Chapter 7. The Department of Recreational Sports

Subchapter 7–100. General Provisions

Sec. 7–101. Purpose

The University of Texas at Austin seeks to promote and conduct officially organized sports activities and athletic recreation programs for men and women. The purposes of these programs are:

1. to provide students at the University with an opportunity for interesting and rewarding sports competition and recreation;
2. to present a varied program of sports and recreational activities so that every student has the opportunity to participate regardless of athletic ability;
3. to provide a competitive, recreational, and instructional program for members of the faculty and staff; and,
4. to present opportunities for use of recreational facilities to student spouses and dependents, spouses and dependents of faculty and staff members, Austin community members, and special guests of the University.

Sec. 7–102. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning, the following definitions apply.

1. “Student” means a person enrolled in residence at the University or a person accepted for admission or readmission to the University while that person is on the campus.
2. “University” means the University of Texas at Austin.
3. “Director” means the director of Recreational Sports.
4. “Department” means the Department of Recreational Sports.

Subchapter 7–200. The Recreational Sports Committee

Sec. 7–201. Membership

1. The Recreational Sports Committee has fifteen members. The members are:
   1. six members of the General Faculty, appointed by the president for two-year terms;
   2. two staff members, appointed by the president for two-year terms;
   3. two students, a male and a female, designated by the Councils of Recreational Sports and appointed by the president for one-year terms;
   4. two other students, a male and a female, designated by Student Government and appointed by the president for one-year terms;
   5. one staff member designated by the Non-Student Program and appointed by the president to serve as a member without vote for a one-year term; and,
   6. two members of the Faculty Council, appointed by the chair of the Faculty Council, for one-year terms.
2. The director of Recreational Sports will serve as administrative advisor without vote.

Sec. 7–202. Duties of Committee

The Recreational Sports Committee will:

1. advise on and approve matters of policy for the conduct of the department's programs;
2. hear appeals of decisions of the Intramural Sports Council and the University of Texas Sport Club Association Council; and,
3. promulgate regulations designating the categories of persons who are entitled to participate in the Non-Student Programs.

Sec. 7–203. Quorum

A majority of the committee constitutes a quorum and a majority of the quorum rules.

Sec. 7–204. Appellate Jurisdiction

The committee may appoint subcommittees to hear appeals other than appeals from action taken under Sec. 7–301.

Subchapter 7–300. Participation in Recreational Sports Programs

Sec. 7–301. Group Eligibility

1. A group is eligible to participate in recreational sports programs if:
   1. its membership is not denied to anyone on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including but not limited to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; and,
   2. it is not under a disciplinary sanction prohibiting participation.
2. The application form for participating in recreational sports will set out the provisions of Sec. 7–301(a)(1). By submitting an application, a group affirms that it is in compliance with the policy against discrimination.

Sec. 7–302. Individual Eligibility

An individual is eligible to participate in recreational sports programs if he or she is not under disciplinary sanction prohibiting participation and if he or she meets the requirements of rules governing the specific recreational sports program.

Sec. 7–303. Reservation of Recreational Sports Facilities

1. An individual or group eligible to participate in recreational sports programs may reserve facilities through the office of facility operations.
2. The provisions of Subchapter 10–200 of the Institutional Rules do not apply to the use of recreational sports facilities for athletic purposes.

Subchapter 7–400. Administration of Recreational Sports Programs

Sec. 7–401. The Director of Recreational Sports

1. The director:
   1. will establish and maintain effective working relations with other University departments, with faculty and staff members, with students and student groups, and with outside groups and special services that utilize recreational sports facilities and programs;
   2. will formulate, plan, and administer, with the approval of the Recreational Sports Committee, the following kinds of programs:
      1. a program of organized intramural competition in various sports;
      2. a recreational program to provide leisure-time activities;
      3. the outdoor recreation program;
      4. a faculty-staff competitive, recreational, and instructional program; and
      5. the University of Texas Sport Club Association;
   3. will receive written complaints of Intramural Sports Honor Code violations and refer these complaints to the Intramural Sports Council for action;
   4. is responsible for developing program innovations in recreational sports, providing for program expansion, providing for acquisition of additional intramural sport and recreational facilities, and supervising program staff;
   5. is responsible for the maintenance, repair, use, and security of all facilities and equipment used in division programming; and, 
   6. is responsible for enforcing the eligibility requirements of Subchapter 7–300.
2. The director is administratively responsible to and reports to the vice president for student affairs.

Sec. 7–402. The Intramural Sports Council

1. The Intramural Sports Council has ten members. The members are:
   1. the director or the director’s delegate; and,
   2. nine student members, representing the participants in the intramural program.
   3. The director or the director’s delegate will serve as administrative advisor without vote.
2. The council will:
   1. elect a student chair to facilitate the business of the council;
   2. participate in the designation of one student for appointment to the Recreational Sports Committee for a one-year term;
   3. assist the intramural staff in formulating intramural program policies;
   4. rule on protests, individual or group eligibility, and related matters;
   5. formulate and compile an Intramural Sports Honor Code; and,
   6. hear all alleged violations of the Intramural Sports Honor Code referred to it by the director. The burden of proving each allegation rests with the individual or group making the charge and all allegations must be presented in writing. A decision may be based on a violation of the spirit, as well as the letter of the rules.
3. A majority of the council constitutes a quorum and a majority of the quorum rules.

