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News Release

Last modified: Friday, February 13, 2004

Indiana University to begin NCAA certification process

Indiana University President Adam W. Herbert announced today (Feb. 13) that Indiana University will begin a year-long, campus-wide study of its athletics program as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) second cycle of the Division I athletics certification program. Specific areas of study during certification include academic and fiscal integrity, governance, rules compliance, commitment to equity, student-athlete welfare and sportsmanship.

The purpose of the certification program, which all Division I institutions undergo once every 10 years, is to ensure integrity in IU's athletics operations. The university community and the public are involved in the process to increase their awareness and knowledge of the athletics program, while helping to affirm the strengths of the athletics department and develop plans to improve areas of concern.

The NCAA's program focuses only on certification of athletics programs. The NCAA approved legislation to begin the certification program in 1993, and IU completed its first certification self-study in 1997. Initially, Division I institutions were certified every five years, but NCAA legislation was changed to incorporate a 10-year certification cycle, with a five-year interim report.

The IU certification committee will be led by Herbert; Charlie Nelms, vice president for institutional development and student affairs; and J. Terry Clapacs, vice president and chief administrative officer and IU athletics director, as well as other members of the university community, including faculty, staff and students. Athletics department staff members also will participate.

The NCAA sets standards within each area of study and uses them to evaluate all Division I members. Additionally, IU will examine how the activities of the athletics program relate to the mission and purpose of the institution.

Following the conclusion of the self-study, an NCAA peer review team will evaluate the university's work and make a certification recommendation to the NCAA's Division I Committee on Athletics Certification, which ultimately determines an institution's certification status. A designation of certified, which IU achieved in the first round of certification, means that the university is operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with Division I principles.

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