Many people believe athletics certification and the enforcement process have a symbiotic relationship, and that since major infractions cases continue to occur in Division I, athletics certification must not be working.

In fact, certification's perceived lack of effect on the frequency of infractions is among reasons the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is proposing that certification be eliminated.

"I'm not sure any central bureaucracy can address something like certification," said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. "It needs to be addressed by campuses. If the institutional control isn't there, the certification process is not going to make it happen. If it could, we wouldn't be having all these violations."

But proponents of the program designed to lay the groundwork for institutional control say certification -- while it might be a seal of approval -- can't be expected to seal off violations.

"People wonder how an institution can experience a major infraction after they've completed the certification process," Indiana State University Athletics Director Andrea Myers said. "People misunderstand that when you go through certification, the committee is not saying (through its final report) that University X will never break a rule. What they're saying is that the school has a compliance process in place and should be able to execute its plans."

"We're trying to ensure that the NCAA and external communities understand that certification and enforcement are separate," said Conference USA Deputy Commissioner Brenda Weare, who recently completed a term on the certification committee. "Even if you have systems in place, there could be a renegade administrator or coach who gets an institution in trouble."

Still, the certification program loses credibility when recently certified programs are put on probation. The certification committee in fact has suggested having the enforcement staff notify the group if schools going through athletics certification have been issued a letter of inquiry. Keith Gill, NCAA director of membership services, said that information would improve the timing of the press release so that the certification committee is not certifying schools just before the school is placed on probation. "This change will not eliminate the issue of the certification committee certifying an institution that the infractions committee is placing on probation, but it will certainly reduce the chances of occurrence," Gill said.

Marist College President Dennis J. Murray said he understands that the two functions are separate, but that if an infractions case involves the same personnel who participated in the certification process, then certification ought to be called into question.

"If a program goes through its certification with flying colors and then the next year is involved in a major scandal, and if it's discovered that the people involved in the self-study were the same people involved in the activities that got the institution in trouble -- I think the whole question of what benefits you get from certification can legitimately be raised," Murray said.

-- Gary T. Brown