Aug. 26, 2004
DAYTON, Ohio -- The University of Dayton has been certified by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an institution committed to integrity, equity and rules compliance in its athletics program.
UD is one of 18 Division I-member institutions certified today following a 16-month-long certification process that included a self-study and a peer-review team visit. All 326 Division I colleges and universities must be reviewed for certification status every ten years. NCAA members are currently in their second cycle of athletics certification.
Legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted by a vote of all Division I members at the annual 1993 NCAA convention as a part of the NCAA's reform agenda. UD was originally certified in 1997.
Certification means UD is considered to be operating its athletics program in "substantial conformity" with operating principles adopted by the NCAA's Division I membership. A peer review team visited campus April 26-28 and examined such issues as academic integrity, governance and commitment to rules compliance, and commitment to equity.
The University of Dayton's Vice-President for Finance, Tom Burkhardt, served as chair of the University's NCAA certification steering committee.
"This certification is a validation of UD's long history of academic integrity and institutional responsibility in the administration of its intercollegiate athletics program," said Dr. Daniel J. Curran, the University's President.
UD Vice-President and Director of Athletics Ted Kissell sees great value in the certification process. "We're pleased to have been certified achieved again," Kissell said. "The greatest benefit of the process for the athletics division is that it furthers our goal of integration with the larger campus community."
"The formal certification process takes months," Kissell continued. "But truly, the best way to continue achieving NCAA certification is to work to do things the right way, every day."
Besides the University of Dayton, the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification today certified these 15 schools: American University; the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff; the University at Buffalo (SUNY); Butler University; Dartmouth College; Louisiana State University; University of Louisville; North Carolina A&T; University of North Carolina, Greensboro; North Carolina State University; Rider University; University of San Francisco; Seton Hall University; University of Texas, Pan American; Villanova University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Yale University.
