The Faculty Senate approved Ad Hoc Committee recommendations Wednesday on the Presidential Statement on Athletic Policy and Self-Regulating Guidelines.

The athletic philosophy was revised as part of the responsibility of NIU’s president in the intercollegiate athletic program.

On a regular basis, the president reaffirms the institution’s commitment to the athletic philosophy including the National Collegiate Athletic Association principles of fair play and amateur athletics.

Recommendations on the policy were written by the Ad Hoc Committee and the Athletic Board. However, the senate chose to send the Ad Hoc committee’s recommendations to President John La Tourette for final approval over the Athletic Board.

Ad Hoc Committee member James Mellard said the committee was just trying to make the writing consistent between the earlier and revised policies and there are no major changes.

“The content is not altered, but the directness of the prose has been,” Mellard said.

At the start of each academic year, the copies of the guidelines will be distributed to the Board of Regents, the Athletic Board, athletic department personnel, enrolled student-athletes and the NIU Huskies Athletic Association.

The policy states “intercollegiate athletics supports the academic mission of the university by requiring each student-athlete to strive for excellence in the classroom as well as on the athletic field or court.”

The philosophy also states the university’s goal is to ensure each athlete earns an undergraduate degree and the athletic program will provide academic counseling to student-athletes to help them earn their degrees.