Amend NAIA Bylaws Article I, Section B as follows:

The control of athletics shall be the responsibility of the institution’s chief executive officer. No member institution shall participate in any athletics contest which is not under the direct control and supervision of the institution’s administration. The institution’s chief executive officer is encouraged to appoint a faculty athletics committee to act in an advisory capacity.

Accordingly, all staff members involved in the administration of athletics shall complete an annual online rules education training program. This includes the faculty athletics representative, registrar and all identified athletic department administrators and coaches, including, but not limited to, all paid and voluntary head, associate, assistant and graduate assistant coaches. For each individual required to participate in the training program, comprehensive rules education is required upon initial appointment to their role. Thereafter, training reviewing rule changes and updates will be required annually.

coaches must complete the required training within the first 60 days of hire or prior to the coach’s first competition, whichever is earlier. New staff members must complete the required training within the first 60 days of hire or prior to the institution’s next certification, whichever is earlier. Returning coaches and staff members must complete the required training prior to the earliest start date for competition for any sport sponsored by the institution (see Article I, Section H, Item 5). Each institution shall verify that its staff members complete the requisite training every year. Any staff member failing to complete the training as required shall be reported to the National Conduct and Ethics Committee.

AND

Amend NAIA Bylaws Article IX, Section C as follows:

2. National Conduct and Ethics Committee

This committee shall be charged with reviewing and acting upon cases:

a. Involving inappropriate conduct of a physical or verbal nature by players, coaches or fans;

b. Involving violations of the NAIA Code of Ethics;

c. Involving violations of the Institutional Financial Aid Policy (See Council of Presidents Policy);

d. Involving violations of the annual rules education, campus visitation/tryout, financial assistance, recruitment, scheduling and/or frequency of play regulations;

e. In which a student or institutional representative provides false or inaccurate information to the NAIA or to a member institution; and/or

f. Involving violations of the Declaration of Intent to Participate in postseason-play regulations.

____________________________________

Intent: To mandate annual online rules education coursework for all staff members involved in the administration of athletics (including athletic department staff, registrar and faculty athletics representative), and permit the National Conduct and Ethics Committee to review violations of this requirement.

Effective Date: August 1, 2024

Submitted by: Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives