A technologically advanced method for managing NCAA membership information has been unveiled.

The new Membership Services Database, launched in February, will enable NCAA staff to more efficiently meet existing and future data-collection and analysis needs.

The Oracle-based database will record any number of informational items about each institution -- from personnel and addresses (including e-mail addresses) to sports sponsorship and conference membership information. The database is searchable and includes information dating to 1997.

The database ultimately will allow NCAA staff to sort information to meet better business practices and to maintain more integrity over the enormous amount of data collected. Initiatives that will be affected include revenue distribution based on sports sponsorship, committee mailings, information regarding the demographics of institutional personnel and updated conference affiliation, among others.

Also, the database's sorting capabilities will allow staff to post more relevant, accurate and reliable information on NCAA Online.

"The database should reduce the amount of work on the part of member institutions insofar as compiling the data, while it will increase the amount and quality of information the staff can provide back to member schools in the form of data analysis," said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice-president for membership services.