A final report is expected soon from the committee reviewing the role of the UW-Madison Athletic Board.
The committee is examining faculty oversight of the athletic department, especially in the evaluation and hiring of coaches.
In fall 2007, the UW-Madison Athletic Board conducted a review of its function, how it conducts its work and the role of board members.
According to a document adopted by the UW-Madison Faculty Senate in May of 2009, this review was due, in part, to the NCAA athletics certification process, which requires a self-study.
Bill Tracy, chair of the University Committee of the Faculty Senate, said the results presented to the senate troubled some members.
""The self-study was presented to the Senate, and some senators felt that the description of how the board functions did not conform to Senate policies or procedures,"" he said. ""The Senate directed the University Committee to form an ad hoc committee composed of faculty to review the way the board functions relative to its charge.""
Over the past few decades, the Athletic Department budget has grown from about $10 million per year to $90 million, and the size of the operation has grown accordingly, according to the faculty senate resolution, which authorized the ad hoc committee.
""The bottom line—the academic achievement of student athletes, the competitiveness of our teams, our compliance with conference and NCAA rules, and our financial strength must be consistent,"" the resolution said.
According to Tracy, an area of concern to some senate members has been in the evaluation and hiring of coaches, where the authority of Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and the faculty Athletic Board seemingly overlap.
""I think the area was mainly the self-study's description of the evaluation and hiring of coaches,"" Tracy said.
While he declined to comment on any expected finding, Tracy said the committee is likely to publish its report some time in February.
