NCAA Self-study Certification

Texas State University-San Marcos began a campus wide effort to recertify its athletics program as part of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I Athletics Certification program in mid-2007.

While academic accreditation is common in colleges and universities, this program focuses solely on certification of athletics programs. Following a pilot project, the Division I membership of the NCAA overwhelmingly supported the program and its standards at the 1993 NCAA convention. Texas State completed its first certification self-study in 1999. At the 1997 convention, the Division I membership voted to change the frequency of athletics certification from once every five years to once every 10 years. Thus, the current self-study will be the second in the certification process for Texas State. 

As part of the certification process, a steering committee and three subcommittees conducted a self-study of the University's athletics program covering academic integrity, governance and commitment to rules compliance, as well as commitment to equity and student-athlete well-being. Members of the committees represented a diverse range of interests and expertise and included a mix of faculty, non-athletic administrative staff, representatives of the athletic department and community members. Dr. Debbie Thorne, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, chaired the steering committee.

The University's self-study report was filed with the NCAA on May 1, 2008. An external team of reviewers conducted an evaluation visit on campus in November 2008. The peer review team then reported to the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification (CAC).  In mid April 2009, the NCAA announced that Texas State University's Department of Athletics has been certified as operating its athletics program in "substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership."

Questions about certification process should be directed to debbiethorne@txstate.edu