the student receives any benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students in general. The University requests that you treat ALL students as prospects.
Student-Athlete: A student-athlete is a student whose enrollment was solicited by a member of the athletics staff or a representative of the University’s athletics interests with a view toward the student’s ultimate participation in the intercollegiate athletics program.
Contact: A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the prospect’s parent or legal guardian and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect’s educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the prospect or the prospect’s high school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team, shall be considered a contact, regardless of the conversation that occurs.
Recruiting: Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect’s family by a University staff member or by a representative of the University’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment at the University and/or participation in the intercollegiate athletics program.
BASIC POINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
» Athletics Representatives of an NCAA Division I institution are prohibited from making in-person on- or off-campus recruiting contacts, as well as written or telephone communications, with a prospect or the prospect’s parents or relatives.
» Athletics Representatives may NOT contact the prospect’s coach, principal, or counselor in an attempt to evaluate a prospect.
» Athletics Representatives may NOT visit the prospect’s institution to pick up films or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect.
» Athletics Representatives may inform The University of Texas coaches of prospects in their area by contacting them or sending newspaper clippings with the names of particular prospects.
» Athletics Representatives who have a pre-established relationship with a prospect or the prospect’s parents or relatives may continue normal contacts with the understanding that such contacts are not made for recruiting purposes and are not arranged by members of the institution’s coaching staff.
» Athletics Representatives may provide summer employment for prospective student-athletes with compensation based on work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality for services of like character. Do not provide any benefits for prospective student-athletes in your employ (e.g., transportation) unless the benefits are provided for all other employees. Student-athletes may work during the academic year; however, they must gain approval from the compliance office prior to employment.
LIMITED EXCEPTIONS FOR FACULTY AND STAFF
» Faculty and staff members of The University of Texas are permitted to contact prospects only on the institution’s campus.
» Faculty and staff members of The University of Texas, at the direction of the coaching staff, may begin to write a prospect on or after September 1 at the start of the prospect’s junior year in high school.
» Faculty and staff members of The University of Texas, at the direction of the coaching staff, may telephone prospects (in all sports except football) for the purpose of recruiting beginning July 1 subsequent to the prospect’s junior year in high school.
CONTACTS WITH ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES
Athletics Representatives may NOT provide any benefits or special arrangements to an enrolled student-athlete, his or her parents, relatives, or friends.
Athletics Representatives may provide an enrolled student-athlete or an entire team with an occasional family meal. The occasional meal may be catered, must be provided in an individual’s home, and must be restricted to infrequent or special occasions. Transportation may be provided to the student-athlete(s) ONLY if the meal function is at the home of that representative. Arrangements for TEAM events must be made in advance with the head coach and the appropriate athletics administrator.
Athletics Representatives may provide summer employment for enrolled student-athletes with compensation based on work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality for services of like character. Do not provide any benefits for student-athletes in your employ (e.g., transportation) unless the benefits are provided for all other employees. Do not provide employment for student-athletes DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR without approval from The University of Texas. NCAA rules restrict the amount and source of income a student-athlete may receive during the academic year.
BOOSTER GROUPS
Booster groups may finance the following institutional awards and recognition banquets, provided all expenses are paid through The University of Texas Athletics Department:
» A Single Team Post-season Awards Banquet
» An All Sports Post-season Awards Banquet
» An All Sports Academic Awards Banquet
» Single Team Recognition Banquets prior to or during the season may be financed as well as the team’s transportation expenses to the event, if it is not more than 100 miles from campus and no tangible award is provided to members of the team. |
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