Combining on-campus experience with a team of legal experts, CSS is in a great position to assist member institutions with legal issues ranging from NCAA infractions—such as “lack of institutional control”—to gender equity and other compliance issues. We also assist institutions with negotiating and reviewing contracts, employment issues and more.
Although we’re ready to jump in when you need to take immediate action, we also encourage our clients to be proactive by allowing us to review your current policies and procedures and suggest changes that can prevent future problems. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Our team, which includes attorneys, has extensive on-campus experience and can handle everything from compliance review to infractions and gender equity inquiries.
Our services
As the NCAA rules and their enforcement continue to change, the responsibility of a university to educate and monitor its student-athletes, staff, campus and constituents grows. “Institutional control” is the goal of every university. The CSS team, with years of compliance expertise and on-campus experience, will evaluate, analyze and make recommendations to institutions and conferences relative to their compliance programs. Our in-depth reviews will ensure that effective processes and procedures, as well as the latest in best practices, are in place.
When a university faces a crisis or investigation, our team will assist throughout the process, from the conduct of the investigation to representation at hearings, working side by side with the University. In addition, we provide often-needed counsel relative to the external university presentation and image throughout the process.
Many institutions today are considering advancement to the NCAA, or to a higher division within the NCAA. Many others are contemplating moves to other conferences. Such changes require thorough analysis and informed decision-making. CSS assists in evaluating the potential revenues, costs, benefits and risks, and aids the institution in developing and implementing strategies and plans to ensure that the reclassification process is followed as prescribed and in a timely fashion.
Universities today must be even more vigilant with Title IX and gender equity, as spending and opportunities are increasingly put under a microscope. Our CSS team conducts Title IX/Equity reviews, with evaluation, analysis and recommendations, and assists with implementation of equity plans that adhere to the standards established by federal law, the NCAA, and the universities themselves.
We complete a comprehensive review of all Title IX and gender equity processes and strategic initiatives, evaluating each individual area of Title IX’s purview. After interviewing University leadership, athletic department staff, coaches and student-athletes and touring all athletic department facilities, we provide a report that details our findings and includes analysis of any future plans to ensure your department remains compliant and fulfills its mission to provide equal opportunities.
CSS is led by attorney Jeff Schemmel, and its consultants include other attorneys with experience in college athletics. We provide counsel in many areas, including coach and administrator contracts, contract negotiations, employment, conference realignment, and others.
Our Clients
Some of the clients we’ve assisted with legal and gender equity matters include:
