UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 30, Page 1
May 2, 1996
Athletics does self-study; public hearing May 15
The University has just completed a self-study of its athletics
program for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Division I Athletics Certification Program.
The self-study is the first step in the NCAA's new mandatory
certification program. The second step, a public hearing, will be held
Wednesday, May 15, on campus. The last step for certification will be
an external review this fall by an NCAA-appointed team.
Results of the University's self-study show that UD's athletic
program, which includes 22 intercollegiate (11 for men and 11 for
women) sports, "is well run, has the highest standards and abides by
the rules," Roland M. Smith, vice president for student life and
chairperson of the self-study, said. "It's reassuring to know that we
are doing things the right way. We found some areas that need
improvement, but no substantial issues."
Questions and comments from the University community and the
general public are sought as part of the process for certification,
Edgar N. Johnson, director of UD's Intercollegiate Athletics Program,
said. The self-study's findings will be presented at a public hearing,
scheduled at 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 15, in Room 205 of Kirkbride Hall.
Copies of the self-study also are available for review in the
Morris Library, deans' offices and on U-DISCOVER!
Athletics certification was approved for Division I institutions
at the 1993 NCAA Convention as a key part of the organization's reform
agenda. Certification is meant to ensure the NCAA's fundamental
commitment to integrity in intercollegiate athletics by opening the
affairs of athletics to the University community and the general
public.
When certification was begun, a pilot program was put into effect
for two years. This year, the first of the every-five-year studies is
being conducted at Delaware and other colleges and universities across
the country.
Key campus constituent groups were involved in the self-study.
The 28 members of the self-study committee investigated all
operational phases of the athletics program through four subcommittees
that began meeting in September and continued to work throughout the
academic year.
* Governance of the athletics program and its commitment to
rules' compliance was the focus of a subcommittee, chaired
by John L. Burmeister, Alumni Distinguished Professor of
Chemistry and Biochemistry and faculty representative to the
NCAA. Areas investigated by this subcommittee included the
institutional mission of maintaining intercollegiate
athletics as an integral part of the educational program,
institutional control and responsibility for the conduct of
the athletics program, accountability and responsibility for
rules compliance and provisions for periodic evaluation of
rules-compliance.
* The program's fiscal integrity was evaluated by a
subcommittee chaired by Allan D. Waterfield, dean of the
College of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation.
This subcommittee studied the management and fiscal
practices of the athletic program, fund raising
documentation, budget and audit procedures and policies and
standard operating procedures to ensure that all
expenditures for athletes are handled consistently in
accordance with NCAA rules.
* Academic integrity was the focus of review by a subcommittee
chaired by Janice Jordan, associate director of the Center
for Counseling and Student Development and director of the
Student Services for Athletes Program. Among other things,
this subcommittee looked at integration of student-athletes
into the student body, admission and graduation of student-
athletes, academic authority and support for student
athletes and scheduling of athletic competitions to minimize
conflicts with academic schedules.
* The program's commitment to equity was reviewed by a
subcommittee chaired by Janet Smith, associate professor of
physical education. Topics examined included gender issues,
such as equitable treatment for both men and women; minority
issues, such as equitable opportunities for minority
students and institutional personnel; and student-athlete
welfare issues, such as fair treatment of student-athletes,
particularly in their academic role as students.
NCAA officials have said they see the self-study as a chance to
promote awareness of the athletics program and to offer affirmation to
many aspects of it. Sanctions will be imposed on institutions that
fail to conduct the study and for those who fail to make corrections
to any concerns a study may uncover.
After completion of the self-study and the public hearing, an
External Peer Review Team, composed of experienced educational and
athletics personnel, will visit UD in October to conduct their own
study of the athletic program. To be chaired by the chief executive
officer of a University with a similar athletics program, the review
is similar to the one conducted by the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, for all other aspects of
the University.
"The team will visit for three or four days and ask questions to
make sure the self-study reflects the current practices at UD,"
Johnson said.
Results of both the self-study and the review team's report will
be forwarded to the NCAA's Committee on Athletics Certification, which
uses them as the basis for determining certification status.
-Beth Thomas