An elite group of executives from Southeastern Conference universities including David Williams of Vanderbilt have been appointed to a working group to review issues surrounding student-athlete conduct.
“Student-athlete conduct is a topic of serious concern for leaders in higher education today because the actions of a few individuals can have a devastating effect on the reputation of an entire program and institution,” said R. Bowen Loftin, chair of the SEC working group and chancellor of Missouri.
Williams, vice chancellor for university affairs and athletics, athletics director and professor of law at Vanderbilt, was announced as a member of the working group Sept. 10 along with six others by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.
In addition to Loftin and Williams, the members of the group are Jimmy Cheek, chancellor of Tennessee; David Shipley, Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Law and faculty athletics representative at Georgia; Scott Stricklin; athletics director at Mississippi State; Julie Cromer, senior associate athletics director for administration and sports programs and senior woman administrator, Arkansas; and Matt Gregory, associate dean of students at LSU.
The working group is expected to generate a report and recommendations to the SEC membership in the spring of 2016. Periodic updates will be provided to key SEC leadership.
“The SEC is taking a proactive position in addressing this issue by analyzing contributing factors as well as considering practical measures and best practices to positively impact student-athlete conduct now and into the future,” Loftin said.