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The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced today that ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s athletic department has been fully certified.

At its recently concluded meeting, the NCAA reviewed written materials related to the institution’s self-study of the athletic department. The designation of certified means ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ is "operating its athletic program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Association’s Division I membership and that any problems identified during the course of the self-study and the peer-review team’s evaluation have been corrected…"

The purpose of athletics certification is to ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics department, according to the NCAA. Legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted by the NCAA in 1993.

"We are pleased to have the NCAA certify our athletic department without condition. This was a truly a collective university/community effort involving faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members. I am proud of all of them," said ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ President Arthur C. Vailas.

During the summer of 2010 the University received NCAA certification with one condition.  The NCAA determined the institution "did not fully implement its Cycle-2 gender-equity plan in the program area of accommodation of interests and abilities."

In meeting the NCAA requirement ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ has constructed a new women's softball complex and  increased funding for the program, completed new intercollegiate locker rooms for women's volleyball, softball and basketball as well as increasing the number of women's athletic scholarships.

 "While we are proud of our efforts resulting in full certification, gender equity will continue to be a reviewable progress," said Jeff Tingey, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ athletic director. "We will always look for new and creative ways to provide an equitable and rewarding athletic experience for our intercollegiate athletes."

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO MEDIA

The certification process involves a self-study led by an institution’s president or chancellor and includes a comprehensive review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance; academic integrity; gender/diversity issues; and student-athlete well being.  ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s two-year, intensive self-study included broad-based participation by campus and community members