INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced decisions today concerning the certification status of 12 Division I member institutions that have undergone the Association's second cycle of athletics certification.

The following universities were certified:

• Columbia University-Barnard College
• University of Delaware
• University of Hawaii, Manoa
• Kent State University
• University of Montana
• Northwestern State University
• Southeast Missouri State University
• Southwest Missouri State University
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Vanderbilt University
• Wright State University

The University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff was certified with conditions. This classification means that the institution is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the NCAA's Division I membership. However, problems identified during the course of the institution's self-study were considered serious enough by the Committee on Athletics Certification to cause it to withhold full certification until those problems have been corrected. In this case, the institution will need to submit written evidence demonstrating that an ongoing and comprehensive NCAA rules-education program exists at the university. It also will need to submit evidence that potential rules violations have been investigated and, if necessary, self-reported to the NCAA.

The purpose of athletics certification is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments. NCAA legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted in 1993.

The certification process, which is a self-study led by an institution's chief executive officer, includes a review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance; academic integrity; fiscal integrity; equity; welfare; and sportsmanship. A designation of certified means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership.

The second round of athletics certifications is being completed on a 10-year cycle rather than the five-year cycle used during the initial certification process. All 326 active Division I members participate in the certification process.

The Division I Committee on Athletics Certification preliminarily reviews an institution's certification materials, and then provides a list of issues identified during the evaluation. The university then has a period of approximately one year to respond in writing to the issues before a final certification decision is rendered. An institution's failure to satisfactorily respond to the committee may negatively impact certification status.

The certification process is separate from the NCAA's enforcement program, which investigates allegations of rules violations by NCAA member institutions. A decision of certified does not exempt an institution from concurrent or subsequent enforcement proceedings.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions may ask the Committee on Athletics Certification to review an institution's certification status as a result of the completed infractions case.

The members of the Committee on Athletics Certification are: Rich Ensor, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; John Hardt, Bucknell University; Susan Hofacre, Robert Morris University; Pat Howey, University of North Carolina, Wilmington; Jerry Kingston, Arizona State University; Leo Lambert, Elon University; Colleen Lim, Yale University; Jamie McCloskey, University of Florida; Fred Mims, University of Iowa; Rance Pugmire, Utah State University; Kim Record, Florida State University; Paul Risser (chair), Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Dawn Rogers, Xavier University; Mary Ann Rohleder, Indiana University, Bloomington; and Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference.

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