Present:  Gip Seaver, Nestor Osorio, Paul Bauer, Ron Short, Harry Wright, Ray Dembinski, Cary Groth, John Walton, Robert Wheeler, Marcia Dick, Ray Tourville, Nolan Davis, Joe True.

Guest:  Sheila Berg, Athletics Business Manager

I.         Call to Order – Gip Seaver

II.        Approval of March 19, 2003 Meeting Minutes

            Paul Bauer made a motion to approve the March 19, 2003, meeting minutes.  Robert Wheeler seconded the motion.

Having no corrections or additions, the motion was carried unanimously.

III.         Committee Reports

        A.     Budget

                Will be addressed under Old Business.

        B.     Student Welfare

                No report.

        C.     Gender Equity

                Will be addressed under Old Business.

        D.     Faculty Athletics Representative

                Ray Dembinski reported that the management council of the NCAA has approved a motion to increase the core course requirement from 14 to 16.
                This legislation would take effect in 2008.  That will present another issue to deal with.

                Cary Groth reported that she, Ray Dembinski, Bobbie Cesarek, and Sandy Hafner-Arnold met with President Peters yesterday to discuss issues and
                concerns relative to the 40/60/80% rule.  In addition to meeting with the president, they have also met with the advising deans and the council of deans
                to present this information.  Athletics is sharing the information little by little and discussing how to address this when the student-athletes arrive in
                August whom this rule will affect.

        E.     Huskie Club

                Cary reported that the spring football game is Thursday evening.  Top major gift prospects have been invited to attend and approximately 60 have
                stated they would attend.  Cary is anxious to share with them some of the initial drawings of the Student-Athlete Development Center which will be
                built in the north endzone at the Stadium.  At the May Board meeting, Cary would like to bring those drawings to share with the Board.

                Cary added that the donations to the Huskie Club have increased approximately 20%.

IV.     Old Business

        A.     Second Quarterly Report

                Ray Dembinski made a motion to approve the second quarterly report.  Nolan Davis seconded the motion.  Gip asked if there were any questions
                from the Board regarding this report.

                Cary said the increase in football gate will be going to purchase a new state-of-the-art ticketing system.  She hopes that will address the issues
                Athletics experienced this past football season.  It has been a major concern the last two years.  The bid is currently out on the system.

                Gip said at last month’s meeting, mention was made of a ticket surcharge.  Cary said in discussion with President Peters and Dr. Eddie Williams, they
                did not think it would be a good idea to have the $1 surcharge across the board but for tickets purchased at the windows only.  Dr. Wheeler said
                when ordering tickets via the internet, Ticketmaster also charges a handling fee.  Cary said it will cost people for the convenience of ordering online
                but hopes it will get people to purchase season tickets.  It will take time to get this in place but it will help.

                Sheila Berg added that if people print out the ticket order form online and want to purchase a ticket for the Maryland game, the cost for the ticket is
                $15.00 plus a $4.00 surcharge.  If you were to order through Ticketmaster online and want to pick up the ticket Will Call, there is only a 50 cent
                surcharge.  Gip pointed out that the convenience is great for people living outside DeKalb.

                Having no further discussion, the motion was carried.  Gip asked Sheila if the FY04 budget will be presented at the May 7 Board meeting.  She said
                that she is planning to do that along with the third quarterly report.  Gip added that the Board should plan to meet on June 18.

        B.     Spring Cleaning

                1.     March 20, 2002 meeting minutes

                        Gip clarified that the auditors found that these minutes had not been approved thus requiring us to do so today.

                        Harry Wright made a motion to approve the March 20, 2003 meeting minutes.  Ray Dembinski seconded the motion.  Having no additions or
                        corrections, the motion was carried.

                2.     FY03 schedules

                        Gip clarified that the schedules as presented have not been approved by the Board.  He is looking for guidance as to how the Board would like
                        to proceed with schedules.  His recommendation for next year is that the executive committee and the incoming chair develop a better way to
                        deal with schedules.  In the past, they came to the board every meeting.  It is a responsibility of the board to approve schedules, shown both in
                        the NIU bylaws and the NCAA constitution, as well.

                        Gip then asked if the Board members want more time to review the schedules or does the Board want to vote on these today?

                        Nolan Davis made a motion to approve the FY03 schedules as presented.  Nestor Osorio seconded the motion.

                        Gip then opened the floor to comments or suggestions.  Cary said the only way to better deal with these is if the MAC were to do a better job
                        getting the schedules out in a timely manner.

                        Ray Dembinski pointed out that the Board’s policy was developed initially to address days away, classes missed, and competition during finals.
                        In the last several years, coaches have been sensitive to not scheduling non-conference events during finals week and Athletics has done a fairly
                        good job keeping track of missed classes.  The system has built-in safety checks through the Athletic Department.  Cosmetic changes for
                        television or game time changes or raindates don’t need to be micromanaged.

                        Paul Bauer said probably the Board or executive committee of the Board and the athletics director could review schedules the approve them.
                        Once a year, the entire Board could review schedules.  It is not practical to review these every month.  To address them in that way would be a
                        safeguard.  Cary said swimming was always an issue because of their season and the number of days away and classes missed.  With swimming
                        not being offered anymore eliminates that issue.

