The perception and role of faculty members in the governance of intercollegiate athletics

The purpose of this study was to examine faculty perceptions regarding their roles involving the governing of intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I university in the southern United States by accurately replicating Kuga's 1996 study. This study attempted to explore the faculty's perceived role in college sport reform by addressing faculty perceptions of: (a) the impact of intercollegiate athletics, (b) the role and influence of faculty regarding athletics, and (c) the factors influencing the willingness (or unwillingness) of the faculty to participate in the governance of intercollegiate athletics. This examination of faculty perceptions was achieved by investigating the individual differences of subgroups defined by faculty status, gender, and previous collegiate athletic participation (Kuga, 1996, p.149).

The participants in this study were full-time faculty from one NCAA Division I university. A stratified random sample of 250 faculty representing each of twelve academic colleges within the university were selected from the 1996-1997 faculty list (Kuga, 1996).

MANOVAs, Tukey's post hoc test, and t-test results indicated that both gender and previous athletic participation subgroups perceived that athletics were competitive and commercial and that faculty should have a strong concern for the welfare of the athletes. In addition, both subgroups were less inclined to enjoy the fringe benefits associated with participating with the governance of intercollegiate athletics.

This research could be used by university and athletic administrators at this NCAA Division I university to enhance their awareness of faculty perceptions on their role in the governance of intercollegiate athletics by acknowledging the candid views the faculty possess.