Symons Served Bison Athletics in Multiple Capacities over Last Six Years
Calvin Symons, who had served as the director of the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse since 1993 and was the author of that organization's widespread database, was named associate athletics director for NCAA compliance services in November 2007. In August 2011, Symons changed roles and now serves as senior associate AD for operations and event management.
Symons has been involved in amateur athletics for more than 20 years, including a stint with the United States Olympic Committee, and through his 14-year association with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse, he gained expertise in the area of NCAA rules compliance.
In his initial role at Bucknell, Symons directed the department of athletics' compliance and rules education program for coaches, student-athletes, departmental staff, boosters and university offices, as well as coordinate and monitor the certification of student-athletes' eligibility and financial aid. Now he is charged with overseeing the department's facilities and coordinates coverage for all varsity athletics events.
Symons is credited with designing and implementing the original database for the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse, which processed more than 150,000 student-athletes each year. He oversaw the Clearinghouse operation grow from a staff of seven at its inception in 1993 to an operation of more than 100 employees. As Clearinghouse director, Symons gained a thorough understanding of the NCAA's structure, philosophy, programs and policies. He served in an advisory capacity to several NCAA committees and represented the Clearinghouse at national educational seminars and presentations to state and national high school groups and college associations across the country.
Symons, who has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a pair of master's degrees in public administration and sports administration from Penn State University, worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee as a project manager and operations manager from 1985-89. He was responsible for planning and logistics for the U.S. Olympic Festival and was a member of the operations staff for the Pan American Games in 1987 and the Olympic Games in 1988.
Later, Symons worked with the State of Maryland, authoring a feasibility study and bid document for the state to host a U.S. Olympic Festival. He also consulted with the Carnegie-Mellon University athletics department and the Colorado Amateur Sports Corporation on athletic administration affairs.
Symons' initial work specific to NCAA rules compliance came with the Syracuse University athletics department, where he helped create an innovative adaptation of an NCAA Compliance Manual.
From 1978-84, Symons served as coordinator of programs in the department of student affairs at Penn State. In that capacity he supervised 15 resident assistants and designed programs and workshops to foster community building and conflict resolution.
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