INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced decisions today concerning the certification status of 35 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 35 institutions were certified:
• Boston College
• Brigham Young University
• California State University, Fresno
• Cornell University
• George Washington University
• Hampton University
• Indiana State University
• Morehead State University
• Murray State University
• New Mexico State University
• Norfolk State University
• Northern Arizona University
• Ohio University
• Prairie View A&M University
• Princeton University
• Providence College
• Rice University
• Sam Houston State University
• Stanford University
• Temple University
• Tennessee State University
• Texas State University, San Marcos
• Texas Tech University
• Weber State University
• United States Military Academy
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of Arkansas, Little Rock
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of Illinois, Champaign
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• University of Louisiana at Monroe
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• University of Mississippi
• University of Missouri, Kansas City
• University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
In addition, two Division I institutions have been certified with conditions:
• Grambling State University
• Howard 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 NCAA does not divulge specific information related to an institution’s self-study or peer-review visit or specific information concerning the conditions set forth for certification.
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: Robert Bernardi, Nicholls State University; McKinley Boston Jr., New Mexico State University; Casey Comoroski, Missouri State University; Beatrice Crane Banford, Marshall University; Amy Folan, University of Texas at Austin; Judy Genshaft, University of South Florida; Joanne Glasser, Bradley University; Wendy Guthrie, West Coast Conference; Nathan Hatch (chair), Wake Forest University; Brian Linnane, Loyola College (Maryland); Barbara Luebke, University of Rhode Island; M. Dianne Murphy, Columbia University-Barnard College; Gloria Nevarez, University of Oklahoma; Sheila Patterson, Cleveland State University; Donald Pope-Davis, University of Notre Dame; Allison Rich, California State University, Fullerton; Mark Richard, Auburn University; and Jon Steinbrecher, Ohio Valley Conference.
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