The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- May 24, 1999

Certification group renders status decisions

Committee certifies 14 schools, including two reclassifications

The NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification has announced decisions concerning the certification status of 14 Division I member institutions.

All 14 institutions were certified, including two the committee reclassified from certified with conditions to fully certified.

Those institutions receiving a designation of certified were: the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; California State University, Fresno; East Tennessee State University; Eastern Washington University; Georgia Institute of Technology; Grambling State University; Hampton University; Jacksonville University; Mississippi State University; University of Oregon; Princeton University; Western Michigan University; University of Wisconsin, Green Bay; and Xavier University.

Two of the institutions, East Tennessee State and Mississippi State, were reclassified from certified with conditions to fully certified.

These colleges and universities completed a year-long certification process, which all 310 Division I members will undergo by 2000. In all, 260 institutions have now received certification status decisions.

Program's purpose

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 a college or university generally 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 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 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.

Certification process

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

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 these four areas and submitted a report.

After the institution submits 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 reports back to the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification, which renders 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; Marcia L. Saneholtz, Washington State University; Andrea Seger, Ball State University; James E. Walker, (chair) Middle Tennessee State University; and Brenda Weare, Conference USA.