And we have the first official fallout from the Peter Gray case.

Here’s what led up to today’s actions by the UI. That link is from Gazette reporter Diane Heldt, who had a one-on-one interview recently with UI President Sally Mason.

The following is the UI release stating associate AD Fred Mims is being reassigned with student services and compliance being separated into two units.

BARTA REORGANIZES STUDENT SERVICES, COMPLIANCE AREAS

Caption: Fred Mims, Iowa's Associate Director of Athletics for Athlete Student Service and Compliance speaks with the media following a press conference by head football coach Kirk Ferentz and Athletic Director Gary Barta at the Hayden Fry Football Complex in Iowa City on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. (Cliff Jette/Sourcemedia Group News)

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The UI Athletics Department’s compliance and student services units will become separate departments under the leadership of interim directors effective immediately, UI Athletics Director Gary Barta announced Friday.

Barta also announced that Fred Mims, the UI’s long-time associate athletics director for student services and compliance, is being reassigned.

The compliance office is responsible for making certain the UI Athletics Department is operating its 24 sports programs within the rules set for by the UI, Big Ten Conference, and NCAA.  The student services unit is responsible for providing academic and personal support services to the UI’s more than 650 student-athletes to ensure that they make timely and satisfactory progress toward their degree.

Barta said the reorganization of the compliance and student services units has been a topic of discussion among his senior staff for the past few years as many of the UI’s peer institutions transitioned in that direction administratively.

“The growth in scope and responsibilities in these two areas has increased significantly over the years. In response to that reality and the issues experienced in our student services area recently, I believe it is in the best interest of our student-athletes to make this transition today. While many of the details of the reorganization are yet to be finalized, the changes will take effect immediately,” Barta said.

Barta said the reorganization of the student services and compliance units will maintain the dual reporting responsibilities outlined earlier this month by UI President Sally Mason. Specifically, the individual responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the compliance staff will report to both Barta and a member of the staff of the Office of the General Counsel for the next two years; the individual responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the student services staff will report to both Barta and a member of the staff of the Office of the Provost for the same period of time.

“I want to thank Gary for his decision-making and leadership. We have an obligation to provide our student-athletes with the very best opportunity for a positive experience as students, athletes, and members of the University and Iowa City communities. These changes will help us to continue to accomplish that,” Mason said.

Mason earlier this month also called for internal audits of the processes in the student services and compliance units.  Barta said he will be eager to review the results of those efforts when completed in early 2013.

“Clearly, we are entering a new day in two extremely important areas of our department, but our highest priority remains our ongoing commitment to overall student-welfare.  The audits, along with the expertise of our current staff, the interim directors and, eventually, the full-time directors, will provide us an excellent foundation to build upon our past successes in these areas,” Barta said.