Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
September 12, 2007

While academic accreditation is common in colleges and universities, this program focuses solely on certification of athletics programs.  The certification program's purpose is to help ensure integrity in the institution's athletics operations.  It opens up athletics to the rest of the university/college community and to the public.  Institutions will benefit by increasing campus-wide awareness and knowledge of the athletics program, confirming its strengths and developing plans to improve areas of concern.

The committee responsible for the study will include President Trauth, Debbie M. Thorne, chair of steering committee, various members of the university faculty and staff as well as athletics department personnel and community leaders.  Within each area to be studied by the committee are standards, called operating principles, which were adopted by the NCAA to place a “measuring stick” by which all Division I members are evaluated. 

Once the university/college has concluded its study, an external team of reviewers will conduct a two-day minimum evaluation visit on campus.  Those reviewers will be peers from other colleges, universities or conference offices.  That team will report to the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification, another independent group.  The committee will then determine the institution's certification status and announce the decision publicly. 

The NCAA is a membership organization of colleges and universities that participate in intercollegiate athletics.  The primary purpose of the Association is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body.  Activities of the NCAA membership include formulating rules of play for NCAA sports, conducting national championships, adopting and enforcing standards of eligibility, and studying all phases of intercollegiate athletics.