Name | Purpose | Membership | Organization | Code of Regulations

Article I. NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

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Article II. PURPOSE

Section A. Control
The upholding of the principle that in each institution the President shall control all phases of the administration in athletics.

Section B. Athletic Importance
The establishment of conditions under which an economical program of competitive athletics can be provided. The members of the conference firmly believe that competitive athletics offer an important educational experience and recreation to participating students and serve as a center for campus spirit and loyalties. To best realize these values, it is necessary that the participants be representative of the total student body and not specifically recruited athletes. It is also essential that the athletic program include both intercollegiate and intramural competition so as to provide these values to as large a number of students as possible and at a level commensurate with their individual skills.

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Article III. MEMBERSHIP

Section A. Eligibility
Accredited colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning which accept and observe the principles of this conference are eligible for membership.

Section B. Scope of the Conference
Member schools are located in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. Members in scheduling outside the conference will seek schools which most nearly follow the principles of the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

Section C. Contracts Held By New Members
Contracts held by members at the time of joining the conference are obligations not to be abrogated.

Section D. Acceptance to Membership
Institutions may be admitted to membership (full or affiliate) only by the approval of at least 75% (rounded up) of the voting members of the Presidents' Council.
The Presidents Council will consider the following three guidelines when considering new and continuing conference membership applications and issues:

1) The sponsorship of a varsity football program has been a core value of PAC membership since its founding. While sponsorship of football is not an absolute requirement for full active conference membership, the PAC Presidents Council understands the major resource commitment entailed in a varsity football program, and will prioritize for consideration membership applications from schools that sponsor
varsity football programs. The PAC also recognizes that at any point a conference member can raise a concern if the lack of a football program resulted in significant reallocation of resources as to cause a major competitive imbalance.

2) Absent a varsity football program, priority consideration will be given to membership applications from schools with athletic departments featuring comprehensive, multi-sport varsity athletic team sponsorships across all three seasons of competition (fall, winter, spring).

3) Consideration for conference membership will also include applications from schools that offer sponsorship or planned sponsorship of emerging varsity sports sponsored by or being considered for sponsorship by the PAC.

The following guidelines apply to any affiliate members:

• An affiliate member in one sport would pay 25 percent of full conference annual membership dues, an affiliate member in two sports would pay 50 percent of dues, while an affiliate member in three or more sports would pay 100 percent of dues.
   
• Representatives from affiliate members are invited to attend and fully participate in all relevant meetings and standing councils within the PAC governance structure, including the PAC Presidents’ Council, Athletic Administrators Council, Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) Council, Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) Council, Sports Information Director (SID) Council and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), as well as any appropriate sport coaches groups.  Affiliate members are invited to vote on all matters related to their affiliate sport.
   
• Affiliate member coaches would be permitted to serve as chairs, if elected or appointed, of their respective oaches group. Representatives of affiliate members may not serve as chairs of other standing PAC committees.
   
• Regarding future PAC membership issues, only full PAC members may participate in future expansion votes regarding requests for full PAC membership. Affiliate members would have a membership vote on future applications for PAC affiliate membership in their respective sports.
   
• Affiliate members are eligible to receive PAC grant funding via the NCAA Division III Strategic Initiatives Grant program as appropriate, with final decisions regarding  funding allocations residing with the PAC conference office.

Section E. Withdrawal/Expulsion
A member institution may withdraw from membership in the conference on two (2) year's advance notice.

Expulsion:
1. Any member which fails to meet the conditions and obligations of membership may be terminated,
suspended or otherwise disciplined by a three-quarters (75 percent) affirmative vote of all Presidents
Council members (excluding the institution in question), provided that notice of intent to invoke
disciplinary action is made in writing to the affected member and all other members at least thirty (30)
days prior to the date when the action is proposed to be taken.

2. Grounds for disciplinary action shall include, without limitation, failure to pay dues or fines, failure to
comply with conference scheduling requirements, any action or inaction which constitutes a violation of
the conference Agreement, Code of Regulations, and Bylaws or any other major violation of an NCAA
Division III rule or regulation, and any action or inaction which reflects poorly upon the reputation and integrity of the conference.

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Article IV. ORGANIZATION

Section A. Presidents' Council
There shall be only one permanent administrative organization and it shall be composed of the presidents of the member institutions and shall be called the Presidents' Council.  The Presidents' Council shall have the sole responsibility for the establishment, direction, and if necessary, the enforcement of general policy.  The Presidents' Council may appoint such sub-committees as it deems necessary for the conduct of the affairs of the conference.

1. Officers
The officers of the Presidents' Council shall be a chairman and vice-chairman who shall also be held in annual rotation by the presidents of the member institutions. The vice-chairman shall be the member of the council next in line for the chairmanship.

2. Meetings 
The Presidents' Council shall meet twice each year, in November and May. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the chairman. A president who is unable to attend a scheduled meeting may send an alternate of his choice.   A quorum shall consist of one less than the number of members at the conference.

Section B. Athletic Directors' Council
The chairman of the Athletic Directors' Council shall be from the same institution as the chairman of the Presidents' Council. The Women's Committee shall be the sole voting agent in matters pertaining to women's athletics. The Men's Committee shall be the sole voting agent in matters pertaining to men's athletics. In all issues which will move on to the Presidents and/or issues pertaining to both men's and women's athletics, the joint council (men's and women's committees) shall be the sole voting agent with one vote per institution. The designated Athletic Director has the responsibility for the vote or to determine the voting agent. The Men's Committee Chairperson and the Women's Committee Chairperson will represent the PAC in the Presidents' Council. The administrative structure will be reviewed every three (3) years.

Section C. Review Board
Three (3) member Directors representing three (3) disassociated institutions appointed by the chairperson.

1. Review Board Procedures
a. All charges must be in writing to the chairperson of the Athletic Directors with appropriate documentation.
b. Chairperson of the Athletic Directors will submit the evidence to the chairperson of the Review Board.
c. Chairperson of the Athletic Directs will also inform the involved party or parties of the charge in writing.
d. Those in question may submit evidence in their defense either by written documentation or oral presentation.
e. Hearing by the Review Board to occur as soon as reasonably possible, but within sixty (60) days.
f. Proceedings will be conducted according to the canons of applied academic due process.
g. All protested athletic contests are to be reported to the chairperson of the Review Board by the protesting Athletic Director, no later than 24 hours after the contest.

2. Recommendations of the Review Board
a. The decision of the full council will be communicated in writing to the appropriate school authority by the chairperson of the Review Board.
b. The decisions of the Athletic Directors' Council will be final within the confines of the Presidents' Athletic Conference structure.
c. The Athletic Directors' Council recognizes the right of every individual or institution to be heard by a higher court, in this case the Appeal Board of the Presidents' Council.

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Article V. CODE OF REGULATIONS

Section A. Provisions
The Code of Regulations provides rules and regulations governing the academic standards to be maintained by athletes, the types of financial aid which are permissible, the recruiting of prospective students who are athletes, the eligibility of students for intercollegiate athletic competitions, the scheduling of games and meets, the length of seasons and practice sessions, and other administrative practices in connection with athletics as member institutions. The philosophy and procedures underlying these regulations are intended to be carried over into all activities which are part of the intercollegiate athletic programs. In matters not specifically covered in the Code of Regulations the established policies of each institution shall prevail assuming these policies are in keeping with the NCAA guidelines and the PAC philosophy.

Section B. Amendments
This Code of Regulations may be amended by a three-quarters (75%) vote of the total membership of the Presidents' Council.

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