Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 682]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1939]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

679

of physical education and intercollegiate athletics, have been, as you know, under consideration for several months. My own study of this situation has not convinced me that the status of the professional curriculum has been fundamentally changed except to improve it in terms of academic standards, which I think is very desirable. W e never have had a "coaching school" in an administrative sense, although it is commonly referred to as such. About twenty years ago Director George Huff, with the aid of other members of the faculty, organized a four-year curriculum in athletic coaching in the College of Education. T h e professional courses (i.e., coaching and physical education) are given by members of the staff of the Department of Physical Education for Men, on whose staff the coaches of various sports serve in a part-time capacity. In 1932, when the School of Physical Education was organized, the curriculum in athletic coaching was transferred to that division from the College of Education. F r o m time to time changes have been made in this curriculum. Changes are inevitable to keep pace with improvements and the needs of the student body; this constantly goes on in all areas of our educational program. Its name was changed to Curriculum in Physical Education, and it was set up to train not only coaches but also directors of physical education, recreational supervisors, etc., in order to offer students various options and a broader training, thus increasing their professional opportunities when they graduate. Some of these improvements were started by Director Huff before his death; others were undoubtedly in contemplation as he was in favor of placing this curriculum on the highest possible level of undergraduate academic standards. I suspect that this item in the resolution refers specifically to the amount of time devoted to courses in the major sports, particularly football and basketball. Formerly the curriculum included class periods devoted to actual practice in the various sports, for which University credit was given. This at times proved unsatisfactory because some of the class sections were too small and did not include enough men for full team drills. T o take the place of this "laboratory" work, so to speak, all students in the professional curriculum who desire to be coaches are advised to go out for the sports in which they are interested, on the theory that they can get better experience by participation in practice with varsity squads under the tutelage of the coaching staff. T o be sure, not all of them can become regular players, but they can get better training through actual participation in the drills and in observation than they can in small classes. It would seem that such a policy would encourage more students to participate in intercollegiate sports, which is what is apparently desired. Students do not, of course, receive University credit for attending practice, as they did in the former drill classes, and it is possible that this discourages some athletes, who are looking for an easy way of getting a degree, from coming to this institution. On the other hand, it seems to me that the present policy means a greater service to those students who do come. 3. At the September 30, 1939, meeting of the Board of Trustees a request was submitted from the Directors of the Athletic Association that the University modify its present scholastic requirements for eligibility for participation in University athletics. T h e Board very properly directed that this be referred to the University Senate (the general faculty) through its Committee on Athletics, since under the University Statutes such matters are strictly within the official purview of that body. This was done and the Senate Committee will make two recommendations (this has not yet been made public): First, to the Western Intercollegiate Conference, at its December meeting, that its rules be modified to insure a uniform interpretation of scholastic eligibility. If this is done it will place all the member institutions on the same basis. At present there appear to be variations in practices due to different interpretations of the "delinquency in study" rule. Second, if the Conference does not act favorably on this proposal or defers action unduly, the Committee will recommend that pending such a time as the Conference may adopt the first recommendation the University modify its present regulations restricting students on scholastic probation from athletic