October 3, 2006
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Scott Hammond
(801) 863-7183
UVSC to Begin Self-Study of Athletics Program for NCAA Certification
President William A. Sederburg announced today that UVSC will begin a year-long, campus-wide effort to study its athletic program as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletics certification program. While academic accreditation is common in colleges and universities, this program focuses solely on certification of athletic programs. Specific areas the study will cover are academic integrity, governance and commitment to rules compliance, commitment to equity and student-athlete welfare.
UVSC began its quest for Division I status during the 2002-03 school year, an exploratory time before the transition to NCAA Division I competition. Beginning with the 2003-04 school year, UVSC athletics began competing against NCAA programs. Currently, UVSC athletics is in its fourth year of a seven year process of becoming a full-fledged member of NCAA Division I athletics.
The certification program’s purpose is to help ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics operations. The program opens up athletics to the university or college community as well as to the public. The committee responsible for the study will include President Sederburg, Scott Hammond, assistant academic vice president, and various members of the College faculty and staff, as well as athletics department personnel.
“We will begin the process with a four-hour video conference with the NCAA on Nov. 1,” said Hammond.
Once UVSC has completed its study, an external team of reviewers will conduct a two-day minimum evaluation visit on campus. The reviewers will be peers from other colleges, universities or conference offices. The 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 three options of certification status are certified, certified with conditions and not certified. While universities and colleges have an opportunity to correct deficient areas, those universities or colleges that do not take corrective actions may be ruled ineligible for NCAA championships.
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, adopting and enforcing standards of eligibility, conducting national championships and studying all phases of intercollegiate athletics.
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College Marketing Contact:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written By:
Valerie Chapman
(801) 863-8504
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