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NCAA News Release

NCAA Announces Certification Decisions

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 31, 2006
Contact(s)

Jennifer Kearns

Associate Director of Public

and Media Relations

317/917-6117



INDIANAPOLIS --- The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced decisions today concerning the certification status of 19 Division I member institutions that have undergone the Association’s second cycle of athletics certification.

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 involves a self-study led by an institution’s president or chancellor, includes a review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance; academic integrity; equity; and student-athlete well-being.

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 following 17 universities were certified:

 

  • Alabama A&M University
  • Bucknell University
  • Central Connecticut State University
  • College of Charleston (South Carolina)
  • Delaware State University
  • Duke University
  • Middle Tennessee State University
  • University of New Mexico
  • University of North Carolina (Charlotte)
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • St. Joseph’s University
  • Stephen F. Austin University
  • Stetson University
  • Troy University
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • University of Virginia
  • Wagner College

In addition, two Division I institutions have been certified with conditions:

 

  • Eastern Kentucky University
  • Savannah State University

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 and the peer-review team's evaluation were considered serious enough by the Committee on Athletics Certification to cause it to withhold full certification until those problems have been corrected.

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 provides a list of issues identified during the evaluation. The university then hosts a visit by peer reviewers who file a report regarding the institution’s resolution of those 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: McKinley Boston, New Mexico State University; Shonna Brown, Mid-American Conference; Rita Hartung Cheng, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Rich Ensor, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; Kevin Hatcher, Colgate University; Pat Howey, University of North Carolina, Wilmington; Gerald M. Lage, Oklahoma State University; Leo Lambert (chair), Elon University; Fred Mims, University of Iowa; Gloria Nevarez, West Coast Conference; Frank Pergolizzi, Southeastern Louisiana University; Mary Ann Rohleder, Indiana University, Bloomington; Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference; and Jon Steinbrecher, Ohio Valley Conference.

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