Miami athletics recertified by NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced Thursday (Aug. 18) that Miami University has met all the requirements for recertification as a member of Division I.

This marks the culmination of a nearly two-year process that included a thorough review of Miami University’s oversight of the intercollegiate athletic department by a committee composed of faculty, staff, students and members of the community and an on-campus review by a peer committee of staff from NCAA institutions.

The review included detailed examinations of campus governance of the athletics program, compliance with NCAA regulations, academic integrity, academic support for student athletes, gender equity, diversity and student-athlete well-being.

The self-study and peer-review evaluations made some suggestions for improvements to policy and practice but found that the university had strong programs in place to support the athletic department, coaches, staff and student athletes in all areas.

The support for Miami’s student athletes is evidenced by accomplishments on and off the field. Miami student athletes typically graduate at higher levels and maintain higher GPAs than their peers. The graduation success rate of the 2004 cohort (graduating by 2010) of Miami student athletes is 89 percent.

The campus NCAA Certification Steering Committee was chaired by Matt Boaz, director of Miami’s office of equity and equal opportunity. He oversaw three sub-committees: rules and governance (chaired by Chris Wilson, legal counsel), academic integrity (chaired by Dave Sauter, registrar) and student athletic equity and well-being (chaired by Susan Mosley-Howard, associate vice president and dean of students). Brad Bates, director of athletics, and Jennie Gilbert, Miami’s associate athletics director and director of NCAA compliance, provided leadership support from the athletic department. Joanne Glasser is chair of the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification.

“Brad Bates and his staff have a superior program because they believe that providing the ‘Miami Experience’ to their student athletes includes opportunities and support that guide them to succeed academically and athletically,” said Miami President David Hodge. “Miami meets or surpasses the NCAA’s requirements in all of the areas covered by the review because of this strong focus. I commend the intercollegiate staff and students for setting and meeting standards in our Culture of Champions, and I thank the Certification Steering Committee for its dedicated service over the past two years.”

The NCAA certification review takes place every 10 years. This was the third time the university has been certified, with earlier reviews having taken place in 1993 (pilot) and 2001.

Brief History of the NCAA Athletics Certification Process
The NCAA initiated the athletics certification program in 1993 to help ensure integrity in institutional athletics programs. The NCAA is a membership organization of colleges and universities that participate in intercollegiate athletics. Its primary purpose is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the education program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body. The NCAA membership formulates rules of play for NCAA sports, conducts national championships, adopts and enforces standards of eligibility and studies all phases of intercollegiate athletics. All Division I institutions participate in the certification process.