The NCAA News - News and Features

May 18, 1998

Certification status of 19 Division I institutions announced

The NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification has announced decisions concerning the certification status of 19 NCAA Division I member institutions.

A total of 18 schools were certified, including three institutions the committee reclassified from certified with conditions to fully certified. One school was certified with con-ditions.

Those institutions receiving a designation of certified were: the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; Bowling Green State University; Coppin State College; Drake University; Duquesne University; Fairfield University; the University of Iowa; Lafayette College; the University of Missouri, Columbia; the University of Portland; Texas Christian University; Troy State University; Valparaiso University; Western Illinois University; and Winthrop University.

Three institutions were reclassified from certified with conditions to fully certified: Alcorn State University; the University of North Carolina, Asheville; and the University of Texas, Pan American.

Texas Southern University received a designation of certified with conditions. Before Texas Southern can be considered for full certification, the institution will have to provide evidence that it has implemented the recommendations contained in the university's 1994-95 financial audit and provide the results of the audits that were conducted for 1995-96 and 1996-97. Additionally, Texas Southern must provide evidence of all funds raised for and expended on behalf of athletics by the university's Maroon and Gray and the Tiger Ex-Athletes and Friends Alumni Association. Booster clubs are subject to generally accepted practices of documentation, review and oversight as required by NCAA Bylaw 23.2.3.1 (Financial Controls). Further, the university is required to provide evidence that expenditures from both booster groups were approved by institutional officials before the disbursement of funds.

Certification process

These colleges and universities completed a year-long certification process, which all 308 Division I members will undergo within five years. A total of 196 institutions have now received certification status decisions. The program's purpose is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics operations and to assist athletics departments in improving their programs. 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 has shown that it 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 were identified that 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 (no longer an active member of the NCAA).

Hearing request

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 still is not satisfied, the institution may appeal to the Division I Management Council.

The certification process, led by the school's chief executive officer on each of the campuses, included members of the university/college faculty and staff. In addition to these 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.

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

At the end of the self-study, a peer group of administrators from other NCAA member institutions visited each campus and heard from the institution's self-study committee and others. 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 broken 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.