                        Gip said at the next executive committee meeting they could come up with guidelines and streamlined procedures with an “audit” at the end of the
                        year for the full Board.  He added that the Board may want to look more closely at football and men’s and women’s basketball but that way, the
                        policies are in place.

                        Having no further discussion, the motion was carried unanimously.

        C.     Needs Assessment Update

                Paul Bauer reported that the gender equity committee completed the first step of this assessment in January, thanks to help from some of the Board
                members and the Athletics Department.  There was a problem with the way the survey was printed but that was taken care of by coloring in the
                bubbles half again to the left of each one.  Through Ray Tourville, Paul located Greg Barker who fed the data into the program and an analysis was
                printed out.  It is very user-friendly information and can be sorted in a number of different ways.  Now the data need to be analyzed by the
                appropriate people.  Paul will consult with Dee as to how to move forward.   Cary said Dee can provide background of what really needs to be
                looked at.  The committee’s involvement and support are helpful.

                Paul is not sure there will be anything to report at the May meeting but perhaps the first meeting in the fall.  Cary added that the most important thing
                was that the survey was administered.

        D.     Athletic Board structure and function

                Gip began by saying information had been provided a while ago for Board members to review relating to athletics boards.  He compiled information
                received from a number of different athletics programs in the Mid-American conference and others relative to their structure and what they deal with.
                We would not be able to effect changes this year because any proposals would need to go through University Council and the appropriate
                subcommittees.  As the information is reviewed, Gip said he is looking for a direction to go with the Board.  The information presented seems to
                indicate that this Board is very similar to our peer institutions.  Paul Bauer asked what might be gained through changing the structure.  Gip said
                attendance might be an area that could see change.  If the Board were larger, it would be easier to maintain quorum.  When the Board was
                downsized, the feeling is that there are more times we are not reaching quorum.  That is particularly problematic at the end of the academic year.
                Also, committee work is easier with a larger group.

                Ray Dembinski said attendance is a combination of structure but also of function.  Looking back over the years, in the last several, we have had fewer
                substantive issues to address as a Board.  When conference affiliation and sports sponsorship were past issues, a task force was developed and
                public hearings were held.  Now that there is stability relating to our conference affiliation, there hasn’t been the crush of issues that there have been in
                the past.  As we move to adjust what the Board does relative to scheduling, that comes off the monthly agenda.  Gip suggested that Board members
                look more at the focus of the Board.  He wonders that as a function, the Board might look at the frequency with which it meets as a way to address
                attendance.  More substantive items might appeal to the Board members, as well.  Paul Bauer would argue against increasing the size of the Board.

                Ray Dembinski suggested looking at the Student Association attendance.  Several years ago, student participation on the Board was better; it has
                declined over the last three or four years.  Cary said the Student Association has been in turmoil until this year.  There doesn’t seem to be a
                substantive issue in Athletics that they think needs to be addressed.

                Nolan Davis agrees with the function of the Board but should perhaps it should figure out what major issues it should do to help Athletics over the next
                ten years.  We should identify four or five things that the Board should be working on and agree on them and then see if the structure fits those items.
                Nolan added that if increasing student involvement in Athletics, there is no representation on the Board by Student Affairs.  Perhaps Michael Coakley
                or someone he designates could sit on Athletic Board.

                Harry Wright asked if this Board is proactive or reactive because it seems to be reactive.  Taking today’s meeting as an example, the Board has not
                one much of substance.  We should look at being proactive to get moving forward.  Cary said Athletics is currently negotiating a new television
                contract.  The Board has not been involved in this type of discussion before but it might get the Board mobilized if Athletics was to do so.

                Gip said he has spent sometime over the last year identifying some areas where the Board could be involved.  He agrees with Harry that this Board
                should be proactive.  Items such as dealing with the budget, ticket prices and complimentary ticket policies have already been identified as those which
                can be handled by subcommittees.

                The suggestion was made to put together a task force and for thirty days, review the Board’s function and then make a presentation of findings to the
                Board.  Gip said the Board could take the next couple of meetings to look at what the Board would like to do and what it would like to get involved
                with and where the Board could be helpful.  That would help address what type of committee structure is appropriate.  Gip is still convinced the
                Board should meet quarterly, do most of the work by committee and bring things forward for Board approval.  That way the Board would not have to
                meet every month.

                Ray Dembinski said to follow up on what Cary said, getting the Board involved in contractual talks about television or conference membership would
                be areas of interest.  Ray Tourville added that he recently spoke  to former president Monat and he said at times, we have to recognize that in the
                process of some discussions, there are some sensitive moments and it is necessary to act quickly or privately.  You don’t want to encumber yourself in
                a committee meeting.  It is a dilemma for an advisory board and an area where advisory boards get frustrated.  Gip said you have to empower people
                to make the decisions but parameters need to be established.   You need to make decisions but you also need background information.

