The NCAA News - News and Features

March 17, 1997

Eleven more schools certified by committee

The NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification announced decisions March 6 concerning the certification status of 11 NCAA Division I member institutions.

All 11 of the schools under review were certified. The committee also reclassified one institution, Bradley University, from certified with conditions to fully certified.

Those institutions receiving a designation of certified were Central Michigan University; Creighton University; Eastern Kentucky University; Eastern Michigan University; Furman University; University of Hawaii, Manoa; Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus; University of Montana; Northeastern University; Vanderbilt University; and Washington State University.

Bradley complied fully with the condition placed on the institution in March 1996, which was to develop comprehensive plans for addressing gender-equity and minority opportunities in its intercollegiate athletics program.

These colleges and universities completed a year-long certification process, which all 307 Division I members will undergo within five years. Certification status decisions have been rendered for 112 institutions.

A designation of certified means that an institution has shown that it operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership.

A designation of certified with conditions means that a college or university generally operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with the Division I operating principles but that problems were identified that were serious enough that full certification is withheld until those problems have been resolved.

A designation of not certified means that the institution is not operating in substantial conformity with the Division I operating principles. Problems identified were considered by the committee to be very serious or pervasive.

If an institution is given the certification status of certified with conditions or not certified, action must be taken by the institution before its certification status can be changed. The institution may be placed in a restricted-membership category for a year if it fails to make an effective effort to correct problems within the time frame set by the committee. If problems remain unresolved at the end of that year, the committee may reclassify an institution as a corresponding member, or no longer an active member of the NCAA.

An institution can request, within 15 days, a hearing before the Committee on Athletics Certification. If it is still not satisfied, the institution may appeal to the Division I Steering Committee of the NCAA Council.