Q&A with our Faculty Athletics Representatives

How Drs. Donna Trautman and Ray Schneider support student-athlete welfare, academic integrity and key compliance issues

As part of institutional governance of intercollegiate athletics, the NCAA requires every member school to designate a faculty athletics representative (FAR). Drs. Donna Trautman and Ray Schneider stepped into this important role in 2016, following Dr. Lee Meserve’s two decades of distinguished service as the University’s FAR. 

Trautman and Schneider have wide-ranging responsibilities involving continuous interaction with faculty, intercollegiate athletics staff and the more than 400 student-athletes competing across 18 sports in the Mid-American Conference and Central Collegiate Hockey Association. They are responsible for certification of the academic eligibility of student-athletes while serving as the primary liaison between the Department of Athletics and BGSU faculty.

In addition, they play a significant part in ensuring that the University maintains an excellent reputation for developing student-athletes while ensuring BGSU Athletics operates in accordance with the principles of academic integrity, student-athlete welfare and institutional control, with careful attention to compliance issues.

Trautman has been at BGSU since 1989, serving in numerous roles including associate professor, associate dean, director of Graduate Studies and department chair. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, mostly related to visual cross-media, research, training and development, and applied learning.

Schneider began at Bowling Green in 1998 and is a tenured professor in the sport management program within the College of Education and Human Development. His scholarship examines issues in intercollegiate sport such as college athletic memorabilia and perceptions of equity, and he has been published in leading academic journals.

We asked Trautman and Schneider to share what they find most rewarding in their role as faculty athletics representatives, how Athletics enhances campus life and furthers the University’s mission, and some of the evolving challenges of this unique role.

Can you give us some examples of key activities in your role as FARs?

Trautman: Ray and I regularly attend various meetings in Athletics such as head coaches’ and staff meetings. We recently attended a discipline committee meeting that brought together the director of athletics, the associate athletics director for compliance and student-athlete services to make sure we're communicating about emerging issues or potential issues that would involve student-athletes’ well-being and University compliance. There’s always something new happening, so it takes a lot of people to coordinate and accomplish our mission. BGSU has developed an effective process that incorporates strong checks and balances with the right mix of people, ensuring the University supports student-athlete well-being, academic integrity and a strong compliance track record.

Schneider: Open, clear communications is always front and center in our work as faculty athletics representatives. A great example is how we handle the big job of certifying the academic eligibility of our student-athletes in light of highly nuanced NCAA eligibility requirements. There isn’t just one thing that you look for and monitor, and that's where it takes a concerted team effort and excellent communications. Everything from the faculty reporting grades to the Student-Athlete Services office and then compiling everything, to the Athletics Compliance office being involved while making sure that we're all familiar with any rule changes that might have taken place.

How do Athletics and our student-athletes contribute to the BGSU community?

Schneider: When I look at it from the standpoint of a faculty member, I see the broad geographic representation of our student-athletes as a great asset to the University. Their diverse backgrounds enrich the classroom experience for their fellow students. And I think it’s important to acknowledge the tremendous drive and high achievement of our student-athletes, both in athletic competition and their academic performance. I believe that helps raise the bar for our entire student body.

Trautman: Athletics brings all good things to a University, and it's the welcoming door to many of our community members. The thrill of competition really engages the community, and it gives students a way in which to carry out their passion while preparing them for professional success and a fulfilling life. And I would add to that how involved our student-athletes are in community service. They put in hours and hours of dedicated service, benefiting the campus and surrounding community. What a richer community BGSU brings to Bowling Green, and our student-athletes are an essential part of that. 

What are some current challenges and what is on the horizon for BGSU Athletics?

Schneider: When we talk about student-athlete well-being and student-athlete experience, I would say the challenges moving forward are we're dealing with a different environment than we had before COVID, which has changed eligibility timelines for many of our student-athletes. Having an extra year of eligibility made some student-athletes work through the decision-making process of, ‘Do I stay and use that extra year at BGSU, or do I take advantage of the opportunity to transfer to another University?’ That has had a major impact.

In addition to that, we are seeing a new post-COVID normal that includes the ever-changing landscape of “name, image and likeness,” which refers to the ability of student-athletes to, essentially, market themselves and earn compensation within NCAA guidelines. There are so many new things coming together at once that collectively represent a formidable challenge moving forward. It remains to be seen how best to massage all of those together given the uncertainty around what the NCAA is going to look like in the future.