The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification has announced decisions concerning the certification status of 12 Division I institutions that have undergone the Association's second cycle of athletics certification.

The following universities were certified:

Columbia University-Barnard College

University of Delaware

University of Hawaii, Manoa

Kent State University

University of Montana

Northwestern State University

Southeast Missouri State University

Southwest Missouri State University

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Vanderbilt University

Wright State University

The University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, was certified with conditions. This classification means that the institution is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership. However, problems identified during the course of the institution's self-study were considered serious enough by the Committee on Athletics Certification to cause it to withhold full certification until those problems have been corrected. In this case, the institution will need to submit written evidence demonstrating that an ongoing and comprehensive NCAA rules-education program exists at the university. It also will need to submit evidence that potential rules violations have been investigated and, if necessary, self-reported to the NCAA.

The purpose of athletics certification is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments. NCAA legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted in 1993.

The certification process, which is a self-study led by an institution's chief executive officer, includes a review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, fiscal integrity, equity, welfare and sportsmanship. A designation of certified means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership.

The second round of athletics certifications is being completed on a 10-year cycle rather than the five-year cycle used during the initial certification process. All 326 active Division I members participate in the certification process.

The certification process is separate from the NCAA's enforcement program, which investigates allegations of rules violations by NCAA member institutions. A decision of certified does not exempt an institution from concurrent or subsequent enforcement proceedings.