                Nolan Davis totally opposes micromanagement but the Board needs to learn more about Athletics and the things they do.  He gets input from
                individuals suggesting Athletics should be doing certain things but, as a Board members, he doesn’t know 100% of what Athletics does.  For a new
                Board member, it is necessary to have some background information.  They could talk to coaches and athletics administrators about what they do and
                how they do it.

                John Walton said the Law School has formed an advisory board (the Board of Visitors) which meets once per year.  They only meet once per year
                because the Law School spends time looking at where it is going and what it is doing and how the Board of Visitors can be involved.  Athletics
                probably gets its own legal advice elsewhere. John believes that issues do come up and when talking about eligibility, there are legal implications in
                those programs that may get tested and the question comes up as to whether they would withstand some legal scrutiny.   Ray Tourville added that
                before former University Legal Counsel, George Shur retired, he always attended the Athletic Board meetings.  Cary said legal counsel works with
                Athletics in many different areas.  Ray went on to ask if legal counsel will return to the Board.  There is no definite answer at this time.

                Gip then asked Janaan to provide copies of the quarterly meeting schedule to the Board members for the next meeting.  He also asked Cary to
                provide copies of Athletics’ three-year plan and also to discuss resources and assistance the Board can bring to the plan.  We should also discuss
                what the function of the Board should be and whether the Board should be advisory as well as regulatory.  We can start the discussion with those
                items and where to recommend the Board go next year.  Should it go to quarterly meetings?  There are some things the Board would really like to
                work on next year. The Board always seems to have trouble developing momentum in the fall.  Ray Tourville also said if Cary would bring in some
                contracts, that would be helpful.  We might well go back to what the executive committee originally of proposed having the full meetings designated as
                regulatory and the other functions as advisory.

V.     New Business

        A.     Budget Update

                Gip asked Cary if there is any additional information for the Board relative to the budget.  She reported that it was a good year for football income.
                Part of that income will help in addressing the deficit.  Athletics did not spend all of the swimming scholarship monies and that will also go toward the
                deficit which it is on the way toward balancing.

                Athletics has had to take cuts, as everyone else has.  The SASS (Student-Athlete Support Services) unit, compliance, and athletic training have taken
                cuts.  Athletics has off-loaded some things to development and the NCAA broad-based pool monies.  All professional travel has been frozen since
                February or March.

                Ray Tourville said though things in Athletics look good, he is concerned with the Governor’s concept of asking for more money from out-of-state
                students.  Paul Bauer said the Governor referred to it as “subsidizing out-of-state students.”  Nolan Davis said the governor has adopted as his
                personal beliefs the public’s beliefs and he is acting on them.  What we can do is try to get an exception for out-of-state student-athletes.  Cary said
                Athletics had such an exception until six or seven years ago but it might be possible to get it re-enacted.  Sheila Berg asked if it could be such that it
                would apply to any university scholarship and if it were university awarded the out-of-state could be waived.  Cary stated that Kathy Buettner is
                working on this.

                Robert Wheeler said there is also another proposal out.  The Board of Higher Education has appointed a committee on Portability and Accessibility
                which has as its focus looking at 50% of all undergraduate tuition waivers being need-based.  It might be a potential impact on Athletics as well as a
                number of other programs.  Cary said Anne Kaplan sent her that information.  In looking at need-based aid, the PELL recipient is the main focus.
                The challenge is that not all who are eligible apply for the PELL.  Athletics is trying to determine how many student-athletes would be need-based
                participants.  Paul Bauer suggested making recommendations and if nothing comes of them, what would be the soonest this would be implemented.
                Dr. Wheeler said it would not become effective for next academic year but possibly for the following year.

VI.     Announcements

        A.     Cary reported that Steve Simmons has been hired as head men’s soccer coach.  He comes to NIU from Oregon State University.  He is
                Asian-American which makes the Athletics Department the most diverse athletics administration and head coaching program in the country.  Steve is
                outstanding and the Athletic Department is very excited about his hire.  He begins on April 21.

        B.     Cary also reported that the Athletics Department has experienced great success this past year.  Football and men’s basketball led the way.  Men’s
                and women’s tennis are having a good spring season.  Baseball has defeated Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa this year and are fighting for second place in
                the west division.  Softball is second in the division.  Track and Field continues to set personal bests.   Gip asked if there is anything in the future
                relative to an outdoor track.  Cary said discussion is ongoing.  With the state of the economy and budget, it will be tough.  Athletics is looking into the
                gifting of the track and it may not be a top 100 track but it would be a training track.  Robert Collins and Shantel Twiggs, the head track and
                field/cross country coach, are working on things.  Gip asked where they are training now.  Cary said it is a combination of using the grass fields,
                DeKalb and Sycamore high schools, sometimes Kaneland High School, and indoors at the Convocation Center.  The challenge at the Convocation
                Center is that because of the events there, the seats are pulled out much more than Athletics had anticipated but work is being done there as well.

                Harry Wright made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Nolan Davis seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

The next meeting of the Athletic Board is Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at 1:00 p.m. in Holmes Student Center Room #406.  The executive committee will meet on Wednesday, April 30, at 1:00 p.m. in the athletics administration conference room in the Convocation Center.