The NCAA News - News and Features

December 1, 1997

Certification status of 21 Division I schools decided by committee

The Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced decisions November 20 concerning the certification status of 21 NCAA Division I member institutions. A total of 19 schools were certified and two were certified with conditions.

Those institutions receiving a designation of certified were the University of Akron; Appalachian State University; University of California, Los Angeles; Centenary College; University of Colorado, Boulder; Colorado State University; East Carolina University; Florida Atlantic University; Jackson State University; Louisiana Tech University; Loyola Marymount University; University of Miami (Florida); University of North Texas; University of Oklahoma; University of Pennsylvania; University of San Diego; Siena College; University of Washington; and Wichita State University.

Two institutions received a designation of certified with conditions. Those institutions are Arkansas State University and Cleveland State University.

Conditions placed on the certification of Arkansas State include the development of an athletics department mission statement that should address each of the elements set forth in NCAA Bylaw 23.2.1.1 (institutional mission). Also, Arkansas State must develop separate comprehensive written institutional plans for addressing gender equity and minority opportunities in its athletics program.

The condition placed on the certification of Cleveland State requires that a single, comprehensive institutional plan for addressing minority opportunities in its athletics program be developed.

Each institution must submit plans that have been developed through broad-based campus participation and that are formally approved by its respective institution.

The institutional gender-equity and minority-opportunities plans also must include (at a minimum) the following elements: (a) intended end results, (b) individuals or offices that will be responsible for taking specific actions and (c) the specific timetables for completing the work. The institution should clearly specify: (1) the issues confronting the institution that have been identified throughout the self-study process, (2) the goals the institution intends to achieve and (3) the steps the institution will achieve to take those goals.

These institutions completed a year-long certification process, which all Division I members will undergo within five years. Certification status decisions have been issued for 163 institutions.

Program's purpose

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 Association'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 in substantial conformity with 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 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.

Committee members

The members of the Committee on Athletics Certification are R. Daniel Beebe, Ohio Valley Conference; McKinley Boston Jr., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Alan B. Chaves, Long Island University; Robert A. Chernak, George Washington University; Paul T. Dee, University of Miami (Florida); Hallie E. Gregory, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Kathleen Hallock, Colonial Athletic Association; Lee A. McElroy, American University; Michael B. McGee, University of South Carolina, Columbia; Patricia Meiser-McKnett, University of Hartford; Frederick W. Obear, University of Tennessee; Annette O'Connor, La Salle University; Marcia L. Saneholtz, Washington State University; Andrea Seger, Ball State University; R. Gerald Turner, chair, Southern Methodist University; James E. Walker, Middle Tennessee State University; Charlotte West, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; and Charles Whitcomb, San Jose State University.