Sec. 7–403. The University of Texas Sport Club Association Council

1. The University of Texas Sport Club Association (UTSCA) Council has ten members. The members are:
   1. the director or the director’s delegate; and, 
   2. nine student members, representing the participants in the sport club program.
   3. The director or the director’s delegate will serve as administrative advisor without vote.
2. The council will:
   1. elect a student chair to facilitate the business of the council;
   2. participate in the designation of one student for appointment to the Recreational Sports Committee for a one-year term;
   3. assist the sport club staff in formulating sport club program policies;
   4. hear appeals of decisions of the sport club program administrators; and, 
   5. make recommendations on student organizations that have completed the application process for UTSCA membership.
3. A majority of the council constitutes a quorum and a majority of the quorum rules.

Subchapter 7–500. Areas of the Department

Sec. 7–501. The Intramural Sports Program

1. The program of organized student sports competition for men provides the opportunity for competition among individual students and among teams representing student groups or organizations such as fraternities, clubs, and residences, and/or graduate or undergraduate teams organized solely for the purpose of competing in a tournament or event.
2. The program of intramural sports competition for women provides the opportunity for organized competition among individual students and among teams representing student groups or organizations such as clubs, sororities, and residences, and/or graduate or undergraduate teams organized solely for the purpose of competing in a tournament or event.
3. A program of coed intramurals provides the opportunity for men and women students and Recreational Sports members to form mixed teams for intramural competition. Tournaments are offered in dual and team sports.
4. The purpose of these programs is to provide the opportunity for competition among students and to foster the physical, social, and emotional benefits of participation in sports activities, accompanied by a sense of sportsmanship.

Sec. 7–502. The Informal Recreation Program

1. The informal recreation program provides an opportunity for students and Recreational Sports members to participate in unstructured recreational activities when facilities are not scheduled for formal programming.
2. The purpose of the program is to assist the participant in developing beneficial and satisfying leisure-time sports activities.

Sec. 7–503. The Outdoor Recreation Program

1. The outdoor recreation program provides equipment rental and supervised trips in a variety of activities such as backpacking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, nature hiking, and rock climbing. Trips are open to students, the University community, and the general public. Equipment rental is available to students, faculty, and staff members with a Recreational Sports membership.
2. The outdoor recreation program provides an indoor climbing wall with 2,600 square feet of climbing surface for the leisure-time use of students and Recreational Sports members. 
3. The outdoor recreation program encompasses a civic engagement program that creates opportunities for students to serve their community and support the core values of the University. The service projects are designed to bring awareness and give voice to social concerns that positively impact the community, educate students, and provoke action beyond graduation. 
4. The purpose of the outdoor recreation program is to provide an opportunity for students to experience outdoor, wilderness activities in educationally oriented, supervised events.

Sec. 7–504. The Fitness/Wellness Program

1. The fitness/wellness program offers group fitness classes, clinics and series, and personal training. It is open to students and Recreational Sports members.
2. The purpose of the program is to provide participants with the opportunity to improve and maintain physical fitness and to engage in leisure-time activities.

Sec. 7–505. The University of Texas Sport Club Association

1. The University of Texas Sport Club Association is composed of sport or physical-activity-related student organizations sponsored by Recreational Sports.
2. The purpose of the University of Texas Sport Club Association is to promote interest in specific sport activities and to provide the opportunity for students to compete among themselves and in extramural competition with students from other colleges and universities, or with other approved sources of competition.
3. The association offers sport club members opportunities for the development of leadership and organizational skills as well as opportunities for social interaction.
4. The University of Texas Sport Club Association operates under the administration of the department.

Sec. 7–506. The Instructional Program

1. The Instructional Program provides Recreational Sports staff and the campus community with non-credit educational classes in the areas of safety education, swimming, and sport skills.
2. The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities for participants to learn and enhance skills. 

Sec. 7–507. The Civic Engagement Program 

1. The Civic Engagement Program creates opportunities for students to serve their community through hands-on service projects that address societal issues such as homelessness, underserved children and environmental concerns.
2. The purpose of the program is to bring awareness and give voice to social concerns that positively impact the community, educate students and provoke action beyond graduation.

Sec. 7–508. Membership and Guest Services

1. Membership and Guest Services manages recreation facility access systems and provides amenities to students and Recreational Sports members.  Access is provided through membership, and amenities include locker and towel service, and massage therapy.
2. The purpose of this area is to meet the leisure-time needs of the University community and to create a campus culture of wellness.