The NCAA News - News and Features

September 1, 1997

Certification status announced for 18 Division I schools

The Division I Committee on Athletics Certification has announced decisions concerning the certification status of 18 Division I member institutions.

A total of 13 schools were certified and four were reclassified from certified with conditions to certified. One institution was reclassified from not certified to certified with conditions.

Those institutions receiving a designation of certified were Boise State University, Clemson University, Delaware State University, University of Georgia, University of Houston, University of Michigan, Mount St. Mary's College (Maryland), Niagara University, Old Dominion University, Southern Utah University, University of Tennessee at Martin, University of Texas at Arlington, and University of Utah.

In addition, the committee reclassified four institutions as certified. Those institutions are Iowa State University; University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; University of South Alabama; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

All four institutions complied fully with the conditions placed on each institution's certification by the committee.

One institution was reclassified from not certified to certified with conditions. That institution is the University of Texas, Pan American.

The condition placed on Texas-Pan American included submitting a status report that addresses the implementation and effectiveness (through the winter of 1998) of the institution's new initiatives in the area of governance and commitment to rules compliance. Once the university submits that information, the committee will determine whether the institution should be fully certified or if an interim visit (as set forth in the committee's original November 1996 decision) is necessary.

Texas-Pan American received a designation of not certified in November 1996.

These colleges and universities completed a yearlong certification process that all 307 Division I members will undergo within five years. A total of 142 institutions have now received certification status decisions. The program's purpose is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics operations and to assist athletics departments in improving their programs.

Legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted by a vote of all Division I members at the 1993 NCAA Convention as a key part of the NCAA's reform agenda.

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 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 in a specified period of time before its certification status can be changed. If it fails to make an effective effort to correct problems within the time frame set by the committee, the institution may be placed in a restricted membership category for a year. If problems remain unresolved at the end of that year, the committee may reclassify the institution as a corresponding member.

An institution can request, within 15 days after the date of the public release of the certification decision, a hearing before the Committee on Athletics Certification. If it is still not satisfied, the institution may appeal to the Division I Management Council.

The members of the Committee on Athletics Certification are R. Daniel Beebe, Ohio Valley Conference; McKinley Boston Jr., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Robert A. Chernak, George Washington University; Hallie E. Gregory, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Lee A. McElroy, American University; Michael B. McGee, University of South Carolina, Columbia; Patricia H. Meiser-McKnett, University of Hartford; Annette O'Connor, La Salle University; James P. O'Hanlon, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Frederick W. Obear, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Marcia L. Saneholtz, Washington State University; Andrea Seger, Ball State University; R. Gerald Turner, chair, Southern Methodist University; Charlotte West, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; and Charles Whitcomb, San Jose State University.