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Dr. Joseph Weinberg, associate professor of Political Science, has been named The University of Southern Mississippi’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR). The primary role of the Faculty Athletics Representative, or FAR, is to serve as a representative of the University faculty to promote the academic welfare of student-athletes at Southern Miss. The FAR interacts with coaches, administrators, and academic advisors to ensure that student-athletes have the time and resources necessary to achieve the same level of academic success as all students.

Dr. Weinberg has been a faculty member at The University of Southern Mississippi since 2012, earning tenure in 2018. He currently serves as the Political Science Undergraduate and Graduate Coordinator. Dr. Weinberg earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2010, following his M.A. in International Studies: Agriculture Economics from North Carolina State University in 2003, and his B.A. in Political Science from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1999.

The Faculty Athletics Representative provides support to the academic counselors and Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support Services as they work closely to monitor and encourage student-athletes’ academic progress. By supporting communication between academic counselors and faculty, as well as coaches and the academic support team, the FAR plays an integral role in our student-athletes’ success. The FAR also works with the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support Services to recommend students for academic awards and acknowledge their accomplishments.

The FAR’s responsibilities include serving as the chairperson of the Athletic Council, coordinating regular meetings of the University’s Athletics Compliance Oversight Committee, and serving as the Southern Miss representative for any NCAA committees related to academics. The FAR advises the University President and the Director of Athletics on matters concerning student-athlete academic eligibility, NCAA legislation, and other initiatives brought forth by the FAR working group within the governance structure of Conference USA.

The NCAA requires that a member institution’s president or chancellor designate a member of the faculty or administrative staff as FAR to represent the institution and its faculty with the NCAA and athletics conference.