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The University of Tulsa is one of 41 institutions that have been certified by the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification.

Tulsa Gets NCAA Certification

NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announces today that 41 Division I member institutions have been fully certified

April 12, 2007

Indianapolis, Indiana - The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced decisions today concerning the certification status of 46 Division I member institutions that have undergone the Association's second cycle of athletics certification. The University of Tulsa is one of 41 institutions that have been certified.

The purpose of athletics certification is to ensure integrity in the institution's athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments. NCAA legislation mandating athletics certification was adopted in 1993.

The certification process, which involves a self-study led by an institution's president or chancellor, includes a review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance; academic integrity; equity; and student-athlete well-being.

The University of Tulsa committee responsible for the self-study included President Steadman Upham, steering committee chairperson Winona Tanaka, associate vice-president of academic affairs/vice provost; subcommittee chairs were Earl Johnson, dean of admission; Richard Reeder, professor of biological science; Sharon Baker, applied associate professor of deaf education; and, campus liaison Crista Troester, associate athletics director/senior woman administrator, as well as members of various other University constituencies.

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

The following 41 institutions were certified:

         Auburn University
         Brown University
         University of California, Berkeley
         California Polytechnic State University
         California State University, Fullerton
         California State University, Sacramento
         Central Michigan University
         University of Cincinnati
         Colgate University
         University of Detroit Mercy
         Drake University
         Fairfield University
         University of Florida
         Florida State University
         Furman University
         Gardner-Webb University
         University of Hartford
         Harvard University
         University of Iowa
         Jackson State University
         Jacksonville University
         Lehigh University
         Liberty University
         University of Maine, Orono
         Marshall University
         University of Massachusetts, Amherst
         Mount St. Mary's University
         University of Nebraska, Lincoln
         University of New Hampshire
         University of North Texas
         Oral Roberts University
         University of Oregon
         University of the Pacific
         University of Pittsburgh
         University of Portland
         Quinnipiac University
         Syracuse University
         Texas A&M University, College Station
         University of Tulsa
         University of Vermont
         Youngstown State University
In addition, five Division I institutions have been certified with conditions:
         University of Houston
         James Madison University
         New Mexico State University
         Robert Morris University
         St. Peter's College

This classification means that the institution is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the NCAA's Division I membership. However, problems identified during the course of the institution's self-study and the peer-review team's evaluation were considered serious enough by the Committee on Athletics Certification to cause it to withhold full certification until those problems have been corrected. The NCAA does not divulge specific information related to an institution's self-study or peer-review visit or specific information concerning the conditions set forth for certification.

The second round of athletics certifications is being completed on a 10-year cycle rather than the five-year cycle used during the initial certification process. All 326 active Division I members participate in the certification process.

The Division I Committee on Athletics Certification preliminarily reviews an institution's certification materials and provides a list of issues identified during the evaluation. The university then hosts a visit by peer reviewers who file a report regarding the institution's resolution of those issues before a final certification decision is rendered. An institution's failure to satisfactorily respond to the committee may negatively impact certification status.

The certification process is separate from the NCAA's enforcement program, which investigates allegations of rules violations by NCAA member institutions. A decision of certified does not exempt an institution from concurrent or subsequent enforcement proceedings.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions may ask the Committee on Athletics Certification to review an institution's certification status as a result of the completed infractions case. The members of the Committee on Athletics Certification are: McKinley Boston Jr., New Mexico State University; Shonna Brown, Mid-American Conference; Rita Hartung Cheng, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Beatrice Crane Banford, Marshall University; Rich Ensor, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; Kevin Hatcher, Colgate University; Gerald M. Lage, Oklahoma State University; Leo Lambert (chair), Elon University; M. Dianne Murphy, Columbia University-Barnard College; Gloria Nevarez, West Coast Conference; Donald Pope-Davis, University of Notre Dame; Allison Rich, California State University, Fullerton; Mary Ann Rohleder, Indiana University, Bloomington; Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference; and Jon Steinbrecher, Ohio Valley Conference.

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