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The NCAA News -- March 15, 1999

NCAA renders certification-status decisions for 16 schools

The NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification recently announced decisions concerning the certification status of 16 NCAA Division I member institutions.

Fifteen institutions were certified, including three the committee reclassified from certified with conditions to fully certified. One school was certified with conditions.

Those institutions receiving a designation of certified were the University of Arizona; the University of South Florida; the University of Cincinnati; Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; The Citadel; the University of Hartford; Mississippi Valley State University; Morgan State University; Pepperdine University; Prairie View A&M University; Stanford University; Temple University; the University of Texas at San Antonio; Texas Southern University; and the University of Tulsa

Three of the institutions, Mississippi Valley State, Morgan State and Texas Southern, were reclassified from certified with conditions to fully certified. The College of the Holy Cross received a designation of certified with conditions.

Before Holy Cross is considered for full certification, the institution must complete and submit a comprehensive institutional plan for addressing minority opportunities in its intercollegiate athletics program. The plan is to be developed through broad-based campus participation and receive formal institutional approval.

These colleges and universities completed a year-long certification process, which all 308 Division I members will undergo by 2000. Currently, 246 institutions have received certification-status decisions.

Purpose of program

The certification program's purpose is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics operations and to assist athletics departments in improving their program. 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 operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership.

A designation of certified with conditions means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with the Division I operating principles but problems identified were serious enough that full certification is withheld until the problems are 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 and no longer an active member of the NCAA.

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 certification process, led by the institution's chief executive officer on each of the campuses, included members of the university/college faculty and staff. In addition to those members, athletics department personnel also served on the committee and subcommittees responsible for the self-study. This provided an opportunity for other members of the campus community to learn about and to evaluate the athletics program.

Components of the process

Certification examines the athletics department's governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic and fiscal integrity, and commitment to equity. The self-study committee on each campus analyzed those four areas and submitted a report.

After the institution submitted its self-study report, a peer group of administrators from other NCAA member institutions visited each campus and interviewed various institutional personnel. The peer group then reported back to the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification, which rendered the final decision.

The certification process is separate from the NCAA's enforcement program, which investigates allegations that member institutions have violated NCAA rules. A decision of certified does not exempt an institution from concurrent or subsequent enforcement proceedings. The NCAA Committee on Infractions can 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: R. Daniel Beebe, Ohio Valley Conference; Alan B. Chaves, Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus; Robert A. Chernak, George Washington University; Joseph Crowley, University of Nevada; Paul T. Dee, University of Miami (Florida); Hallie E. Gregory, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; Kathleen Hallock, Colonial Athletic Association; Jerry Kingston, Arizona State University; Chris Monasch, America East Conference; Annette O'Connor, La Salle University; Garnett Purnell, Morgan State University; Marcia L. Saneholtz, Washington State University; Andrea Seger, Ball State University; James E. Walker (chair), Middle Tennessee State University; and Brenda Weare, Conference USA.