WMU News

Athletic programs certified by NCAA

May 13, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association announced today the certification of the athletic programs at Western Michigan University and 13 other Division I schools, as part of its on-going Division I certification program.

This announcement concludes the WMU certification process that began on Nov. 4, 1997, and concluded one year later with a site visit by a peer review team made up of officials from other Division I institutions. The year-long self-study was conducted by a number of committees charged with examining various aspects of the athletics program with respect to academic and fiscal integrity, rules compliance and commitment to equity.

"Many people around campus took part in this exhaustive and very important self-study program, I would like to thank them all and especially Dr. Jan Lyddon, who chaired the steering committee and Kathy Beauregard our director of intercollegiate athletics," said WMU President Elson S. Floyd.

WMU along with all of the 310 Division I schools takes part in the NCAA's on-going certification program. With the NCAA's latest announcement, 260 institutions have now received certification status decisions. The certification program's purpose is to ensure integrity in the institutions' athletics operations and to assist athletics departments in improving their programs.

Legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted by a vote of all Division I members at the 1993 NCAA Convention as a key part of the association's reform agenda. Adoption of the certification process followed a two-year pilot project that began in 1990. WMU received initial certification as one of the schools that participated in that pilot project. The NCAA expects that all Division I schools will undergo this process by 2000.

A designation of certified means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership.

"We are very satisfied with the outcome of this self-study and appreciate the input that we have received from the many people on campus, in the community and at the NCAA who took part in the process," said Beauregard.

Media contact: Matt Kurz, 616 387-8400, matt.kurz@wmich.edu


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