Message from the Faculty-Athletics Representative
I am Randy Susman, Professor of Anatomical Sciences and Faculty Athletics Representative. The FAR at Stony Brook is appointed by the President and, among other duties, sits on the IAB. While all participating N.C.A.A. schools have an FAR, responsibilities vary widely from campus to campus. The duties of the FAR at Stony Brook involve academics and scholar-athlete welfare. The FAR is also asked to participate in compliance and rules interpretation and to serve on committees in these areas. The Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (FARA) meets each November to hear from the top officials at the N.C.A.A. and to address matters arising in college athletics.
As for Stony Brook's emergence as a Division I institution, I am happy to report that from my vantage point I view the changes that are taking place in Athletics at Stony Brook as ones in which we, as students, staff and faculty, can take pride. First and foremost in the academic arena, Stony Brook scholar-athletes are high achievers in the classroom. Our coaches work to recruit young men and women who will be academically successful. Our scholar-athletes are a cosmopolitan corps representing North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia/Oceania. They add character, vitality, and diversity to our campus and they are supported by a dedicated staff of academic advisers in the Athletic Department. Right now our America East teams sport an average GPA above 3.0. Health Science, Business, Biology, Sociology and History are the most widely subscribed majors among our sportsmen and women.
Scholar-athlete development is a high priority of our Athletic Department. With the support and encouragement of their coaches, academic advisers, and administrators, our scholar-athletes move into the workforce and to top graduate programs, law schools, medical schools (including our own) and the allied health professions. Our Athletic Department and our scholar-athletes are meeting the rigorous new N.C.A.A. standards regarding annual progress rate (towards degree completion), APR, and graduation success rates, GSR.
I encourage everyone to take an interest and have pride in the vibrant athletic enterprise here on campus. Academic and athletic achievement at the Division I level demands a great deal from our scholar-athletes. Faculty can join in the effort by observing the rules that govern schedule conflicts for students engaged in "university sponsored activities," and by attending our games, wearing red and rooting on our teams.
Randy Susman, FAR
Professor of Anatomical Sciences